Walk-On's Independence Bowl
Southern Mississippi vs. Florida State
1:30 p.m., ESPN
Independence Stadium, Shreveport, Louisiana
Southern Mississippi
Key player: Running back Ito Smith has 13 rushing touchdowns on the season, while the rest of the running back corps has just five.
Storyline to watch: Can Smith power the offense after rushing for 453 yards and six touchdowns in the final three games.
Florida State
Key player: RB Cam Akers is a weapon, even if the rest of Florida State's offense has been a mixed bag this year. Akers capped the regular season with 117 yards and 2 TDs, teaming with Jacques Patrick for a master rushing game.
Storyline to watch: If the Louisiana-Monroe finale was the official first game without Jimbo Fisher, the bowl feels more like a turning of the page. The team will have had time to process Fisher's departure, practice without him and play a game in which it knew all along it would have a new coach.
Southern Mississippi vs. Florida State
1:30 p.m., ESPN
Independence Stadium, Shreveport, Louisiana
Southern Mississippi
Key player: Running back Ito Smith has 13 rushing touchdowns on the season, while the rest of the running back corps has just five.
Storyline to watch: Can Smith power the offense after rushing for 453 yards and six touchdowns in the final three games.
Florida State
Key player: RB Cam Akers is a weapon, even if the rest of Florida State's offense has been a mixed bag this year. Akers capped the regular season with 117 yards and 2 TDs, teaming with Jacques Patrick for a master rushing game.
Storyline to watch: If the Louisiana-Monroe finale was the official first game without Jimbo Fisher, the bowl feels more like a turning of the page. The team will have had time to process Fisher's departure, practice without him and play a game in which it knew all along it would have a new coach.