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Celebration Bowl
North Carolina A&T vs. Grambling
Noon, ABC
Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
North Carolina A&T
Key player: Quarterback Lamar Raynard has thrown for 2,707 yards and 26 touchdowns on the season.
Storyline to watch: This team is undefeated after beating NC Central 24-10 in the final game of the regular season. Finishing the entire season without a loss would be quite the feat.
Grambling
Key player: Linebacer De'Arius Christmas was named SWAC player of the year after tallying 77 total tackles and 15.5 tackles for loss.
Storyline to watch: This team lost its first game of the season to Tulane and has won every game since, including the Southwestern Athletic conference championship game. Can they win 12 games in a conference that doesn't have any other teams with more than seven wins?
North Carolina A&T vs. Grambling
Noon, ABC
Mercedes-Benz Stadium, Atlanta
Key player: Quarterback Lamar Raynard has thrown for 2,707 yards and 26 touchdowns on the season.
Storyline to watch: This team is undefeated after beating NC Central 24-10 in the final game of the regular season. Finishing the entire season without a loss would be quite the feat.
Key player: Linebacer De'Arius Christmas was named SWAC player of the year after tallying 77 total tackles and 15.5 tackles for loss.
Storyline to watch: This team lost its first game of the season to Tulane and has won every game since, including the Southwestern Athletic conference championship game. Can they win 12 games in a conference that doesn't have any other teams with more than seven wins?
[h=3]R+L Carriers New Orleans Bowl[/h]Troy vs. North Texas
1 p.m., ESPN
Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans
Troy
Key player: QB Brandon Silvers, who is third among active players in completions (922) and sixth in passing yards (10,133).
Storyline to watch: This will be the last game for Silvers, who has been the Trojans' starting quarterback since he was a freshman, missing only two games in his career.
North Texas
Key player: Running back Jeffery Wilson has rushed for 1,215 yards and 16 touchdowns but was injured late in the season.
Storyline to watch: Wilson might not be healthy by the time the bowl game rolls around, which would be a huge blow to this offense.
1 p.m., ESPN
Mercedes-Benz Superdome, New Orleans
Troy
Key player: QB Brandon Silvers, who is third among active players in completions (922) and sixth in passing yards (10,133).
Storyline to watch: This will be the last game for Silvers, who has been the Trojans' starting quarterback since he was a freshman, missing only two games in his career.
Key player: Running back Jeffery Wilson has rushed for 1,215 yards and 16 touchdowns but was injured late in the season.
Storyline to watch: Wilson might not be healthy by the time the bowl game rolls around, which would be a huge blow to this offense.
[h=3]AutoNation Cure Bowl[/h]Western Kentucky vs. Georgia State
2:30 p.m., CBSSN
Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Florida
Western Kentucky
Key player: Quarterback Mike White has 3,826 passing yards on the season, with 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
Storyline to watch: After an 11-3 season in 2016 with head coach Jeff Brohm but going 6-6 this season with Brohm at Purdue, this team needs to find its way back without Brohm.
Georgia State
Key player: WR Penny Hart. The sophomore wide receiver led the way with 1,094 receiving yards and eight touchdowns.
Storyline to watch: The Panthers have turned in a solid first season for new head coach Shawn Elliott, making a bowl game for just the second time ever.
2:30 p.m., CBSSN
Camping World Stadium, Orlando, Florida
Western Kentucky
Key player: Quarterback Mike White has 3,826 passing yards on the season, with 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions.
Storyline to watch: After an 11-3 season in 2016 with head coach Jeff Brohm but going 6-6 this season with Brohm at Purdue, this team needs to find its way back without Brohm.
Key player: WR Penny Hart. The sophomore wide receiver led the way with 1,094 receiving yards and eight touchdowns.
Storyline to watch: The Panthers have turned in a solid first season for new head coach Shawn Elliott, making a bowl game for just the second time ever.
Las Vegas Bowl
No. 25 Boise State vs. Oregon
3:30 p.m., ABC
Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas
Boise State
Key player: LB Leighton Vander Esch. The Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year was third in the conference with 113 tackles and finished with 5.5 tackles for loss and three sacks.
Storyline to watch: The Broncos' bowl streak has reached 16 straight seasons, which is the longest among Group of 5 programs and trails only Florida State (36), Virginia Tech (25), Georgia (21), Oklahoma (19) and LSU (18) overall.
Oregon
Key player: QB Justin Herbert. Has any team in the country been affected more by the presence of one player? With him, the Ducks are 6-1. Without him, they're 1-4.
Storyline to watch: With coach Willie Taggart's name caught up in job speculation, how will that affect the team?
No. 25 Boise State vs. Oregon
3:30 p.m., ABC
Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas
Key player: LB Leighton Vander Esch. The Mountain West Defensive Player of the Year was third in the conference with 113 tackles and finished with 5.5 tackles for loss and three sacks.
Storyline to watch: The Broncos' bowl streak has reached 16 straight seasons, which is the longest among Group of 5 programs and trails only Florida State (36), Virginia Tech (25), Georgia (21), Oklahoma (19) and LSU (18) overall.
Key player: QB Justin Herbert. Has any team in the country been affected more by the presence of one player? With him, the Ducks are 6-1. Without him, they're 1-4.
Storyline to watch: With coach Willie Taggart's name caught up in job speculation, how will that affect the team?
[h=3]GILDAN New Mexico Bowl[/h]Marshall vs. Colorado State
4:30 p.m., ESPN
Branch Field at Dreamstyle Stadium, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Marshall
Key player: Linebacker Chase Hancock leads the team in total tackles and tackles for loss on the season.
Storyline to watch: Marshall went 13-1 in 2014 and 10-3 in 2015 but then only won three games in 2016 and seven this season. Can this team continue to push back toward the 10-win range?
Colorado State
Key player: WR Michael Gallup. A finalist for the Biletnikoff Award, given to the nation's top receiver, Gallup ranked third nationally in receptions (94) and fourth in receiving yards (1,345) during the regular season.
Storyline to watch: Can the Rams avoid three straight 7-6 seasons under coach Mike Bobo's watch? This is a program that has the infrastructure to be better than that.
4:30 p.m., ESPN
Branch Field at Dreamstyle Stadium, Albuquerque, New Mexico
Key player: Linebacker Chase Hancock leads the team in total tackles and tackles for loss on the season.
Storyline to watch: Marshall went 13-1 in 2014 and 10-3 in 2015 but then only won three games in 2016 and seven this season. Can this team continue to push back toward the 10-win range?
Key player: WR Michael Gallup. A finalist for the Biletnikoff Award, given to the nation's top receiver, Gallup ranked third nationally in receptions (94) and fourth in receiving yards (1,345) during the regular season.
Storyline to watch: Can the Rams avoid three straight 7-6 seasons under coach Mike Bobo's watch? This is a program that has the infrastructure to be better than that.
[h=3]Raycom Media Camellia Bowl[/h]Middle Tennessee vs. Arkansas State
8 p.m., ESPN
Cramton Bowl, Montgomery, Alabama
Middle Tennessee
Key player: Wide receiver Ty Lee had 916 receiving yards and five touchdowns on the season.
Storyline to watch: This team is bowl eligible for the sixth year in a row, but it has been right around 6-6 the past few seasons. Can the Blue Raiders get past eight wins next season, or is this who they are?
Arkansas State
Key player: DE Ja'Von Rolland-Jones is a fierce pass rusher who could change a game in a hurry.
Storyline to watch: Rolland-Jones is closing in on the FBS career sack record. Going into the bowl game, he needs just one to break the mark.
8 p.m., ESPN
Cramton Bowl, Montgomery, Alabama
Key player: Wide receiver Ty Lee had 916 receiving yards and five touchdowns on the season.
Storyline to watch: This team is bowl eligible for the sixth year in a row, but it has been right around 6-6 the past few seasons. Can the Blue Raiders get past eight wins next season, or is this who they are?
Key player: DE Ja'Von Rolland-Jones is a fierce pass rusher who could change a game in a hurry.
Storyline to watch: Rolland-Jones is closing in on the FBS career sack record. Going into the bowl game, he needs just one to break the mark.
[h=3]Cheribundi Tart Cherry Boca Raton Bowl[/h]Akron vs. Florida Atlantic
7 p.m., ESPN
Howard Schnellenberger Field at FAU Stadium, Boca Raton, Florida
Akron
Key player: Linebacker Ulysees Gilbert III leads the team with 118 total tackles and also has five sacks on the season.
Storyline to watch: Who gets the job done at quarterback? The Zips started freshman Kato Nelson in the MAC championship game, but Woodson came in to relieve him in the game.
Florida Atlantic
Key player: Running back Devin Singletary has more than 1,600 rushing yards on the season and has been a catalyst to the Owls' offense.
Storyline to watch: Lane Kiffin is showing he has what it takes to be a head coach and build a consistent program.
7 p.m., ESPN
Howard Schnellenberger Field at FAU Stadium, Boca Raton, Florida
Key player: Linebacker Ulysees Gilbert III leads the team with 118 total tackles and also has five sacks on the season.
Storyline to watch: Who gets the job done at quarterback? The Zips started freshman Kato Nelson in the MAC championship game, but Woodson came in to relieve him in the game.
Key player: Running back Devin Singletary has more than 1,600 rushing yards on the season and has been a catalyst to the Owls' offense.
Storyline to watch: Lane Kiffin is showing he has what it takes to be a head coach and build a consistent program.
[h=3]DXL Frisco Bowl[/h]Louisiana Tech vs. SMU
8 p.m., ESPN
Toyota Stadium, Frisco, Texas
Louisiana Tech
Key player: Freshman defensive back Amik Robertson has four interceptions, 58 tackles, six pass breakups, two sacks and 6.5 tackles for loss this season.
Storyline to watch: Many people didn't think Louisiana Tech, which finished 6-6 after winning its final two regular-season games, would even make it to a bowl game. Can the Bulldogs show that they belong and that those who said they wouldn't be there were wrong?
SMU
Key player: Receiver Trey Quinn is the Mustangs' safety net -- a go-to weapon on offense who pairs perfectly with big-play threat Courtland Sutton. The two each corralled more than 1,000 yards through the air and each finished with 12 touchdowns.
Storyline to watch: Can the defense make strides before the bowl? SMU has scored plenty this year, but keeping the opponent out of the end zone is another story. The Mustangs allowed at least 30 points in each of their final five games.
8 p.m., ESPN
Toyota Stadium, Frisco, Texas
Key player: Freshman defensive back Amik Robertson has four interceptions, 58 tackles, six pass breakups, two sacks and 6.5 tackles for loss this season.
Storyline to watch: Many people didn't think Louisiana Tech, which finished 6-6 after winning its final two regular-season games, would even make it to a bowl game. Can the Bulldogs show that they belong and that those who said they wouldn't be there were wrong?
Key player: Receiver Trey Quinn is the Mustangs' safety net -- a go-to weapon on offense who pairs perfectly with big-play threat Courtland Sutton. The two each corralled more than 1,000 yards through the air and each finished with 12 touchdowns.
Storyline to watch: Can the defense make strides before the bowl? SMU has scored plenty this year, but keeping the opponent out of the end zone is another story. The Mustangs allowed at least 30 points in each of their final five games.
Bad Boy Mowers Gasparilla Bowl
Temple vs. FIU
8 p.m., ESPN
Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Florida
Temple
Key player: QB Frank Nutile didn't get a real shot at the starting job until late October, but his arrival completely transformed the Temple offense. Aside from struggles against UCF, he was virtually unstoppable down the stretch as Temple finished by winning three of four.
Storyline to watch: For a team that looked lost at the end of September, coach Geoff Collins righted the ship -- and the Owls now look like they have real direction.
FIU
Key player: Defensive end Fermin Silva has seven sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss on the season.
Storyline to watch: Coach Butch Davis seems to have the Golden Panthers on the right track. Can they continue that momentum headed into next season?
Temple vs. FIU
8 p.m., ESPN
Tropicana Field, St. Petersburg, Florida
Key player: QB Frank Nutile didn't get a real shot at the starting job until late October, but his arrival completely transformed the Temple offense. Aside from struggles against UCF, he was virtually unstoppable down the stretch as Temple finished by winning three of four.
Storyline to watch: For a team that looked lost at the end of September, coach Geoff Collins righted the ship -- and the Owls now look like they have real direction.
Key player: Defensive end Fermin Silva has seven sacks and 14.5 tackles for loss on the season.
Storyline to watch: Coach Butch Davis seems to have the Golden Panthers on the right track. Can they continue that momentum headed into next season?
Bahamas Bowl
UAB vs. Ohio
12:30 p.m., ESPN
Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium, Nassau, Bahamas
UAB
Key player: Running back Spencer Brown (1,292 rushing yards) has shown why UAB should continue to have a football program, with an opportunity to break a Conference USA freshman rushing record.
Storyline to watch: If UAB can find a way to beat Ohio and get to nine wins on the season in its first season back, that is a storyline in itself.
Ohio
Key player: Quarterback Nathan Rourke is second in the nation in rushing touchdowns (21), first among quarterbacks.
Storyline to watch: Ohio missed out on the MAC championship game, losing its final two games of the regular season, so this team needs to respond in the bowl game to finish out the season strong.
UAB vs. Ohio
12:30 p.m., ESPN
Thomas A. Robinson National Stadium, Nassau, Bahamas
UAB
Key player: Running back Spencer Brown (1,292 rushing yards) has shown why UAB should continue to have a football program, with an opportunity to break a Conference USA freshman rushing record.
Storyline to watch: If UAB can find a way to beat Ohio and get to nine wins on the season in its first season back, that is a storyline in itself.
Key player: Quarterback Nathan Rourke is second in the nation in rushing touchdowns (21), first among quarterbacks.
Storyline to watch: Ohio missed out on the MAC championship game, losing its final two games of the regular season, so this team needs to respond in the bowl game to finish out the season strong.
Famous Idaho Potato Bowl
Central Michigan vs. Wyoming
4 p.m., ESPN
Lyle Smith Field at Albertsons Stadium, Boise, Idaho
Central Michigan
Key player: Wide receiver Corey Willis has had a big hand in CMU's season, passing former Central Michigan receiver Antonio Brown on the school's all-time touchdown reception list, now sitting at third with 23 TD catches.
Storyline to watch: Quarterback Shane Morris has a chance to eclipse 3,000 passing yards on the season, finishing his college career on the right foot after transferring from a tumultuous tenure at Michigan.
Wyoming
Key player: QB Josh Allen. This will be Allen's last audition for NFL scouts until the combine. He missed the final two games of the regular season but is expected to be healthy enough to play in the bowl.
Storyline to watch: Outside of Wyoming fans, it's all about Allen. He was billed as a potential first-round pick but only surpassed the 200-yard mark four times this season.
Central Michigan vs. Wyoming
4 p.m., ESPN
Lyle Smith Field at Albertsons Stadium, Boise, Idaho
Central Michigan
Key player: Wide receiver Corey Willis has had a big hand in CMU's season, passing former Central Michigan receiver Antonio Brown on the school's all-time touchdown reception list, now sitting at third with 23 TD catches.
Storyline to watch: Quarterback Shane Morris has a chance to eclipse 3,000 passing yards on the season, finishing his college career on the right foot after transferring from a tumultuous tenure at Michigan.
Key player: QB Josh Allen. This will be Allen's last audition for NFL scouts until the combine. He missed the final two games of the regular season but is expected to be healthy enough to play in the bowl.
Storyline to watch: Outside of Wyoming fans, it's all about Allen. He was billed as a potential first-round pick but only surpassed the 200-yard mark four times this season.
Birmingham Bowl
Texas Tech vs. South Florida
Noon, ESPN
Legion Field, Birmingham, Alabama
Texas Tech
Key player: Keke Coutee is one of the most electric players in the country. He is sixth nationally with 1,242 receiving yards.
Storyline to watch: The Red Raiders tried lefty McLane Carter at quarterback against Texas before going back to senior Nic Shimonek. It will be interesting to see if Tech goes with a timeshare at quarterback again in the bowl. Or, if Shimonek finishes off his career as the full-time guy.
South Florida
Key player: QB Quinton Flowers is the engine that makes USF go, throwing for 21 touchdowns and rushing for 10 more in a stellar senior season.
Storyline to watch: Flowers will depart as likely the best quarterback in school history, and his final send-off should be a celebration of a stellar career as much as any last chance for highlights.
Texas Tech vs. South Florida
Noon, ESPN
Legion Field, Birmingham, Alabama
Texas Tech
Key player: Keke Coutee is one of the most electric players in the country. He is sixth nationally with 1,242 receiving yards.
Storyline to watch: The Red Raiders tried lefty McLane Carter at quarterback against Texas before going back to senior Nic Shimonek. It will be interesting to see if Tech goes with a timeshare at quarterback again in the bowl. Or, if Shimonek finishes off his career as the full-time guy.
South Florida
Key player: QB Quinton Flowers is the engine that makes USF go, throwing for 21 touchdowns and rushing for 10 more in a stellar senior season.
Storyline to watch: Flowers will depart as likely the best quarterback in school history, and his final send-off should be a celebration of a stellar career as much as any last chance for highlights.
Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl
San Diego State vs. Army
3:30 p.m., ESPN
Amon G. Carter Stadium, Fort Worth, Texas
San Diego State
Key player: RB Rashaad Penny. After leading the nation in rushing during the regular season (2,027 yards), Penny belongs in New York for the Heisman Trophy ceremony.
Storyline to watch: If the Aztecs win their bowl game, they'll be one of just six teams in the country with three straight 11-win seasons along with Alabama, Clemson, Oklahoma, Wisconsin and Ohio State.
Army
Key player: Quarterback Ahmad Bradshaw is the nation's seventh-leading rusher with 1,472 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Storyline to watch: Army has the nation's top rushing offense, but can the Black Knights pop a big pass? They have completed only 18 passes as a team all season.
San Diego State vs. Army
3:30 p.m., ESPN
Amon G. Carter Stadium, Fort Worth, Texas
Key player: RB Rashaad Penny. After leading the nation in rushing during the regular season (2,027 yards), Penny belongs in New York for the Heisman Trophy ceremony.
Storyline to watch: If the Aztecs win their bowl game, they'll be one of just six teams in the country with three straight 11-win seasons along with Alabama, Clemson, Oklahoma, Wisconsin and Ohio State.
Key player: Quarterback Ahmad Bradshaw is the nation's seventh-leading rusher with 1,472 yards and 11 touchdowns.
Storyline to watch: Army has the nation's top rushing offense, but can the Black Knights pop a big pass? They have completed only 18 passes as a team all season.
Dollar General Bowl
Appalachian State vs. Toledo
7 p.m., ESPN
Ladd-Peebles Stadium, Mobile, Alabama
Appalachian State
Key player: QB Taylor Lamb has thrown for 2,606 yards and and 27 touchdowns, against only six interceptions this season.
Storyline to watch: No active FBS quarterback has played more games than Lamb's 49. The bowl game will be his 50th, concluding an impressive career that includes more than 9,000 passing yards.
Toledo
Key player: QB Logan Woodside already has more than 3,400 yards passing in 2017 and has been a big part of Toledo's success this season.
Storyline to watch: Toledo finished first in the MAC West and can solidify an excellent season with a win in its bowl game.
Appalachian State vs. Toledo
7 p.m., ESPN
Ladd-Peebles Stadium, Mobile, Alabama
Key player: QB Taylor Lamb has thrown for 2,606 yards and and 27 touchdowns, against only six interceptions this season.
Storyline to watch: No active FBS quarterback has played more games than Lamb's 49. The bowl game will be his 50th, concluding an impressive career that includes more than 9,000 passing yards.
Key player: QB Logan Woodside already has more than 3,400 yards passing in 2017 and has been a big part of Toledo's success this season.
Storyline to watch: Toledo finished first in the MAC West and can solidify an excellent season with a win in its bowl game.
Hawai'i Bowl
Fresno State vs. Houston
8:30 p.m., ESPN
Hawaiian Tel Federal Credit Union Field at Aloha Stadium, Honolulu
Fresno State
Key player: LB Jeffrey Allison. Allison was the Bulldogs' lone first-team all-conference honoree after finishing the regular season with 103 tackles.
Storyline to watch: Jeff Tedford deserves heavy consideration for national Coach of the Year honors after turning a 1-11 team last season into one of the best Group of 5 squads in the country this season.
Houston
Key player: DT Ed Oliver is one of the country's top interior linemen, wrapping the regular season with 14.5 tackles for loss.
Storyline to watch: It's been a crazy year for the Houston quarterbacks, with Kyle Allen, Kyle Postma and D'Eriq King all starting games. King finished the season as the starter, and the bowl game might be his chance to put one final stamp on the job heading into 2018.
Fresno State vs. Houston
8:30 p.m., ESPN
Hawaiian Tel Federal Credit Union Field at Aloha Stadium, Honolulu
Fresno State
Key player: LB Jeffrey Allison. Allison was the Bulldogs' lone first-team all-conference honoree after finishing the regular season with 103 tackles.
Storyline to watch: Jeff Tedford deserves heavy consideration for national Coach of the Year honors after turning a 1-11 team last season into one of the best Group of 5 squads in the country this season.
Houston
Key player: DT Ed Oliver is one of the country's top interior linemen, wrapping the regular season with 14.5 tackles for loss.
Storyline to watch: It's been a crazy year for the Houston quarterbacks, with Kyle Allen, Kyle Postma and D'Eriq King all starting games. King finished the season as the starter, and the bowl game might be his chance to put one final stamp on the job heading into 2018.
Zaxby's Heart of Dallas Bowl
Utah vs. West Virginia
1:30 p.m., ESPN
Cotton Bowl, Dallas
Utah
Key player: RB Zack Moss. Utah's formula for success: Give the ball to Moss. In the four games he received at least 20 carries, the Utes were 3-1, including a 34-13 win against Colorado when he ran for 196 yards.
Storyline to watch: Is Kyle Whittingham the greatest bowl coach of all-time? Ok, maybe that's a stretch, but he's 10-1 since 2004.
West Virginia
Key player: David Sills V is the Biletnikoff finalist who leads the country with 18 touchdown catches. Nobody else has more than 14.
Storyline to watch: Quarterback Will Grier broke the middle finger in his throwing hand on the next-to-last game of the season. There's a slim chance he could be back for the bowl game after undergoing successful surgery. Otherwise, the Mountaineers will start Chris Chugunov.
Utah vs. West Virginia
1:30 p.m., ESPN
Cotton Bowl, Dallas
Utah
Key player: RB Zack Moss. Utah's formula for success: Give the ball to Moss. In the four games he received at least 20 carries, the Utes were 3-1, including a 34-13 win against Colorado when he ran for 196 yards.
Storyline to watch: Is Kyle Whittingham the greatest bowl coach of all-time? Ok, maybe that's a stretch, but he's 10-1 since 2004.
West Virginia
Key player: David Sills V is the Biletnikoff finalist who leads the country with 18 touchdown catches. Nobody else has more than 14.
Storyline to watch: Quarterback Will Grier broke the middle finger in his throwing hand on the next-to-last game of the season. There's a slim chance he could be back for the bowl game after undergoing successful surgery. Otherwise, the Mountaineers will start Chris Chugunov.
Quick Lane Bowl
Duke vs. Northern Illinois
5:15 p.m., ESPN
Ford Field, Detroit
Duke
Key player: The running backs. As much as QB Daniel Jones has been the centerpiece of the offense, the key to Duke's late-season resurgence was a more balanced attack with Brittain Brown and Shaun Wilson carrying 53 times over the final two regular-season games.
Storyline to watch: Despite some key injuries, Duke's defense finished strong, and Jim Knowles' group allowed more than 30 points just once. Continuing to build on that side of the ball will be a key factor in the bowl game.
Northern Illinois
Key player: Defensive end Sutton Smith has accumulated 28.5 tackles for loss and 14 total sacks on the season.
Storyline to watch: After a disappointing 5-7 season in 2016, Northern Illinois and head coach Rod Carey were able to win eight games this season. Can the Huskies continue to build on that and push past this level of success?
Duke vs. Northern Illinois
5:15 p.m., ESPN
Ford Field, Detroit
Duke
Key player: The running backs. As much as QB Daniel Jones has been the centerpiece of the offense, the key to Duke's late-season resurgence was a more balanced attack with Brittain Brown and Shaun Wilson carrying 53 times over the final two regular-season games.
Storyline to watch: Despite some key injuries, Duke's defense finished strong, and Jim Knowles' group allowed more than 30 points just once. Continuing to build on that side of the ball will be a key factor in the bowl game.
Northern Illinois
Key player: Defensive end Sutton Smith has accumulated 28.5 tackles for loss and 14 total sacks on the season.
Storyline to watch: After a disappointing 5-7 season in 2016, Northern Illinois and head coach Rod Carey were able to win eight games this season. Can the Huskies continue to build on that and push past this level of success?
Cactus Bowl
Kansas State vs. UCLA
9 p.m., ESPN
Chase Field, Phoenix
Kansas State
Key player: Since taking over, true freshman QB Skylar Thompson keyed K-State's late-season surge to get them bowl eligible. He completed 74 percent of his passes in wins over Oklahoma State and Iowa State.
Storyline to watch: Will this be the time Bill Snyder retires? Or at 78, will he coach through the bowl into another season?
UCLA
Key player: QB Josh Rosen. The clear assumption is that this will be his final game at UCLA. Can he finish his career on a high note?
Storyline to watch: New coach Chip Kelly will let Jedd Fisch run the show through the game, but Kelly's impact on the program -- especially in recruiting-- will be closely monitored.
Kansas State vs. UCLA
9 p.m., ESPN
Chase Field, Phoenix
Kansas State
Key player: Since taking over, true freshman QB Skylar Thompson keyed K-State's late-season surge to get them bowl eligible. He completed 74 percent of his passes in wins over Oklahoma State and Iowa State.
Storyline to watch: Will this be the time Bill Snyder retires? Or at 78, will he coach through the bowl into another season?
UCLA
Key player: QB Josh Rosen. The clear assumption is that this will be his final game at UCLA. Can he finish his career on a high note?
Storyline to watch: New coach Chip Kelly will let Jedd Fisch run the show through the game, but Kelly's impact on the program -- especially in recruiting-- will be closely monitored.
