Players to watch: Pre-New Year's Day bowls

The little back has made quite a comeback from missing all of 2019 with a knee injury. In just five games this season, he's rushed for 813 yards ... including 301 yards against Arizona and 187 yards (and all three TDs he scored this year) against UCLA.

Colorado faces Texas in the Valero Alamo Bowl on December 29th. 

Tulsa's all about defense this year and was close to pulling out an American Athletic Conference championship this year. Collins is one of the smartest defenders you will find at the college level. He reads offenses well and sniffs out plays before they happen. He's smart at the angles he takes and puts so much pressure on offenses to account for him. When watching the Armed Forces Bowl, keep an eye on Collins pre-snap as the play develops.

Tulsa faces Mississippi State in the Lockheed Martin Armed Forces Bowl on December 31st. 

Quarterback Duggan is the Horned Frogs' leading rusher this season (526 yards, 10 touchdowns). He lit up Oklahoma State a few weeks ago for 265 yards passing, 104 yards rushing, and three total touchdowns. Aside from that game, he's struggled a bit down the stretch and will need to be solid against a rebuilding Arkansas program. This is an old fashioned rivalry (the two were long-time Southwestern Conference foes) down in Houston.

TCU faces Arkansas in the Mercari Texas Bowl on December 31st. 

For years now, I have spent time here talking about Ehlinger and his potential to burst out into one of the best quarterbacks in the nation. At times, he's delivered on that projection while other times he looks out of sorts. Against Colorado, it will be all about the senior quarterback as the Longhorns have already been ravaged by opt-outs. He's thrown for 2,406 yards, 25 TDs, and just five picks this year.

Texas faces Colorado in the Valero Alamo Bowl on December 29th.

Chuba Hubbard entered the season as a Heisman candidate but injuries, COVID, and eventually, an opt-out turned his final season with the Cowboys into a dud. That opened the door for Jackson, who has stepped through nicely. He ran for 235 yards and 3 touchdowns against Texas Tech on Thanksgiving weekend and tallied 119 yards and a score against TCU the following week. Now he'll go up against a Miami defense that just let North Carolina's Michael Carter and Javonte Williams walk all over them.

Oklahoma State faces Miami in the Cheez-It Bowl on December 29th.

King's one season in Miami after transferring from Houston was very successful. While the Hurricanes fell short of some of their team goals, King got to show he could hang as a Power 5 quarterback. He threw for 2,573 yards, 22 touchdowns, and just 5 interceptions while rushing for 520 yards and 4 TDs. Of course, he struggled in the 'Canes two biggest games of the season (Clemson, North Carolina). In his final college game, look for King to go out on a high note.

Miami faces Oklahoma State in the Cheez-It Bowl on December 29th.

Coastal Carolina didn't get to a major bowl game nor will they finally get to show their wares against a Power 5 opponent. Still, a game against another strong Group of 5 teams should allow McCall to show everyone how good he's been this year. He has thrown 23 touchdowns this season and only two interceptions -- one of which was in his last game against Troy. That one interception was just a blip on a day where he completed 24-of-29 passes for 338 yards and 3 TDs.

Coastal Carolina faces Liberty in the FBC Mortgage Cure Bowl on December 26th.

McCormick finished the regular season second in the nation in rushing. He had six games of over 150 yards and he piled up 251 yards against North Texas in the regular-season finale. McCormick has fought hard for the success he's enjoyed this season and would love nothing more than to put on a good show against Louisiana.

UTSA faces Louisiana in the SERVPRO First Responder Bowl on December 26th. 

Nixon is the leader of a defense that has been rock solid over the last month of the season. The Hawkeyes have only given up 16.4 points per game and have held an opponent to 7 points or less three times. On a personal level, Nixon was named the Big Ten's Defensive Player of the Year and has recorded at least half a sack in six of Iowa's eight games.

Iowa faces Missouri in the TransPerfect Music City Bowl on December 30th. 

Patterson has been amazing this season, so a Christmas Day audience will be able to see one of the best stories of the college football season. He captured the sport's attention when he piled up 409 yards and 8 touchdowns against Kent State, but he's totaled 1,072 yards and 19 TDs in just six games this season. He'll be going up against a Marshall defense that ranked 2nd in the nation in run defense.

Buffalo faces Marshall in the Camellia Bowl on December 25th. 

Give Rattler a lot of credit. He had to follow a quarterback lineage of Baker Mayfield, Kyler Murray and Jalen Hurts and do so as a freshman. No, the Sooners didn't get back to the College Football Playoff but this freshman was still able to deliver another Big 12 championship. Rattler led the Big 12 in passing touchdowns and yards per game but didn't make the all-conference team. Look for a driven quarterback who wants to do something that the Sooners didn't do over the last three years with those great quarterbacks: win a bowl game. 

Oklahoma faces Florida in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic on December 30th.

The Army-West Virginia game will be low scoring -- just as linebacker Jon Rhattigan would like it. He didn't play in 2017, played one game in 2018, and was a special teams guy last year. Now he leads an Army defense ... ranked one of the best in the nation ... in tackles and has a motor that makes it appear he's in on every play.

Army faces West Virginia in the AutoZone Liberty Bowl on December 31st.

San Jose State has been one of the best stories of the season. The Aztecs went 7-0 and won the Mountain West championship ... their first conference title in nearly 30 years. Quarterback Starkel spent two years at Texas A&M and one at Arkansas before breaking out at San Jose this year. He threw 16 touchdowns and 4 interceptions and reached 5,000 yards for his career.

San Jose State faces Ball State in the Arizona Bowl on December 31st.

Trask was a serious Heisman candidate up until the Gators' loss at home to LSU slowed down the hype. He has still had one of the best passing seasons in Florida history, tossing a nation-leading 4,125 yards and 43 touchdowns. To think, he didn't start his final three years of high school (D'Eriq King, who we mentioned earlier, was the starter) and didn't take a snap in his first two years at Florida. An injury to Feleipe Franks against Tennessee last year forced Trask into action and he hasn't looked back. Now he's projected to be a possible first-round pick in 2021.

Florida faces Oklahoma in the Goodyear Cotton Bowl Classic on December 30th.

Willis, an Auburn transfer, is a dual-threat quarterback who has been putting up wild numbers this year. For instance, he threw for 345 yards and 6 touchdowns against Southern Miss back in October. Back in September, he rushed for 168 yards and 3 TDs against Western Kentucky. And then there are the games where he's unstoppable with his legs and arm (306 yards, 3 TDs passing and 97 yards, 2 TDs rushing against Western Carolina). He'll finally get his shot at Coastal Carolina in the Cure Bowl (the two were supposed to play on December 5th but Liberty had to back out).  

Liberty faces Coastal Carolina in the FBC Mortgage Cure Bowl on December 26th.