Dave Carey

Dolphins first-year coach Joe Philbin did his best with a very limited roster, keeping his team in the playoff hunt until the final week of the regular season. But too often, the team came out flat or failed to maximize its veterans' skills.

The Miami Dolphins lost six of their final nine games, but they were in the playoff race until the final week of the season.

The Miami Dolphins are hoping history repeats itself in 2013. Since the 12-team playoff format was adopted in 1990, at least four teams have qualified for the playoffs that failed to reach the postseason the previous year.

The Dolphins posted a losing season for the fourth straight year, but there finally appeared to be progress in Miami.

The last time No. 20 Northwestern won a bowl game, a gallon of gas cost 17 cents, a new car cost about $1,420. RCA was perfecting a system for broadcasting color television and Harry Truman roamed the halls of the White House.

Miami Dolphins coach Joe Philbin has a simple offseason goal: make his team better. And after finishing 7-9 overall and 2-4 in the AFC East, Philbin admitted the team must do whatever it takes to improve a roster loaded with veterans with expiring contracts.

The Miami Dolphins traveled to Foxboro, Mass., on Sunday with the goal of finishing with a .500 record. A few hours later, they boarded a plane home after suffering one of their most embarrassing setbacks of the season, losing to the Patriots 28-0 at Gillette Stadium.

Texas Tech K Ryan Bustin buried a 28-yard game-winning field goal as time expired to stun Minnesota and lead the Red Raiders to a 34-31 victory in the Meineke Car Care Bowl on Friday night.

This should be an incredibly entertaining game between two dynamic offenses that love to spread the field with multiple formations when Mississippi State and No. 20 Northwestern face off in the Gator Bowl.

The Dolphins, picked by most analysts at the start of the season to finish with the worst record in the league, have a chance to finish .500.

Key Big Ten numbers to know, including Purdue and Northwestern freshman heating up, Big Ten teams lighting up the scoreboard and an Indiana player becoming the perfect thief.

Eliminated from playoff contention, Dolphins coach Joe Philbin admitted it will be a big challenge to get his team motivated for the season finale on Sunday at New England.

Michigan State C Derrick Nix and Michigan F Mitch McGary claimed Big Ten weekly awards.

This bowl touts two teams that couldn't be much different in playing style. The Red Raiders have their air raid offense, one of the most wide-open attacks in the country. The Golden Gophers favor more of a ball-control offense and like to set up the pass with the running game.

Miami Dolphins rookie QB Ryan Tannehill continued his streak of impressive play as Miami cruised to a 24-10 win over Buffalo on Sunday at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla.