Rose Bowl 2015: Biggest X-Factors to Watch in Oregon vs. FSU Clash

There is no doubt that the likes of Marcus Mariota and Jameis Winston will have a massive impact on the Rose Bowl New Year's Day, but some of the less heralded players for Oregon and Florida State will have a say as well.

This year's Rose Bowl will be the first-ever College Football Playoff semifinal, so the stakes can't get much higher. Both the Ducks and Seminoles are stacked with talent from top to bottom, and they will need contributions from everyone to advance to the national championship game.

Here is a rundown of a few players who aren't being talked about much during the lead-up to the Rose Bowl but who also have a chance to spur their teams to victory.

Roberto Aguayo

The Seminoles will certainly have to score plenty of touchdowns in order to keep up with Oregon's explosive offense, but there is a good chance that both teams will have to make some plays in the kicking game in key situations.

If that comes to fruition, then the clear upper hand goes to Florida State. The Noles happen to have the best placekicker in all of college football in the form of sophomore Roberto Aguayo. He won the Lou Groza Award last season and has missed just three field goals on 49 career attempts while never misfiring on an extra point.

Aguayo is as automatic as they come at his position, and Florida State head coach Jimbo Fisher knows it, according to Chris Kirschner of Cox Media Group:

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Fisher: "Roberto [Aguayo] is special. He makes you call the game differently." #FSU

— Chris Kirschner (@ChrisKirschner) December 31, 2014"

The accuracy of Aguayo is a huge asset at any point in the game, but his ability to make kicks in pressure situations sets him apart from everyone else.

Per Stephen Alexander of the Portland Tribune, the two-time All-ACC selection loves to have the game hanging on his foot.

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I'm really confident. I trust my craft, I trust my swing. I trust my holder and my snapper. When the time comes, I'll feel comfortable and just hit the ball and let it go through the uprights. In big games, that's what I was meant to do. I was meant to be in big situations like that. I feel more comfortable the bigger the stage is. I kick every kick to make it.

"

The Seminoles have won many close games this year due in large part to Aguayo's kicking. If Oregon is unable to separate itself and pull away, then it risks feeling the wrath of Aguayo as well.

Chris Seisay

Much of the focus entering this game is on offense since both the Ducks and Seminoles can light up the scoreboard, but either team can gain an advantage if it is able to make stops and slow down the opposition defensively.

Oregon may be able to do that against an FSU offense that has had some ups and downs this season, but it will have to soldier on without the services of star cornerback Ifo Ekpre-Olomu.

According to AP Top 25 on Twitter, the senior All-American is out of the Rose Bowl due to injury:

With Ekpre-Olomu out of the fold, that means redshirt freshman cornerback Chris Seisay will be elevated into a starting role. Seisay has received quite a bit of playing time this season, but starting in a CFP semifinal is a totally different animal.

Even so, Oregon wide receiver Devon Allen believes he is up to the task, per Dan Greenspan of The Associated Press.

"He has definitely grown as a DB, gotten a lot better, and it's impressive. Going against him is definitely one of the harder parts of practice for me, so I think he is ready to go," Allen said.

While senior Troy Hill will probably be tasked with covering Seminoles No. 1 receiver Rashad Greene for most of the night, Seisay may find himself across from Winston's favorite target here and there.

Even when he doesn't, he'll have to keep up with a bevy of talented Florida State pass-catchers. If Seisay plays like a freshman, then that will work in the Noles' favor. If the situation isn't too big for him, though, the Ducks will be in great shape.

Karlos Williams

Most expected senior running back Karlos Williams to have a huge season for the Seminoles in 2014 as the lead rusher. He hasn't been as effective as hoped, though, and has essentially been bypassed by freshman Dalvin Cook.

According to Brendan Sonnone of the Orlando Sentinel, Williams and Cook are essentially listed as co-starters entering the Rose Bowl:

With that said, Cook figures to handle the bulk of the workload due to his great play late in the season. It isn't as though Williams has been awful this year, though, so he will still figure into the Seminoles attack.

He is averaging 4.4 yards per carry and has rushed for 10 touchdowns, which means the Ducks will have to account for him in short-yardage and red-zone situations.

At 6'1" and 225 pounds, Williams is a hard runner who is difficult to bring down. If Florida State wants to control the clock and keep Oregon's offense off the field, then a bruiser like Williams will be key to making that happen.

Cook is getting most of the attention right now in terms of FSU running backs, but the Ducks can't afford to ignore Williams.

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