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One Player to Watch on Every Bowl Team

From the CFP semifinals to the First Responder Bowl, here’s who to look out for as bowl season gets underway.

Richard Johnson

There are plenty of bowl games sponsored by companies you’ve never heard of featuring teams you don’t really get a chance to see during the season. In fact, the best part about bowl games is the stage it gives college football's unique talents. So here’s one player to watch from each team in each bowl game.

Note: All players were reportedly participating as of Dec. 13, and all times are Eastern.

Ohio State wide receiver Marvin Harrison Jr. celebrates a touchdown against Michigan during the first half at Ohio Stadium.
Harrison’s 12 touchdowns on the season is tied for fourth in the country :: Junfu Han/USA TODAY NETWORK

College Football Playoff

Peach Bowl

No. 1 Georgia vs. No. 4 Ohio State
Saturday, Dec. 31, 8 p.m. | ESPN

For Georgia, it’s all about the man in the middle: DT Jalen Carter. It’s almost impossible stop him, but the Buckeyes will hope to find ways to run around him or neutralize his ability to wreck a an offensive line. That may mean QB CJ Stroud will have more pressure in his face than he’s used to. He’ll need to deal with it in order to deliver the ball to the outstanding Marvin Harrison Jr. whenever possible.

Fiesta Bowl 

No. 2 Michigan vs. No. 3 TCU
Saturday, Dec. 31, 4 p.m | ESPN

Both running backs possess game braking ability in this game with Michigan’s Donovan Edwards taking over for Blake Corum and adding a more explosive gear to the Wolverines running game. On the other side is TCU’s Kendre Miller, who has proved reliable all season in the backfield as well.

New Year’s Six

Orange Bowl 

No. 7 Clemson vs. No. 6 Tennessee
Friday, Dec. 30, 8 p.m. | ESPN

There’s an interesting quarterback matchup here that starts with Tennessee’s Joe Milton, who was once benched but is now the starter for the Vols in Hendon Hooker’s absence. He has an absolute cannon of an arm, but he’s still trying to learn how to control it. On Clemson’s side is Cade Klubnik, who over the balance of the season finally got in for more than a few plays with the first team in the ACC championship game and showed everyone why there’s reason for optimism that the Tigers can get back to their playoff heights.

Sugar Bowl

No. 5 Alabama vs. No. 9 Kansas State
Saturday, Dec. 31, 12 p.m. | ESPN

When running back Deuce Vaughn is on the loose, look out, because he’s hard to catch and even harder to bring down once you have him.

One of the players tasked with that is Dallas Turner, Alabama’s other exceptional edge rushing talent who bookends the exceptional Will Anderson.

Cotton Bowl

No. 10 USC vs. No. 16 Tulane
Monday, Jan. 2, 1 p.m. | ESPN

As long as Tulane has running back Tyjae Spears on the field, they’ve got a shot to break a big play with his incredible burst and acceleration. He’ll pace the Green Wave offense on one side while USC running back Austin Jones showed late in the season he’s up to the task of carrying the run game without Travis Dye, and may have to shoulder a little more of the load if Heisman Trophy winner Caleb Williams is still battling a nagging hamstring injury.

Rose Bowl

No. 11 Penn State vs. No. 8 Utah
Monday, Jan. 2, 5 p.m. | ESPN

Introduce yourself to Nick Singleton, perhaps the next dynamo at running back for the Nittany Lions.

And while you’re paying attention, keep tabs on Utah TE Thomas Yassmin, who without Brandy Kuithe or Dalton Kincaid could be the focal point of the Utes’ tight end-based attack.

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Friday, Dec. 16

Bahamas Bowl

Miami (Ohio) vs. UAB
11:30 a.m. | ESPN

Blazers RB DeWayne McBride is a load to bring down and despite only playing 11 games this season, he leads the nation in total yards rushing and yards rushing per game.

Penn State transfer receiver Mac Hippenhammer gives Miami a big vertical threat in a small package.

Cure Bowl

No. 24 Troy vs. No. 25 UTSA
3 p.m. | ESPN

If styles make fights, this one is a good one with an electric UTSA offense led by, among others, WR Zakhari Franklin. The Trojans boast one of the best defenses in the country at any level, and their cornerstone is unquestionably LB Carlton Martial, who set the FBS record for tackles and keeps on adding more.

Saturday, Dec. 17

Fenway Bowl 

Cincinnati vs. Louisville
11 a.m. | ESPN

The energy and the mortar are the initial things that jump off the screen whenever you watch Cincinnati LB Ivan Pace Jr. He was a player who transferred in from Miami (Ohio) and for a defense gutted by the NFL, the Bearcats sure needed everything he could give them this season.

Louisville tight end Marshon Ford is a threat in the passing game, but even more than that, his ability to be a moveable chess piece in different positions in various formations is a key for Louisville’s run game.

New Mexico Bowl

BYU vs. SMU
2:15 p.m. | ABC

Without Rashee Rice, someone’s going to have to step up in the Mustangs passing game. Why not Jordan Kerley? He could be the next breakout SMU wide receiver.

BYU tackle Blake Freeland has been a consistent contributor at a position of strength for the Cougars over the last few years and he’s a player who has started a ton of games. That experience may land him on an NFL roster after he’s done in this last game on the college stage.

Jimmy Kimmel LA Bowl

Fresno State vs. Washington State
3:30 p.m. | ABC

This one’s about the quarterbacks. On one side, there’s Jake Haener, a player who will seemingly battle through just about anything for the Bulldogs and has shined this time under coach Jeff Tedford. On the other end is Cameron Ward, a transfer from Incarnate Word who can fill up passing stat sheets in a hurry if the Bulldogs aren’t careful.

LendingTree Bowl

Southern Miss vs. Rice
5:45 p.m. | ESPN

These two teams are here to do one thing: run the ball, and run it often. When at their best, the Owls are doing it behind second team all-Conference USA linemen Shea Baker. The Golden Eagles have a true throwback offensive attack that often puts running back Frank Gore Jr. at wildcat quarterback.

Las Vegas Bowl

Florida vs. No. 14 Oregon State
2:30 p.m. | ESPN

You may be familiar with the older Etienne brother, Travis, who starred at Clemson and is currently starting for the Jacksonville Jaguars. But his younger brother Trevor Etienne is every bit the live wire that his sibling was. On the other side is another talented freshman back, Damien Martinez, who halfway through the season began getting the lion’s share of the carries for the Beavers and hasn’t looked back.

Frisco Bowl

Boise State vs. North Texas
9:15 p.m. | ESPN

Look out when Boise State is on defense, because versatile safety JL Skinner has the size to lay the wood with his 6’4” frame, but also the range to pull off highlight-reel interceptions.

If he is to get a pick in this game, it could come on a pass intended for tight end Var’Keyes Gumms, who’s had a breakout freshman campaign as a contributor in the Mean Green passing game.

Dellenger: Ranking All 41 FBS Bowl Games by Watchability

Monday, Dec. 19

Myrtle Beach Bowl

UConn vs. Marshall
2:30 p.m. | ESPN

At some point, Marshall RB Khalan Laborn and UConn LB Jackson Mitchell are going to meet in the hole. When they do, look out. It’ll be a tectonic collision between the two. Laborn has been an absolute workhorse this season with the sixth-most carries nationally and multiple games with over 30 carries.

Tuesday, Dec. 20

Famous Idaho Potato Bowl

San Jose State vs. Eastern Michigan
3:30 p.m. | ESPN

Eastern Michigan’s offense will likely become very familiar with Viliami Fehoko as a standout interior rusher who can wreck plays with penetration up the middle. But EMU has its own defensive maven in EDGE Jose Ramirez who lives in opposing backfields with 12 sacks this season—second nationally.

Boca Raton Bowl

Toledo vs. Liberty

7:30 p.m. | ESPN

Toledo QB Dequan Finn brings a dual threat ability to the table, while Liberty WR Demario Douglas is a shifty player with serious ability to create yards after the catch. He also has some serious hops.

Wednesday, Dec. 21

New Orleans Bowl

South Alabama vs. Western Kentucky
9 p.m. | ESPN

The Hilltoppers get the ball to receiver Malachi Corley early and often during games. He has the sixth-most catches of any FBS receivers. He does the bulk of his work from the slot, and thankfully for us at home that’s the case because of the best-on-best matchup he’ll have with South Alabama slot corner Yam Banks.

Thursday, Dec. 22

Armed Forces Bowl

Air Force vs. Baylor
7:30 p.m. | ESPN

Good luck to any Air Force lineman unlucky enough to have to deal with nose tackle Siaki Ika, who possesses the classic combination of power and speed you don’t typically see in a body his size. He’ll have the job of trying to corral Falcons fullback Kyle Patterson, who has been huge for his team’s rushing-based attack.

Dell provides a serious threat for Houston’s passing attack :: James Guillory/USA TODAY Sports

Friday, Dec. 23

Independence Bowl

Houston vs. Louisiana
3 p.m. | ESPN

There are few better receivers in the country than Houston’s Tank Dell, who put up video game numbers in the Cougars’ high flying offense.

Louisiana DT Zi’Yon Hill-Green is one of the best defensive tackles in the country, and packs a punch for the Cajuns on the interior.

Gasparilla Bowl

Missouri vs. Wake Forest
6:30 p.m. | ESPN

This is a matchup of receivers worth watching. For the Tigers, there is Luther Burden III, a freshman who has big potential and is a player to watch in the future. For the Deacs, this is the swan song for A.T. Perry, the talented and lanky deep threat that has been the engine for one of the most exciting offenses in the country.

Saturday, Dec. 24

Hawai’i Bowl

Middle Tennessee vs. San Diego State
8 p.m. | ESPN

SDSU center Alama Uluave leads a physical Aztecs team while first-team all-conference defensive end Jordan Ferguson is key to the Blue Raiders’ defense.

Monday, Dec. 26

Quick Lane Bowl

New Mexico State vs. Bowling Green
2:30 p.m. | ESPN

He hasn’t scored as a returner yet, but BSGU’s Ta’ron Keith is one of the premier return threats in the country this season, and has given us one of the highlights of the season as a wide receiver.

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Aggies safety Bryce Jackson is a key to NMSU’s surprisingly stout defense this season.

Tuesday, Dec. 27

Camellia Bowl

Georgia Southern vs. Buffalo
12 p.m. | ESPN

Georgia Southern’s Khalil Crowder has been a reliable starter for the Eagles for multiple years as has Buffalo’s Shaun Dolac, who has gone from walk-on to one of the nation’s leading tacklers and a standout college linebacker.

First Responder Bowl

Utah State vs. Memphis
3:15 p.m. | ESPN

Memphis’s defense is all about safety Quindell Johnson patrolling the back end, while Utah State’s offense is paced by shifty RB Calvin Tyler Jr.

Birmingham Bowl

East Carolina vs. Coastal Carolina
6:45 p.m. | ESPN

It’s not often you’ll see players enter the portal but still play in the bowl game, but that is what QB Grayson McCall is going to do for the Chanticleers as he wants to finish what he started. McCall gets that chance after an up-and-down season where he battled injury. He’ll be tasked with outscoring an ECU offense that leans on RB Keaton Mitchell, whose most recent outing featured him rushing for 222 yards and adding 78 more in the passing game with a 73-yard touchdown reception.

Guaranteed Rate Bowl

Wisconsin vs. Oklahoma State
10:15 p.m. | ESPN

Speaking of players coming back, Wisconsin RB Braelon Allen returning is a great sign for the future of the program as new coach Luke Fickell takes over. If this Guaranteed Rate Bowl ends up being close, it may come down to Cowboys kicker Tanner Brown, who has missed just one of his 62 PATs and field goals this season.

Johnson has led an improved UCF defense this season :: Rebecca Warren/USA TODAY Sports

Wednesday, Dec. 28

Military Bowl

Duke vs. UCF
2 p.m. | ESPN

Duke’s defense has been a revelation after years of poor play, and stout defensive tackle DeWayne Carter is a key cog in how the unit goes about their business. UCF linebacker Jason Johnson is similarly great for the Knights on their improved defense after transferring from the FCS level.

Liberty Bowl

Arkansas vs. Kansas
5:30 p.m. | ESPN

There may not be a more entertaining quarterback matchup on the bowl slate with Arkansas’s KJ Jefferson and Kansas’s Jalon Daniels at the controls of two exciting offenses.

Holiday Bowl

No. 15 Oregon vs. North Carolina
8 p.m. | Fox

Quarterback Drake Maye is staying at UNC, and that means the Heels will again have one of the most exciting passing attacks in the country in the nation in both this game and next year. Here, Oregon brings its own potent passing game into the game with receiver Tony Franklin and all kinds of big play ability.

Texas Bowl

Texas Tech vs. Ole Miss
9 p.m. | ESPN

Texas Tech’s defense took a hit earlier in the season when Tyree Wilson went down with an injury, but on the interior, Jaylon Hutchings still clogs the works up front. He’ll have to do so against an Ole Miss team that use various shifts and motions to generate explosive plays, and a lot of those plays end up with running back Quinshon Judkins running roughshod over defenses.

Thursday, Dec. 29

Pinstripe Bowl

Syracuse vs. Minnesota
2 p.m. | ESPN

There may not be a better running back matchup in the bowl slate than Syracuse’s Sean Tucker against Minnsota’s Mo Ibrahim. Both are the unquestioned bellows for their teams with Ibrahim especially changing the way the Gophers play depending on whether he’s on the field or not.

Cheez-It Bowl

No. 13 Florida State vs. Oklahoma
5:30 p.m. | ESPN

FSU defensive end Jared Verse will be on the prowl in this game. The former FCS player has been a revelation for the Noles. When he hasn’t gotten to the quarterback, look for passes to be headed to Sooners WR Marvin Mims, who has shown the ability to create the spectacular.

Alamo Bowl

No. 12 Washington vs. No. 20 Texas
9 p.m. | ESPN

You may not have realized it, but Washington QB Michael Penix Jr. had one of the most statistically impressive seasons in college football, leading the country in passing yards and yards per game with a 66% completion percentage. Stick that against a Texas offense and all-world running back Bijan Robinson, and this should be a great game.

Friday, Dec. 30

Duke’s Mayo Bowl

Maryland vs. No. 23 NC State
12 p.m. | ESPN

Great DBs take center stage in this game. On one side, there’s safety Beau Brade for Maryland and for the Wolfpack, CB Aydan White has stepped into a starting role nicely this season with four interceptions.

Sun Bowl 

Pitt vs. No. 18 UCLA
2 p.m. | CBS

Pitt RB Israel Abanikanda was one of this season’s breakout stars. He truly made his name known in racking up 320 yards on the ground against Virginia Tech, which is an impressive feat when you think of the backs who have played at Pitt in the past.

Instrumental to UCLA QB Dorian Thompson-Robinson’s great season is receiver Jake Bobo, who served as a consistently reliable target that delivered so many times this season and by far led the team in receiving.

Gator Bowl

No. 21 Notre Dame vs. No. 19 South Carolina
3:30 p.m. | ESPN

The Gamecocks took a while to get rolling this season, but once they did, it was the connection of QB Spencer Rattler and Antwane Wells. The junior wideout had massive games coming down the stretch of the season, including 177 yards against Tennessee and 131 yards against Clemson. Notre Dame’s defense has been stout this season, but with its best receiving threat, Michael Mayer, opting out, look for the Irish to lean even more on outstanding running back Audric Estime.

Arizona Bowl, Tucson 

Ohio vs. Wyoming
4:30 p.m. | Barstool

With no Kurtis Rourke for the Bobcats, but RB Sieh Bangura has proved up to the task of keeping the offense afloat. The player with the biggest opportunity to keep him under wraps is Cowboys LB Easton Gibbs.

Saturday, Dec. 31

Music City Bowl, Nashville 

Kentucky vs. Iowa
12 p.m. | ABC

Don’t expect there to be a ton of offense in this one, and one of the biggest reasons why why is Jack Campbell’s skill at linebacker. The man in the middle for the Hawkeyes defense has been the next in line in a tradition of great second-level players. If Kentucky is able to put up some points, outstanding freshman wideout Dane Key has proved this season he can be an exciting deep threat in the future of UK’s offense.

Monday, Jan. 2

ReliaQuest Bowl, Tampa 

Illinois vs. No. 22 Mississippi State
12 p.m. | ESPN2

Playing with a heavy heart after the passing of head coach Mike Leach, the entire Bulldogs offense will be players to watch as they look to carry the offensive mastermind’s legend against an Illinois defense that has proved fantastic this season. Devon Witherspoon is a key piece at defensive back, with a long-armed frame that will have NFL scouts excited when he declares.

Citrus Bowl, Orlando

No. 17 LSU vs. Purdue
1 p.m. | ABC

Don’t take your eye of Harold Perkins, Jr., and outstanding hybrid linebacker whom the Tigers find creative ways to get him to rush the passer. He is capable of single handedly wrecking a game if an offense isn’t careful. But on the other side is Purdue’s Charlie Jones, who was one of the most prolific receivers in the country this season with 110 catches. 

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Richard Johnson
RICHARD JOHNSON

Richard Johnson is known for his college sports expertise. He co-hosts the “Split Zone Duo” podcast and co-authored The Sinful Seven: Sci-fi Western Legends of the NCAA. Richard was the 2022 winner of the Edward Aschoff Rising Star Award, and previously appeared as an analyst on the SEC Network show “Thinking Out Loud.” He established an early career with ESPN and SB Nation before joining Sports Illustrated in 2021 and lives in Brooklyn.

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