Predicting MVPs for Every 2014-15 College Football Bowl Game
Picking who will win each bowl game is one thing, but predicting who will be responsible for those wins is a guess of a different color.
It's the last chance to shine for college football's best, as bowl season is only days away. From Dec. 20 through Jan. 4 we'll have 38 games in all corners of the country (and on some islands off both coasts) pitting teams hoping for one final victory to cap the 2014 season.
Football is a team game, but there's going to be that one player in each contest who rises above all others to make the biggest impact. Who will those MVPs be? Check out our predictions, then give us your thoughts in the comments section.
New Orleans Bowl: Louisiana-Lafayette vs. Nevada
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Christian Ringo, DE, Louisiana-Lafayette
The key to stopping Nevada is to contain quarterback Cody Fajardo, who has 3,371 yards of total offense and 31 total touchdowns this season. Christian Ringo has been all over Sun Belt quarterbacks this season, and in a bowl game that Louisiana-Lafayette has owned the past three seasons, he'll show off those pursuit skills one last time.
The 6'1", 277-pound senior has 10.5 sacks and 19.5 tackles for loss this season, rebounding from an injury-plagued junior year. Ringo also had a 41-yard fumble return touchdown in 2014, and defensive players have been a key to the Ragin' Cajuns winning the past three New Orleans Bowls.
"I guess I'm just in the right place and right spot, but everything in my game can be polished up," Ringo told Nick Fontenot of The Advocate in November. "I haven’t arrived."
Ringo is only considered the No. 55 defensive end in the 2015 draft class, according to NFLDraftScout.com, but with a big bowl finale, that stock should rise.
New Mexico Bowl: UTEP vs. Utah State
2 of 38Zach Vigil, LB, Utah State
Despite losing multiple quarterbacks to injury, Utah State was able to win nine games and make a bowl for the fourth straight season. It helps that the Aggies had such a consistent defense, which was anchored by a senior who seemed to be in on every tackle.
Zach Vigil was third in the country this season with 145 tackles, including a whopping 22 in a key win over Air Force in October. Eight of those were for loss in that game, including on the above video when he blew up a trick play by taking out two different ball-carriers.
UTEP is making its first bowl appearance since 2010, and it isn't likely to go well with Vigil constantly in the backfield.
Las Vegas Bowl: Colorado State vs. Utah
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Rashard Higgins, WR, Colorado State
The FBS leader in touchdown receptions with 17, Rashard Higgins is one piece of a three-headed offensive monster that helped Colorado State win 10 games for the first time in more than a decade. And with bowl opponent Utah not particularly strong at defending the pass, the sophomore wide receiver figures to have a huge game.
Higgins has 89 receptions for 1,640 yards, and during a three-game span in October he became the first FBS player since former Texas Tech star Michael Crabtree with at least 175 yards in each game.
The All-American doesn't currently know who his next head coach will be, as the Rams continue to search for a replacement for Jim McElwain. Assuming another big outing for Higgins, he likely will make whoever that coach is excited about what he'll get to work with in 2015.
.jpg?w=256 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
Potato Bowl: Air Force vs. Western Michigan
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Zach Terrell, QB, Western Michigan
The Mid-American Conference has lost the past two Potato Bowls to Mountain West teams, and neither game has been close. If Western Michigan hopes to end that streak, sophomore quarterback Zach Terrell figures to be a part of that.
Terrell has thrown for 3,146 yards and 21 touchdowns this season, completing 70 percent of his passes as the Broncos went from going 1-11 in 2013 to 8-4 this year. While freshman running back Jarvion Franklin has been the focal point of Western Michigan's offense most of the season, the last few games has seen Terrell step up and have a greater impact.
Air Force ranks 101st in FBS in passing defense, and combined with the Falcons' likely plan to eat up clock with their run game, Western Michigan figures to pass quite frequently in search of its first-ever bowl victory.
Camelia Bowl: Bowling Green vs. South Alabama
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Montell Garner, CB, South Alabama
The first-ever bowl game in program history figures to hinge on how South Alabama slows down Bowling Green's offense, which averaged 29.8 points per game but struggled down the stretch in three straight losses. The Falcons could be pressing in this game, and that's where Montell Garner will rise to the occasion for the Jaguars.
The senior cornerback has started all 24 games in his South Alabama career since transferring from junior college, logging five interceptions over that time. He has two this year, including one he turned into a 59-yard touchdown in a win at Idaho.
Miami Beach Bowl: BYU vs. Memphis
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Paxton Lynch, QB, Memphis
Memphis saw its offense nearly double its scoring from 2013 to this season, going from 19.5 points per game during a 3-9 campaign to 34.7 in this fall's 9-3 run that included a share of the American Athletic Conference title. Sophomore Paxton Lynch's development has been a key to that improvement, and he'll continue his upward trend in the program's first bowl game since 2008.
Lynch has completed 64 percent of his passes for 18 touchdowns and six interceptions this season, compared to last year when he completed 58.2 percent with nine TDs and 10 picks. He's gone 171 consecutive attempts without an interception this season.
BYU is 112th in FBS against the pass, and Lynch figures to feast on that lackluster defense.
Boca Raton Bowl: Marshall vs. Northern Illinois
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Rakeem Cato, QB, Marshall
It's been 38 months since Rakeem Cato last played a college football game in which he didn't throw a touchdown pass. He's had at least one in 45 straight games, an FBS record, and after winning the Conference USA title, he gets to wrap up one of the best careers in history with a chance for one more big day.
Cato sits eighth all-time in passing yards, with 13,798, and his 128 TD passes are fifth-best.
Northern Illinois, the Mid-American champion, has been respectable against the pass this season and has held four of its last six opponents to less than 200 yards through the air. But Cato is better than anything the Huskies have faced, and they won't be able to slow him down.
Poinsettia Bowl: Navy vs. San Diego State
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Keenan Reynolds, QB, Navy
It's been an up-and-down season for Navy's junior quarterback, who has missed multiple games due to injury and has seen his passing accuracy take a tumble. But he's still deadly with his legs and the focal point of a Midshipmen option run game that ranks second in the country at 345.1 yards per game.
Reynolds has rushed for 1,182 yards and 21 touchdowns this season, totaling 62 rushing TDs for his career. That's the seventh-most in FBS history, three more than former Nebraska star Eric Crouch for most by a quarterback.
San Diego State will be playing a de facto home game in this bowl, held in its stadium, but Navy's strong impact on the region will make this a pro-Midshipmen crowd. The Aztecs were successful in slowing down option attacks from Air Force and New Mexico, but neither of those teams had someone as good as Reynolds.
Bahamas Bowl: Central Michigan vs. Western Kentucky
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Brandon Doughty, QB, Western Kentucky
As if there was another reason to watch a football game in the Bahamas, how about one featuring the FBS leader in passing yards (4,344) and touchdowns (44)?
Brandon Doughty has thrived in first-year coach Brian Brohm's wide-open offense, and he's coming off an amazing performance in his last game that knocked Conference USA champion Marshall from the ranks of the unbeaten. He threw for 491 yards and eight touchdowns in the Hilltoppers' 67-66 overtime win at Marshall. That performance helped his school land a bowl bid a year after being left out of the party despite an 8-4 record.
Central Michigan hasn't given up more than three passing touchdowns in any game this season, but that was in its last game against Western Michigan. Even with more than two weeks to prepare for Doughty, though, the Chippewas won't be able to stop him.
Hawaii Bowl: Fresno State vs. Rice
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Brian Nordstrom, DE, Rice
Rice got off to a rough start this season, losing its first three games before winning six in a row to ensure a third straight bowl appearance for the first time in program history. This win streak coincided with junior Brian Nordstrom coming into his own as a dominant defensive lineman.
The 6'3", 230-pounder had 14 of his 18.5 tackles for loss—tied for ninth in FBS—during those six consecutive victories.
Nordstrom figures to have a field day fighting through Fresno State's offensive line, which has allowed 36 sacks and 85 tackles for loss this season.
Heart of Dallas Bowl: Illinois vs. Louisiana Tech
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Kenneth Dixon, RB, Louisiana Tech
As a freshman, Kenneth Dixon scored 27 touchdowns but didn't get a chance to show off his stuff in a bowl game after Louisiana Tech failed to earn a bid despite nine wins. Last year the Bulldogs struggled and finished below .500, with Dixon only scoring four times.
The junior has found the end zone on 21 rushes and five receptions this season; he was a key ingredient to Tech winning Conference USA's West Division and getting back to a bowl game. Now he gets to run against one of the worst rush defenses in the country, an Illinois unit that was sixth-worst in FBS by allowing 249.6 yards per game.
Dixon has 399 yards and seven TDs in his last three games, and Illinois has allowed a 100-yard rusher in 10 of 12 games this season.
Quick Lane Bowl: North Carolina vs. Rutgers
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Gary Nova, QB, Rutgers
It's been a long, up-and-down career for Rutgers senior Gary Nova, who has started games for the Scarlet Knights in all four of his seasons but has also missed several because of injury. He's wrapping up his most effective year, despite missing time because of knee problems, with 20 touchdown passes and 2,667 yards.
Nova is the school's career leader with 71 passing TDs, but none of those have come in a bowl game. He failed to throw one in games in 2011 and 2012 and didn't play in Rutgers' loss to Notre Dame in the Pinstripe Bowl last December.
North Carolina's pass defense tends to be a cure for many ailments, as it ranks 108th in yards allowed and has given up 29 TDs.
St. Petersburg Bowl: North Carolina State vs. UCF
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Justin Holman, QB, UCF
It took Justin Holman a while to find his rhythm this season, but once the sophomore quarterback had that one big game, it was mostly smooth sailing from there on out.
And with the Knights once again representing the American Athletic Conference as champions—actually, they're co-champs along with Cincinnati and Memphis—they'll look for their quarterback to rise up and beat a power-conference team in a bowl game just like Blake Bortles did last year in the Fiesta Bowl victory over Baylor.
Holman has thrown for 2,661 yards and 20 touchdowns this year, with the last of those TD passes maybe being the biggest. It came on the final play of UCF's finale, a 32-30 win at East Carolina in which he threw a 51-yard Hail Mary pass to Breshad Perriman.
North Carolina State has only allowed three pass plays of more than 50 yards, so Holman will have to work the underneath routes to lead UCF to victory.
Military Bowl: Cincinnati vs. Virginia Tech
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Nick Temple, LB, Cincinnati
Virginia Tech managed to extend its bowl streak to 22 years by the skin of its teeth, with a season-ending win at Virginia. At 6-6, the Hokies beat some really good teams (semifinalist Ohio State and 9-3 Duke) but struggled in nearly every other game.
Turnovers were the Hokies' biggest issue, with 25 giveaways this season, while their offensive line gave up 31 sacks and 78 tackles for loss. All of that is music to Cincinnati senior Nick Temple's ears, as this season he's had three sacks and 10.5 TFL as well as a fumble return for a touchdown.
Temple, at 5'10" and 224 pounds, is undersized for his position but has come up big throughout the year. Look for him to wreak havoc in Virginia Tech's backfield.
Sun Bowl: Arizona State vs. Duke
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Jaelen Strong, WR, Arizona State
Both Arizona State and Duke aren't likely to be too thrilled about having to play a bowl game in El Paso, Texas, not when both were in line to win their respective division titles in the final weeks of the season before key losses. A lack of motivation could affect how this game is played, but expect the best player in the game to be fully focused.
ASU junior Jaelen Strong has 75 receptions for 1,062 yards and 10 touchdowns this season, including a Hail Mary catch that helped the Sun Devils beat USC in October. Strong missed part of ASU's finale at Arizona and part of the prior game with injuries, and with the projected first-round draft pick likely to turn pro after this game, he should be looking to go out with a bang.
"I'm not worried about anything else," Strong told Doug Haller of the Arizona Republic.
Duke has only allowed 12 passing touchdowns this season and has returned two interceptions for scores, but the Blue Devils will have their hands full with Strong.
Independence Bowl: Miami (Florida) vs. South Carolina
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Duke Johnson, RB, Miami (Florida)
The career rushing leader in Miami history has pretty much done it all during his three seasons with the Hurricanes, except showing what he could do in a bowl game. Miami wasn't eligible in 2012, and last season Johnson missed the final two months with a broken ankle.
There aren't a lot of things about this matchup of underachieving 6-6 teams from power conferences to look forward to, but seeing what likely could be the junior's final college game—he's said he will announce his future plans afterward—is a good reason.
Johnson has run for 1,520 yards and 10 touchdowns, along with 33 receptions for 370 yards and three TDs in 2014. And now he gets to face a South Carolina defense that ranked 109th against the run and allowed 28 rushing TDs.
Pinstripe Bowl: Boston College vs. Penn State
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Christian Hackenberg, QB, Penn State
When Christian Hackenberg had the most prolific passing game in school history back in August, the sophomore had no idea what would come from this season. His numbers went way down after throwing for 454 yards in that 26-24 win over UCF in Ireland, as he amassed only 2,152 yards with seven touchdowns and 13 interceptions in the other 11 games.
But along the way, Penn State had its NCAA sanctions lifted and was able to qualify for a bowl game, which means Hackenberg and the Nittany Lions have a chance to redeem themselves offensively.
It won't be an easy matchup, as Boston College only allowed 16 passing TDs this season. But this game is being played on a converted baseball field, and Hackenberg's best game this year (against UCF) was on a field normally reserved for soccer and rugby.
Holiday Bowl: Nebraska vs. USC
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Javorius Allen, RB, USC
He's no Melvin Gordon, but Javorius Allen could have a Gordon-like performance in USC's first-ever trip to the Holiday Bowl.
Allen rushed for 1,337 yards and nine touchdowns this season, along with 40 pass receptions, as one of many great weapons the Trojans had at their disposal. He feasted on some porous defenses, but none of them got torn up as badly as when Nebraska gave up 408 yards to Wisconsin's Gordon in three quarters in November.
The Cornhuskers ranked 80th in the country, allowing 176.5 rushing yards per game.
Allen's best effort this year was 205 yards and three TDs in a big win at Arizona. Might he double that in San Diego?
Liberty Bowl: Texas A&M vs. West Virginia
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Kevin White, WR, West Virginia
The bowl game that has the best chance to make its stadium scoreboard break features so many standout offensive players it's hard to guess which one will stand out and get an MVP award. But Kevin White has stood out so many other times this season that it stands to reason his likely dominance of Texas A&M's secondary will earn him an award.
White had 102 receptions for 1,318 yards and nine touchdowns this season, gaining at least 100 yards in each of West Virginia's first seven games. His lone multi-TD game came against Baylor, when the Mountaineers handed the Bears their only loss.
Texas A&M had trouble covering great wideouts all season, and its defenders only intercepted five passes. White figures to get double-teamed, but he dealt with that before and thrived, so look for him to explode in this one.
Russell Athletic Bowl: Clemson vs. Oklahoma
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Vic Beasley, DE, Clemson
It's seemed like a pretty quiet and uneventful season for Clemson senior Vic Beasley, who chose to come back for one more year after having a breakout junior campaign in 2013. But his numbers were still stellar, with 11 sacks and 18.5 tackles for loss (after 13 and 23, respectively, a year ago). He was a huge piece of a Tigers defense that ranked first nationally in yards allowed at 259.6 per game.
Oklahoma quarterback Trevor Knight missed the last three games with a neck injury, but he's been cleared for the bowl game. He might wish he was able to sit this one out, though, after Beasley gets to him a few times.
Texas Bowl: Arkansas vs. Texas
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Malcom Brown, DT, Texas
In a game that figures to be among the most hard-hitting and grind-it-out contests of the bowl season, you can't expect a lot of big offensive plays. Texas' Malcom Brown figures to ensure this a lot on his own, as he'll swallow up the middle of Arkansas' talented offensive line.
Brown had 6.5 sacks, 12.5 tackles for loss and two forced fumbles this season. Those numbers weren't near the top of many rankings but were still essential for Texas' defense to develop throughout the year. He'll be integral to the Longhorns trying to slow down Arkansas' run game, which has two 1,000-yard rushers and averages 42.3 attempts per game.
Music City Bowl: LSU vs. Notre Dame
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Leonard Fournette, RB, LSU
Arriving in college with a truckload of hype, freshman Leonard Fournette started his career off slowly but ended up with a solid first season with 891 yards and eight touchdowns. His last outing was arguably his best, as he went for 146 yards and a touchdown in the Tigers' win at Texas A&M.
But the bowl game will be Fournette's coming-out party, as he'll get the call early and often against a Notre Dame team that is riding a four-game losing streak and allowed 244.2 rushing yards per game over its last five.
Belk Bowl: Georgia vs. Louisville
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Gerod Holliman, S, Louisville
If Georgia is smart, it will never throw anywhere near the vicinity of Louisville sophomore Gerod Holliman. The FBS leader in interceptions, with 14, needs one more pick to break the single-season record that he currently shares with former Washington star Al Worley (from 1968).
But Georgia might find itself having to throw if its run game can't move the ball against Louisville's No. 3 rushing defense. Quarterback Hutson Mason has only thrown four interceptions this season in 262 attempts, but the last pass he threw was picked off by Georgia Tech in overtime of the Bulldogs' 30-24 loss on Nov. 30.
Holliman's last big play this season resulted in the usual—an interception of Kentucky's Patrick Towles in the waning moments of Louisville's 44-40 win.
Foster Farms Bowl: Maryland vs. Stanford
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Remound Wright, RB, Stanford
From 2009 to 2013, Stanford always had a reliable workhorse running back who could be called on to carry the ball over and over again when big yards and consistency were needed. The Cardinal didn't have that this season, and that lack of dependability affected the offensive flow.
Remound Wright emerged into this role toward the end of the season, rushing for six touchdowns in Stanford's final two games, wins at rivals California and UCLA. The 5'9", 204-pound senior finished the regular season with 552 yards and eight TDs.
Those numbers could get padded immensely in his final college game, as Maryland sports the 100th-ranked rush defense. Six teams ran for at least 200 yards against the Terrapins this season.
Peach Bowl: Ole Miss vs. TCU
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Chris Hackett, S, TCU
TCU was third in FBS with 23 interceptions this season, and junior Chris Hackett led that group with six picks. None of them went for touchdowns, but with the chance to chase down errant throws from Ole Miss quarterback Bo Wallace, he might finally get his first career touchdown.
The Horned Frogs felt snubbed by the playoff selection committee—because they went from third in the rankings to outside of the semifinals but also for having to head into SEC territory for their bowl game rather than stay home at the Cotton Bowl. Hackett and his teammates will feed of that disappointment and take it out on Ole Miss' inconsistent offense.
Wallace has thrown 11 interceptions this year, including four in the past three games. He hasn't thrown a TD pass since mid-November and could find himself trying to force the issue. If so, Hackett will be there to capitalize.
Fiesta Bowl: Arizona vs. Boise State
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Anu Solomon, QB, Arizona
Coming off the worst game of his career—only 34 yards on 6-of-12 passing before getting pulled at halftime with an ankle injury—in Arizona's blowout loss to Oregon in the Pac-12 title game, Anu Solomon won't want his stellar freshman season end on an extended bad note.
Solomon has set numerous school passing records in 2014, throwing for 3,458 yards and 27 touchdowns with only seven interceptions on 491 attempts. But the ankle injury hobbled him in the final month of the season, cutting down on his production.
With nearly a month to heal, as well as to figure out ways to avoid a Boise State defense that is tied for ninth in the country with 39 sacks, Solomon will thrive.
Orange Bowl: Georgia Tech vs. Mississippi State
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Dak Prescott, QB, Mississippi State
As Mississippi State was rolling to a 9-0 start that got it to No. 1 in the country, junior Dak Prescott was the poster boy for this team's rise to greatness with his combination of passing and running. But once the Bulldogs started losing—and Prescott had some struggles—his star stopped shining as brightly.
But bowl games are when the cream rises to the top, and with a few weeks off to get healthy and refocused, Prescott is going to have a huge game against a Georgia Tech defense that has allowed 62 plays of 20 or more yards this season.
Prescott has 3,935 yards of total offense and 37 touchdowns this season, but in his last three games he's averaged less than 3.1 yards per carry. Look for him to get more space to run here, and that will open up MSU's pass game and lead to a big outing for Prescott.
Outback Bowl: Auburn vs. Wisconsin
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Melvin Gordon, RB, Wisconsin
He finished second in the Heisman Trophy balloting and has an outside chance to become the most prolific running back in FBS history. Melvin Gordon also gets to run the ball against an Auburn defense that has shown a lack of technique in the tackling department, so that record very much could fall.
Gordon has rushed for 2,336 yards and 26 touchdowns this season, needing 293 yards to eclipse Barry Sanders' single-season mark. He's topped that single-game tally once this season, when he ran for 408 yards and four TDs against Nebraska, and that game had more importance because both teams were fighting for the Big Ten's West Division title.
The Outback Bowl is a nice final game for both Auburn and Wisconsin, but it's not the playoffs and not part of the College Football Playoff bowl lineup. It's the kind of game where someone could go off for a big game, and Gordon seems like the best bet considering the matchup.
"Once considered the strength of the defense, Auburn struggled to stop the run during the back half of the season, allowing 220 rushing yards or more to Mississippi State, Georgia and Alabama," wrote Jordan Cox of SaturdayDownSouth.com.
Auburn's defense will have a new coordinator next season, former Florida coach Will Muschamp, after Ellis Johnson was fired shortly after Auburn's Iron Bowl loss to Alabama. Muschamp will probably want to burn the film from this game when he starts putting together his defense for 2015.
Cotton Bowl: Baylor vs. Michigan State
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Bryce Petty, QB, Baylor
Baylor's loss to UCF in last year's Fiesta Bowl was not Bryce Petty's fault in any way, as the quarterback threw for 356 yards and accounted for five touchdowns. He might not put up similar numbers against Michigan State's No. 7 defense, but he'll still be the one most responsible for the Bears coming out victorious.
The Spartans have only allowed 13 passing touchdowns and intercepted 17 passes, but in their losses to Ohio State and Oregon, they allowed 618 yards and six TDs without a pick. Petty has only been sacked 19 times on 377 dropbacks, and he'll get enough protection to find the best available option from his many receiving weapons.
Citrus Bowl: Missouri vs. Minnesota
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Shane Ray, DE, Missouri
Snubbed by the Associated Press for an All-American first team spot, the SEC Defensive Player of the Year will take out his frustration on Minnesota quarterback Mitch Leidner in a game that will likely be short on points but long on standout defensive plays.
Leidner has only been sacked 18 times this season, partly because of his line but also because the sophomore likes to run the ball. But Ray will get to him no matter the play call, as the junior defensive end has managed to do all season en route to 12.5 sacks and 21 tackles for loss.
Another piece of motivation for Ray will be the desire to make up for missing the second half of Missouri's SEC title game loss to Alabama—a game that saw him get ejected in the second quarter after getting called for targeting.
Rose Bowl: Florida State vs. Oregon
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Marcus Mariota, QB, Oregon
In a game pitting the last two Heisman Trophy winners, odds are one of them will end up being the guy who rises above all others and leads his team to victory. With Oregon poised to end Florida State's 29-game win streak and its title reign, that means 2014 Heisman winner Marcus Mariota can also formally dethrone 2013 recipient Jameis Winston.
While Mariota hasn't had a season full of flash and flair, like previous Heisman winners, he's also had very little turmoil. Instead, he's shown just a whole lot of consistency and very few miscues that have led to disaster or prolonged lackluster play. Mariota has had at least 277 yards of total offense and two touchdowns in every game this year; he's responsible for 53 total scores with only two interceptions.
"Mistakes are a rarity for Mariota, but when he does show signs of being human, it doesn't affect him," Bleacher Report's Ben Kercheval wrote.
The same can't be said for Winston, who after throwing 40 TDs against 10 interceptions last year has 24 scoring passes and 17 picks in 2014.
Winston will have a big game, since it's likely going to be his final college performance, but Mariota's will be bigger.
Sugar Bowl: Alabama vs. Ohio State
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Xzavier Dickson, LB, Alabama
In a game with so many notable offensive players, it could come down to a big play on defense that determines who will move on to the championship game. Alabama's senior linebacker has had a solid season, leading the Crimson Tide with eight sacks and 10.5 tackles for loss, and he could be primed for a big outing going after Ohio State quarterback Cardale Jones.
Dickson was suspended for last year's Sugar Bowl, so this will be a chance for redemption for missing Alabama's last trip to New Orleans. Jones was mostly untouched in his previous start against Wisconsin in the Big Ten title game, but here he'll face far more pressure from the Tide's front seven, and it will be Dickson who creates the most havoc.
Armed Forces Bowl: Houston vs. Pittsburgh
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James Conner, RB, Pittsburgh
Paul Chryst's hiring by Wisconsin on Wednesday means that neither team in this game will be led by the coach who was in charge all season, as Houston fired Tony Levine last week. Both departed coaches are leaving behind some talented players for their replacements to work with, but Chryst is walking away from one of the best young rushers in the country.
Last year's bowl game was the coming-out party for James Conner, who had put together a decent freshman year but then went off for 229 yards in the Panthers' 30-27 win over Bowling Green. He followed that up by rushing for 1,675 yards and 24 touchdowns this season, besting school single-year marks previously held by NFL Hall of Famer Tony Dorsett.
Houston was 31st in the country in run defense, but that included allowing 323 yards and three touchdowns to BYU. Conner has a chance to do something close to that on his own.
TaxSlayer Bowl: Iowa vs. Tennessee
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Derek Barnett, DE, Tennessee
Two dozen true freshmen played for Tennessee this season in a youth movement that paced a return to a bowl game for the first time since 2010. Many of those first-year players can be credited for their part in the year's performance, but none as much as 6'3", 267-pound defensive end Derek Barnett.
Barnett led the Volunteers with 20.5 tackles for loss and was second with 11 sacks, but he'll be dealing with a major test in Iowa All-American (and Outland Trophy winner) Brandon Scherff at offensive tackle. But considering the linemen Barnett went up against in the SEC this season, he should be up to the challenge.
"I never been around a freshman with the consistency in his approach as he has," Tennessee coach Butch Jones told Bruce Feldman of Fox Sports.
Alamo Bowl: Kansas State vs. UCLA
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Tyler Lockett, WR, Kansas State
The greatest wide receiver in school history was MVP of Kansas State's bowl win last season, and in what will be the final game of his career, he's going to go for a second award. UCLA's 89th-ranked pass defense figures to make that possible.
Lockett has 93 receptions for 1,351 yards and nine touchdowns; those numbers helped him become the Wildcats' all-time leader in all three categories that were previously topped by his father, Kevin. The senior had three TD catches in K-State's win over Michigan in the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl in 2013, so he's shown the ability to step up in bowl games.
Cactus Bowl: Oklahoma State vs. Washington
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Shaq Thompson, RB/LB, Washington
Whatever side of the ball Shaq Thompson plays on against Oklahoma State, expect him to make a major impact. If he lines up on both offense and defense in the Cactus Bowl, you might as well reserve a spot for him on the awards stage.
The 6'1", 228-pound junior has scored six touchdowns this season, two on offense and four on defense. He has brought back three fumbles for TDs and also logged a pick-six, and during a three-game stretch when he started at running back, Thompson rushed for 372 yards and a score.
The reigning Hornung Award winner, given to the nation's most versatile player, was co-MVP of Washington's Fight Hunger Bowl win over BYU last season. He's now dealing with speculation about whether he'll go pro after this game, telling Adam Jude of the Seattle Times, "Our mindset is, we've got one more game to win."
With the Huskies favored to take this game, Thompson figures to be a part of that victory in various ways.
Birmingham Bowl: East Carolina vs. Florida
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Justin Hardy, WR, East Carolina
Florida's defense is what carried the team back to a bowl game in 2014, but it struggled against some of the better receivers it faced. Alabama's Amari Cooper had 10 catches for 201 yards and three touchdowns, while Kentucky's Garrett Johnson had six receptions for 154 yards and two scores.
Justin Hardy is the FBS career receptions leader, with 376, along with 4,381 yards and 34 touchdowns. This season he's caught 110 passes, pulling in eight or more in nine games.
East Carolina might not beat the Gators, but Hardy is going to get his catches. If he can haul in a few big ones from quarterback Shane Carden, a fellow senior, he could turn the game around for the Pirates.
GoDaddy Bowl: Arkansas State vs. Toledo
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Kareem Hunt, RB, Toledo
When he played this season, Kareem Hunt proved unstoppable. Only an ankle injury that kept him out of three Toledo games managed to slow down the 5'11", 215-pound sophomore.
In the other nine contests, Hunt ran for 1,360 yards and 11 touchdowns, gaining at least 101 yards in every contest for the Rockets. He had 265 yards and two scores in a win over Mid-American East Division champ Bowling Green and rushed for three TDs against SEC East champ Missouri.
Arkansas State ranked 94th in FBS in rushing defense this season, giving up 419 yards and eight touchdowns in a loss to Sun Belt champion Louisiana-Lafayette.
The final game of the bowl schedule (other than the national title game) could end up having the biggest single-game rushing total for a player.
Statistical information courtesy of CFBStats.com.
Follow Brian J. Pedersen on Twitter at @realBJP.
.jpg?w=480 "Ohio State Team Doctor")
