College football bowl season is here! Here are the key players and storylines you need to know for every team in every game, all the way through the College Football Playoff.
Tuesday, Jan. 4
TaxAct Texas Bowl
LSU vs. Kansas State
NRG Stadium, Houston
9 p.m., ESPN and the ESPN App
LSU (6-6)
Player to watch: QB Garrett Nussmeier. With starter Max Johnson entering the transfer portal, and former starter Myles Brennan doing the same earlier this season, Nussmeier is the only scholarship quarterback left on LSU's roster. However, since he has already played in four games this season, he'll burn his redshirt if he plays against the Wildcats in the bowl game. Will the Tigers sacrifice a year of Nussmeier's eligibility to try to win a bowl game, or will they turn to walk-ons Tavion Faulk or Matt O'Dowd?
Storyline to watch: The Tigers will be playing without former coach Ed Orgeron, who was fired by the school on Oct. 17, and stuck around for the final five regular-season games. Offensive line coach Brad Davis, a native of Baton Rouge, Louisiana, will serve as interim coach. He will be the first Black coach to lead the Tigers into a game. Receivers coach Kerry Joseph left for Nebraska, and longtime strength and conditioning coach Tommy Moffitt wasn't retained by new head coach Brian Kelly. -- Mark Schlabach
Kansas State (7-5)
Player to watch: RB Deuce Vaughn. At 5-6, 172 pounds, Vaughn is hard to pin down, and one of the most fun college football players in the country to watch. He ran for 1,258 yards and 15 touchdowns and is a factor in the passing game as well with 47 catches.
Storyline to watch: K-State coach Chris Kleiman fired offensive coordinator Courtney Messingham and fullbacks/TE coach Jason Ray after the regular season, turning the offense over to former Wildcats star and 2012 Heisman Trophy finalist Collin Klein, who had been coaching the quarterbacks. Can Klein, who ran for 55 touchdowns at KSU, help revive the offense? -- Dave Wilson