Northern Illinois players join coach Dave Doeren and the Huskies' mascot in Mobile, Ala., after the team's 38-20 win over Arkansas State in the GoDaddy.com Bowl in Mobile, Ala.

Northern Illinois coach Dave Doeren gets the obligatory Gatorade bath — courtesy of wide receiver DeMarcus Grady — following the Huskies' 38-20 victory over Arkansas State in the GoDaddy.com Bowl in Mobile, Ala.

Northern Illinois cornerback Dominique Ware (right) is congratulated by defensive tackle Donovan Gordon (center) after recovering a fumble by Arkansas State. Ware's Huskies prevailed 38-20 in the GoDaddy.com Bowl in Mobile, Ala.

Arkansas State quarterback Ryan Aplin is tackled from behind by Northern Illinois defensive lineman Kyle Jenkins during the first quarter of the GoDaddy.com Bowl. Northern Illinois won, 38-20.

Northern Illinois running back Jasmin Hopkins looks to go wide against Arkansas State defender Demario Davis in the first half of the GoDaddy.com Bowl in Mobile, Ala.

Northern Illinois quarterback Chandler Harnish warms up prior to kickoff against Arkansas State in the GoDaddy.com Bowl.

Arkansas State receiver Dwayne Frampton is tackled by Northern Illinois defensive back Jimmie Ward during the first quarter in the GoDaddy.com Bowl.

Northern Illinois Huskies defensive lineman Kyle Jenkins (57) celebrates a tackle against Arkansas State on Sunday night in the GoDaddy.com Bowl.

SMU players celebrate their 28-6 win over Pittsburgh in the BBVA Compass Bowl on Saturday in Birmingham, Ala.

SMU players celebrate their 28-6 win over Pittsburgh in the BBVA Compass Bowl.

SMU running back Rishaad Wimbley (29) rushes for a touchdown against the Pittsburgh at the BBVA Compass Bowl on Saturday.

Pittsburgh receiver Mike Shanahan (87) catches a pass for a first down over SMU defensive back Chris Banjo in the first half of the BBVA Compass Bowl on Saturday in Birmingham, Ala.

Pittsburgh receiver Ronald Jones (14) is hit by SMU linebacker Cameron Jones after a short gain.

SMU running back Rishaad Wimbley (29) runs in for a touchdown over Pittsburgh defensive lineman Arthur Doakes in the first half.

SMU receiver Cole Beasley (11) is hit from behind by Pittsburgh defensive end Brandon Lindsey (7) during the BBVA Compass Bowl in Birmingham, Ala. on Saturday.

Oklahoma quarterback Blake Bell (10) and linebacker Travis Lewis (28) celebrate after defeating Iowa at the Insight Bowl at the Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz. on Friday.

Anyone missing a camera? The Insight Bowl got a surprise visitor from up above.

Oklahoma receiver Kameel Jackson (18) leaps over Iowa defensive back Micah Hyde (18) during the first half of the Insight Bowl at the Sun Devil Stadium.

Oklahoma defensive back Tony Jefferson fails to stop Iowa tight end C.J. Fiedorowicz (86) from scoring a touchdown during the second half of the Insight Bowl at the Sun Devil Stadium.

Oklahoma's Blake Bell (10) celebrates one of his three touchdown rusn against Iowa with Lane Johnson (69) during the second quarter of the Insight Bowl on Friday.

Oklahoma receiver Kameel Jackson (18) catches a pass while being pursued by Iowa defensive back Micah Hyde (18) during the first half of the Insight Bowl.

Mississippi State coach Dan Mullen is doused with Gatorade as his team defeated Wake Forest 23-17 at the Music City Bowl in Nashville on Friday.

Mississippi State receiver Brandon Heavens (3) is congratulated by wide receivers coach Angelo Mirando after a good play against Wake Forest in the second quarter of the Music City Bowl on Friday in Nashville, Tenn.

Mississippi State defensive lineman Sean Ferguson (99) helps defensive lineman Fletcher Cox bring down Wake Forest quarterback Tanner Price in the second quarter of the Music City Bowl.

Wake Forest running back Brandon Pendergrass (22) celebrates after scoring a touchdown against Mississippi State during the first half of the Music City Bowl in Memphis on Friday.

Rutgers coach Greg Schiano celebrates the Pinstripe Bowl win over Iowa State in the at Yankee Stadium on Friday in New York.

BYU defensive lineman Hebron Fangupo (91) holds the Armed Forces Trophy after the 24-21 win over Tulsa.

Rutgers' Jawan Jamison (23) scores a touchdown during the Pinstripe Bowl against Iowa State Cyclones at Yankee Stadium on Friday.

Jacques Washington (10) and Leonard Johnson of Iowa State break up a pass intended for Brandon Coleman of Rutgers during the New Era Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium on Friday.

Matt Marshall and JJ Di Luigi (1) of BYU celebrate a 24-21 win against Tulsa in the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl in Dallas on Friday.

BYU receive Cody Hoffman is tackled by Alan Dock (11) and Lowell Rose (7) of Tulsa during the Bell Helicopter Armed Forces Bowl.

BYU QB Riley Nelson looks for an open receiver vs. Tulsa.

Baylor head coach Art Briles, left, and Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III celebrate after their 67-56 victory over Washington in Dec. 29's Alamo Bowl in San Antonio. For Griffin, winning the highest-scoring bowl game to end in regulation in history was the capper to a season that included the Heisman Trophy. The big question now: Will Griffin return for the Bears or head to the NFL?

Is there any hotter name in the college football and NFL Draft worlds right now than Robert Griffin III? The Baylor QB did not have his greatest statistical game at the Alamo Bowl (295 yards passing, 55 rushing), but ended his season with a win, and a 10-3 record for Baylor.

Robert Griffin gets the publicity, but Washington Huskies quarterback Keith Price had the better Alamo Bowl. He threw for four scores and ran for three more, compiling 471 yards of offense in the loss.

Washington's Jesse Callier had one catch in the Alamo Bowl, this one, which went for 28 yards.

Baylor receiver Kendall Wright (No. 1) hauls in this 11-yard TD in the first quarter to get the scoring going in the Alamo Bowl on Thursday. There would be 117 more points scored in the record-setting bowl game.

Baylor quarterback Robert Griffin III is brought down by Washington's Josh Shirley during the first half of the Alamo Bowl.

Florida State quarterback EJ Manuel carries the championship trophy off the field after defeating Notre Dame 18-14 in the Champs Sports Bowl on Thursday in Orlando, Fla.

Florida State players carry coach Jimbo Fisher off the field after they defeated Notre Dame 18-14 in the Champs Sports Bowl.

Notre Dame receiver Michael Floyd (3) makes a touchdown catch over Florida State defenders in the second half at the Champs Sports Bowl in Orlando.

EJ Manuel (3) scrambles as he is pressured by Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te'o (5) during the first half of the Champs Sports Bowl on Thursday.

Safety Lamarcus Joyner of Florida State celebrates a first-quarter interception against the Fighting Irish in the Champs Sports Bowl.

Receiver Michael Floyd of Notre Dame chases a long pass against Florida State's defense, but comes up just short.

Notre Dame quarterback Tommy Rees is stopped after a short gain by Florida State safety Lamarcus Joyner (20) during the first half of the Champs Sports Bowl NCAA on Thursday in Orlando.

Texas defensive end Reggie Wilson holds the championship trophy after his Longhorns invaded Southern California and took home the Holiday Bowl with a 21-10 victory over the California Golden Bears at Qualcomm Stadium.

Cal grabbed a 10-7 lead in the third quarter on Isi Sofele's 6-yard touchdown run. After the TD, lineman Dominic Galas lifted the running back in celebration, but the Bears wouldn’t score again and would lose 21-10.

Texas cornerback Quandre Diggs picks off a Cal pass in the first quarter and nearly kicks the intended Bears wide receiver by accident, of course. The Longhorns finish the season 8-5, while the Bears close at 7-6.

Texas linebacker Demarco Cobbs (15) prepares to tackle Cal running back C.J. Anderson. Along with the five takeaways and six sacks, the Longhorns stifled the Bears running game, holding them to just 7 yards.

Longhorns mascot Bevo enjoys the sights at the Holiday Bowl. With Wednesday's victory, Texas has won the last five head-to-head meetings with Cal, dating back to 1959.

The Rockets celebrate a 42-41 victory over Air Force in the Military Bowl at RFK Stadium in Washington, DC. It didn’t come easy for Toledo. Air Force failed on a fake two-point conversion after cutting the deficit to one with a 33-yard TD pass with 52 seconds left in the game.

Toledo head coach Matt Campbell holds the Military Bowl trophy after Toledo's one-point win. Campbell, formerly the Rockets offensive coordinator, was promoted to the top job when Tim Beckman left to take the coaching job at Illinois.

Asher Clark of the Falcons dives over Diauntae Morrow of the Rockets for a touchdown during the first half of the Military Bowl at RFK Stadium.

Air Force receiver Jonathan Warzeka makes a touchdown catch while being defended by Toledo safety Jermaine Robinson (29) during the second quarter of the Military Bowl at RFK Stadium on Wednesday.

Head coach Tom O'Brien of the North Carolina State Wolfpack is showered in Gatorade after defeating the Louisville Cardinals 31-24 on Tuesday in the Belk Bowl at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.

Wolfpack wide receiver T.J. Graham (6) breaks free in the second quarter for one of his two touchdowns against safety Mike Evans (33) and Louisville. Graham finished with seven catches for a game-high 114 yards.

Wolfpack wide receiver Tobias Palmer (4) celebrates with wide receiver T.J. Graham (6) after scoring a touchdown in the second quarter.

Victor Anderson leads Louisville's rushing attack with 62 yards but can't get in the end zone.

Tom O'Brien holds up the trophy with quarterback Mike Glennon (8), defensive tackle J.R. Sweezy (52) and tight end George Bryan (84).

Purdue head coach Danny Hope gets a gatorade bath after his Boilermakers held on to defeat the Western Michigan Broncos 37-32 on Tuesday to win the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl at Ford Field in Detroit. It was Purdue's first bowl game since 2007; Hope was rewarded recently for his success with a two-year contract extension that will keep him at the school through 2016.

Broncos wide receiver Chleb Ravenell (13) celebrates with a teammate after scoring a touchdown during the fourth quarter against Purdue during Tuesday's Little Caesars Pizza Bowl. Ravenell's TD was one of three thrown by Western Michigan QB Alex Carder in the game, but Carder also threw four interceptions and fumbled in the closing stages.

Purdue running back Reggie Pegram (33) looks for blockers during the first quarter against Western Michigan Broncos during the Little Caesars Bowl at Ford Field on Tuesday.

Western Michigan receiver Robert Arnheim (12) reaches the ball into the end zone but is hit by Purdue cornerback Josh Johnson (28) during the third quarter of the Little Caesars Bowl at Ford Field.

Missouri's Jayson Palmgren, center, and Michael Egnew, left, celebrate before presentation of the Independence Bowl trophy on Dec. 26 in Shreveport, La. Missouri routed North Carolina, 41-24.
 

Missouri defensive back Kip Edwards rushes North Carolina quarterback Bryn Renner (No. 2) as he tries to pass to wide receiver Erik Highsmith (88) in the fourth quarter of their Independence Bowl matchup. Renner finished with 317 yards in a losing effort.
 

Missouri quarterback James Franklin, right, dodges North Carolina defenders on his way to a first-quarter touchdown during the Independence Bowl. It was Missouri's final game as a member of the Big 12, as the Tigers move to the SEC next season.
 

Marquese Wheaton (2) and his Southern Mississippi teammates celebrate their 24-17 Hawaii Bowl victory over Nevada on Saturday. The 22nd-ranked Golden Eagles set a school record with their 12th win of the season, finishing 12-2.

Southern Mississippi quarterback Austin Davis (12) is pushed out of bounds by Nevada defenders in the third quarter of Saturday's Hawaii Bowl in Honolulu. Davis only threw for 165 yards and two touchdowns, but he orchestrated the winning 68-yard drive, capped by a 4-yard TD pass with 5:48 remaining.

Nevada running back Lampford Mark runs for one of his two second-quarter touchdowns in the Hawaii Bowl on Saturday. The senior tailback gave the Wolf Pack a 14-7 lead with his two scores, but he and his teammates couldn't find the end zone the rest of the game. Mark finished with a game-high 183 rushing yards, but only had 21 in the second half.

What’s a trip to Honolulu without seeing some hula dancers? These lovely ladies perform during the halftime show of the Hawaii Bowl between Southern Mississippi and Nevada.

Quarterback Kellen Moore (left) and MVP Doug Martin of Boise State hoist the trophy Thursday night after their Broncos' 56-24 romp over Arizona State in the Las Vegas Bowl. Why did Martin win MVP honors? Read on ...

Moore, the NCAA's winningest quarterback, capped off his college career with victory No. 50. In the game, he threw for 266 yards and two touchdowns, plus two interceptions and a fumble. Boise improved to 12-1, while ASU dropped to 6-7.

All those gaudy stats were a prelude to Boise State head coach Chris Petersen getting a Gatorade shower in the closing seconds.

Tyler Shoemaker hauls in one of Kellen Moore's two touchdowns, this one a 14-yard strike in the first quarter. ASU's Alden Darby (4) was the victim.

Well, probably not. But the TCU Horned Frogs, regulars in BCS bowls and winners of last season's Rose Bowl, celebrate Wednesday night's 31-24 Poinsettia Bowl victory over Louisiana Tech at Qualcomm Stadium in San Diego.

TCU running back Ed Wesley fights for extra yardage while being chased by Louisiana Tech Bulldogs defensive end Matt Broha (No. 91) and linebacker Adrien Cole (No. 44). Wesley had a game-high 77 yards on the ground and added a 7-yard rushing score.

Louisiana Tech receiver Taulib Ikharo stretches for extra yards after a reception during the second quarter on Tuesday night. He finished with 41 yards.

A pass to Louisiana Tech receiver Jacarri Jackson (No. 8) is broken up by TCU Horned Frogs safety Devin Johnson (No. 26) in the first quarter in San Diego. Jackson did not catch a pass in the game.

Marshall players surround wide receiver Wayne Bonner to celebrate with the trophy after the Thundering Herd beat Florida International 20-10 on Tuesday, Dec. 20, to win the Beef 'O' Brady's Bowl in St. Petersburg, Fla.

Marshall running back Tron Martinez (2) celebrates with wide receiver Aaron Dobson, who caught two big touchdown passes in the Thundering Herd's victory over FIU in the Beef 'O' Brady's Bowl on Tuesday, Dec. 20.

Marshall wide receiver Aaron Dobson pulls in one of his two touchdown catches while defended by FIU defensive back Sam Miller (39) in the Beef 'O' Brady's bowl on Tuesday, Dec. 20.

FIU quarterback Wesley Carroll winds up to throw the ball under pressure from Marshall defensive lineman Ra'Shawde Myers during the Beef 'O' Brady's Bowl. Carroll completed 19 of 29 passes for 150 yards in the Golden Panthers' loss.

FIU all-purpose star T.Y. Hilton and Marshall linebacker Devin Arrington let it all hang out during the Beef 'O' Brady's Bowl. Hilton scored the Golden Panthers' only touchdown on a 2-yard run.

The final game of a bowl season-opening tripleheader, the exciting New Orleans Bowl, came down to the game's final play Saturday night, a 50-yard field-goal attempt by Louisiana-Lafayette kicker Brett Baer, who booted the ball with the Ragin Cajuns trailing San Diego State 30-29.

Louisiana-Lafayette kicker Brett Baer was the hero as his 50-yard kick made it through the uprights with no time remaining to give the Ragin Cajuns a 32-30 New Orleans Bowl victory over San Diego State, likely the biggest victory in school history.

Louisiana-Lafayette receiver Javone Lawson makes a tremendous catch over San Diego State defensive backs Larry Parker (No. 29) and Nat Berhe (No. 20) during the second half of the New Orleans Bowl. Lawson had a huge night for the Ragin Cajuns, finishing the game with nine catches for 193 yards and two scores.

What happens at the New Orleans Bowl stays at the New Orleans Bowl.

Ohio coach Frank Solich holds up the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl trophy after defeating Utah State 24-23 on Dec. 17 in Boise.

Utah State receiver Stanley Morrison runs for a first down during the first half of the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl against Ohio at Bronco Stadium in Boise.

Utah State quarterback Adam Kennedy looks for an open receiver downfield against Ohio in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl on Saturday.

Ohio's Skyler Allen (65) and Jordan Thompson (88) celebrate after defeating Utah State in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl on Dec. 17 in Boise.

Ohio's Octavius Leftwich pulls down a reception against the defense of Utah State's Nevin Lawson in the Famous Idaho Potato Bowl on Dec. 17 in Boise.

Temple defensive end Morkeith Brown celebrates with the New Mexico Bowl trophy following the Owls' 37-15 win over Wyoming on Dec. 17.

Temple coach Steve Addazio celebrates with his players following the New Mexico Bowl victory over Wyoming on Dec. 17.

Temple running back Matt Brown is upended by Wyoming safety Tashaun Gipson in the second quarter of the New Mexico Bowl at University Stadium on Dec. 17.

Temple receiver Rod Streater scores a second-quarter touchdown against Wyoming during the New Mexico Bowl on Dec. 17.