WHAT’S AT STAKE
Cal is looking for its first bowl win in its second season under coach Justin Wilcox after becoming bowl eligible for the first time since 2015. TCU had to win its final regular-season game just to become bowl eligible and its vying for its 10th win in its last 13 bowl games under coach Gary Patterson
Oklahomans in game
TCU: Keenan Reed of Tulsa Washington and NEO is a junior cornerback. Co-offensive coordinator and running backs coach Curtis Luper was Oklahoma State’s running backs coach from 2005-08 and played for the Cowboys. Defensive coordinator and linebackers coach Chad Glasgow was a three-year letter winner at Oklahoma State.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Cal: RB Patrick Laird. The Bears’ offense has struggled at times this season, but Laird has not. Cal’s senior running back needs 68 yards against TCU to become the third player in school history to run for 1,000 yards in multiple seasons. He had 1,127 a year ago.
TCU: WR Jalen Reagor. Like Cal, the Horned Frogs have had their share of offensive difficulties. Reagor has been the consistent bright spot, catching 72 passes for 1,061 yards and nine TDs, including at least one in a schoolrecord seven straight games. He also became the first receiver in Big 12 history to eclipse 100 yards rushing and 90 receiving with 121 and 81 in a win over Oklahoma State.
SERVPRO First Responders Bowl: No. 23 Boise State (10-3) vs. Boston College (7-5), 12:30 p.m. (ESPN).
Line: Boise State by 2½
Series Record: Boston College leads 1-0.
WHAT’S AT STAKE
Boise State is looking for a second straight 11-win season in what is already the fourth year of double-digit wins in five seasons under coach Bryan Harsin at his alma mater. The Broncos also want to put aside the memory of their Mountain West championship game loss to Fresno State. Boston College is looking for its first eight-win season in six years under Steve Addazio. The Eagles had seven wins in four of his first five seasons, including the school’s first bowl win since 2007 two years ago.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Boise State: Redshirt sophomore defensive lineman Curtis Weaver already has 20 ½ career sacks with 9 ½ this year after leading the Mountain West with 11 as a freshman. And he’s already half a sack ahead of former Broncos pass rusher DeMarcus Lawrence, who was just named to his second straight Pro Bowl with the Cowboys. Boston College: Anthony Brown needs one touchdown pass to match Boston College’s sophomore record of 21, set by former NFL quarterback Glenn Foley in 1991. Brown became the first BC quarterback since Ryan 11 years ago to throw for more than 300 yards with five touchdowns in a game.
Oklahomans in game
Boise State: Director of operations and external relations Taylor Tharp helped design the Statue of Liberty play that helped the Broncos beat Oklahoma in the 2007 Fiesta Bowl.
Quick Lane Bowl: Georgia Tech (7-5) vs. Minnesota (6-6), Dec. 26, 4:15 p.m. EST (ESPN)
Line: Georgia Tech by 5½
Series Record: First meeting
WHAT’S AT STAKE
Georgia Tech is motivated to send retiring coach Paul Johnson out with a win. Minnesota is hoping a victory will help its young team gain confidence for next season.
PLAYERS TO WATCH
Minnesota: WR Tyler Johnson. The All-Big Ten player had arguably the best season in school history as a receiver, making 74 catches for 1,112 yards and 10 touchdowns. Georgia Tech: QB TaQuon Marshall. He ran for 896 yards and 11 touchdowns and threw for 824 yards and five scores with four interceptions this season.
Oklahomans in game
Minnesota: Tight ends coach Clay Patterson is from Morris and played at NEO and Southeastern. He started his coaching career at Southeastern from 2003-05 and was NEO’s head coach from 2016-17. Offensive line coach Brian Callahan was a graduate assistant at Oklahoma in 1995.
Georgia Tech: Co-offensive line coach Ron West was Tulsa’s co-defensive coordinator and linebackers coach in 2009.