Rose Bowl 2012: 5 Players to Watch for

For both conferences, it was the inaugural season for crowning a champion via a championship game. Both Oregon and Wisconsin have very explosive run-based offenses.

This year is the second year in a row that the Badgers will represent the Big 10 in the Rose Bowl, while this is the Ducks' second opportunity in three years. Here are five players to watch for.

De'Anthony Thomas

De'Anthony Thomas is a very explosive freshman for the Ducks. This year he had a team-high 42 receptions and an average of 8.3 yards per carry. While he has made some mistakes this year, he is certainly a game changer with the ability to score at any time.

Russell Wilson

The transfer from North Carolina State, Russel Wilson has played a pivotal role in the Badgers' success this season. He has completed over 72.5 percent of his passes for 2,879 yards. Wilson has added a great dynamic to Wisconsin's smash-mouth style with the ability to move in the pocket.

Montee Ball

With the most touchdowns in college football this year (32), Montee Ball has been a pivotal part of the offense with a knack for the end zone.  In addition, he has 1,759 yards on the ground.

Look for Ball to have a huge game on the ground while the Badgers try to take advantage of the Ducks' small defensive line.

Darron Thomas

Darron Thomas is the general of this explosive offense. While this year his rushing stats have been down, his passing numbers have been great. This year he has 2,493 yards with 30 touchdowns and only six interceptions. Look for this QB to try and take advantage of the Badgers secondary.

LaMichael James

While the Ducks have relied on James this year, it does not mean he is not explosive or not a important player on this team.

While his rushing attempts have decreased this year (222 attempts), his yards-per-carry have gone up from 5.9 to 7.4 yards.

James has the ability to score from anywhere on the field, at any time, in any situation. Along with the rushing numbers, James has been no slouch in the passing game either, with  210 yards receiving and one touchdown.

With LaMicheal's explosiveness and ability to score, not only is he a player to watch for, he will be the key to the Ducks' success.