Purdue (7-5) vs. Central Michigan (8-5)

The matchup: When the two squads met Sept. 15, the Boilermakers jumped out to a 24-0 first-quarter lead en route to a 45-22 victory. Times have changed, though, as Purdue faltered down the stretch, while the Chippewas rallied from a 1-3 start to finish 8-5 with a Mid-American Conference championship in hand. Look for this game to be dominated by offense.

Central Michigan Key Player: QB Dan LeFevour — After breaking on the scene last season, the next great MAC quarterback has lived up to the hype by passing for 3,360 yards and accounting for 40 total touchdowns this season.

Purdue Key Player: WR Dorien Bryant — Not only has the senior wide receiver caught 82 balls for 871 yards and eight scores, but he’s also an elite return man.

Valero Alamo Bowl, Dec. 29

Penn State (8-4) vs. Texas A&M (7-5)

The matchup: The Aggies have two rushers (Jorvorskie Lane and Mike Goodson) and a quarterback (Stephen McGee) who have rushed for more than 600 yards this season. QB Anthony Morelli has the weapons to spread the ball around, but his 59 percent completion percentage could be the difference in the game.

Penn State Key Player: LB Dan Conner — Penn State is known as Linebacker U, and the latest Nittany Lions backer will have his hands full in containing McGee.

Texas A&M Key Player: QB Stephen McGee — As the leading passer and rusher for the Aggies, McGee is the key to making the offense click.

Insight Bowl, Dec. 31

Indiana (7-5) vs. Oklahoma State (6-6)

The matchup: Oklahoma State has an offense ranked in the top 10 nationally, yet their defense is ranked 105th. Both teams run the spread offense and are pretty good at it — averaging more than 30 points per game — but defense is the key to this game.

Indiana Key Player: QB Kellen Lewis — The dual-threat QB is one of the Big Ten’s quickest and has the numbers to prove it. He has a big test with a Cowboys defense that’s fast — very fast.

Oklahoma State Key player: DE Nathan Peterson — The senior defensive end leads the ‘Boys with six sacks and 14 tackles for loss and is seventh on the team in tackles with 43.

Outback Bowl, Jan. 1

Wisconsin (9-3) vs. Tennessee (9-4)

The matchup: The Badgers defense is equally solid against both the run and pass, so how Tennessee does offensively will be based largely on senior quarterback Erik Ainge. At the other quarterback position, Tyler Donovan will hand the ball off to PJ Hill early and often.

Wisconsin Key Player: RB P.J. Hill — He’s carried the team all year, and he won’t stop now.

Tennessee Key Players: LB Jerod Mayo and CB Eric Berry — If Mayo, a First-Team All-SEC linebacker, can help slow down Hill, then Wisconsin will have to go to the air. Wisconsin’s two biggest scoring threats will be gone if Berry, a Second-Team All-SEC cornerback, can shut down WR Travis Beckhum.

Capital One Bowl, Jan. 1

Michigan (8-4) vs. Florida (9-3)

The matchup: Last year they were bickering about who deserved to go to the National Championship game, this year they each suffered disappointments. For the past few years the knock on U-M is that its defense is slow and can’t keep up with quicker teams who run the spread. Florida’s Urban Meyer coaches the spread to perfection, and quarterback Tim Tebow is one of the top players in the country.

U-M Key Players: QB Chad Henne, RB Mike Hart, OL Jake Long — The three surefire 2006 first round picks came back for their senior year to accomplish three things: Beat Ohio State, win the Big Ten and win the National Championship. They failed in all three aspects, and as they get ready to play, it comes down to one thing: pride.

Florida Key Player: QB Tim Tebow — Florida’s offense starts and ends with Tebow, and the Heisman Trophy candidate hasn’t been stopped yet.

Rose Bowl, Jan. 1

Illinois (9-3) vs. Southern Cal (10-2)

The matchup: For as much talk as there was about the USC dynasty falling apart, here they are in the Rose Bowl once again. Illinois was bumped up to the Rose Bowl after the unthinkable losses of No. 1 Missouri and No. 2 West Virginia, and it looks as though Ron Zook’s rebuilding plan has been supercharged.

Illinois Key Player: QB Juice Williams — There’s no doubt he’s an electrifying player, but Williams has been known to make plenty of mistakes — throwing 10 interceptions and completing just 57 percent of his passes. If the Illini have any hope of pulling off the upset, the sophomore will have to play like a seasoned vet.

USC Key Player: RB Chauncey Washington — On the cover of Sports Illustrated’s college football preview, SI pictured a group of talented Trojans rushers and wondered who would emerge from the pack. It’s been Washington, a senior, who has totaled 941 yards and 10 touchdowns.

Allstate BCS National Championship Game, Jan. 7

Ohio State (11-1) vs. Louisiana State (11-2)

The matchup: For as much hype as the LSU defense has been getting for having the No. 2-ranked defense, it’s the Ohio State defense that ranks tops in the country by only allowing 225 yards per game. Each team relies heavily on standout running backs and experienced senior quarterbacks who win with their minds.

Ohio State Key Player: LB James Laurinaitis — As a junior, Laurinatis has anchored the Buckeye defense with 103 tackles and 5 sacks. Over the course of the year, LSU has proven they’re not afraid to go for it on fourth down, and when they decide to do so in the national championship game, Laurinaitis will be waiting in the B-gap.

LSU Key Player: QB Matt Flynn — It can be argued that Flynn choked in both of LSU’s triple-overtime losses this year by getting away from what he does best and trying to make the big play.