TODAY’S BOWL GAMES

First Responder

W. KENTUCKY (8-4) VS. W. MICHIGAN (7-5)

When/where: 11:30 a.m.; Dallas. TV: ESPN.

What’s at stake: Western Kentucky has a three-game winning streak and has won seven of nine games since a 1-2 start that included a season-opening loss to FCS team Central Arkansas. Western Michigan is in its eighth bowl in 14 seasons but has won only one of those games. The Broncos have the MAC’s offensive and defensive players of the year. RB LeVante Bellamy has 1,412 yards and a national-best 23 TDs rushing. LB Treshaun Hayward has 132 tackles, including 10½ tackles for loss and five sacks.

Music City

MISSISSIPPI ST. (6-6) VS. LOUISVILLE (7-5)

When/where: 3 p.m.; Nashville, Tenn. TV: ESPN.

What’s at stake: Mississippi State can finish with its first three-game winning streak to finish a season since 2013 and only the third since the end of World War II for a coach whose Egg Bowl win helped Joe Moorhead keep his job. Louisville can cap the Cardinals’ amazing turnaround in coach Scott Satterfield’s debut season by making him only the second coach to win his first bowl. A win also would be Louisville’s first on the field against Mississippi State.

Redbox

CALIFORNIA (7-5) VS. ILLINOIS (6-6)

When/where: 3 p.m.; Santa Clara, Calif. TV: Fox.

What’s at stake: California is in the postseason for a second consecutive season under third-year coach Justin Wilcox. Illinois will be attempting to win a bowl game for the first time with Lovie Smith as coach in its first trip to a bowl game since 2014. California consensus All-America LB Evan Weaver needs 21 tackles to break the NCAA single-season record. The Pac-12 Defensive Player of the Year, Weaver has been a monster on defense all season with 173 tackles.

Orange

FLORIDA (10-2) VS. VIRGINIA (9-4)

When/where: 7 p.m.; Miami. TV: ESPN.

What’s at stake: Florida can finish with 11 wins, which would be its highest total since 2012. For Virginia, a win would be the biggest bowl victory in school history. The Cavaliers have a chance to crack the AP Top 25 and finish the season ranked for the first time since 2004. Virginia’s Bryce Perkins is one of two players in the nation with at least 3,000 yards passing and 700 rushing (the other is Oklahoma’s Jalen Hurts).