College football bowl games today: Top NFL Draft prospect to watch for each team

Andy McNamara

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College football bowl games today: Top NFL Draft prospect to watch for each team image

It's a packed New Year's Day slate of college football action with three bowl games on tap.

As we inch closer to April's NFL Draft, college playoffs give us our last chances to see future picks in live game action. 

Let's look at the top prospect to watch for each team in today's match-ups. 

 

Orange Bowl - Oregon Ducks (5) vs. Texas Tech Red Raiders (4)

12pm ET at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, FL

Oregon Player to Watch: Dante Moore (QB)- 6'3", 206-lbs, Sophomore

2025 stats- 3,046 passing yards, 28-TDs, 8-INTs

"Every throw looks so effortless — and many of them show a degree of velocity, precision and touch that only a handful of current NFL quarterbacks possess. His ability to "drop it in the bucket" on intermediate and deep throws stands out in this class, justifying the frequent comparisons Moore gets to young Texans star C.J. Stroud." - Rob Rang (Fox Sports)

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Texas Tech Player to Watch: Jacob Rodriguez (LB)- 6'1", 230-lbs, Senior

2025 stats- 61 tackles, 7 forced fumbles, 4-INTs, 1 sack

"The 2025 Chuck Bednarik Award winner is noted for his high football IQ on the field. Along with his pure instincts as a linebacker and speed, Rodriguez uses his knowledge as a former quarterback in his pre-snap recognition. Watch him in this game and his ability to confuse Dante Moore." - nflmocks.com

 

Rose Bowl - Alabama Crimson Tide (9) vs. Indiana Hoosiers (1)

4pm ET at The Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA

Alabama Player to Watch: Ty Simpson (QB)- 6'2", 208-lbs, Junior

2025 stats- 3,500 passing yards, 28-TDs, 5-INTs

"The game slows down for him in ways it usually doesn't for college quarterbacks in their first year as starters. And while the first half of the season was better than the second, Simpson battled a back injury that affected his ability to push the ball down the field. He consistently showed poise beyond his experience -- standing tall in the pocket, making throws without panicking or forcing the issue." - Ryan Wilson (CBS Sports)

Indiana Player to Watch: Fernando Mendoza (QB)- 6'5", 225-lbs, Junior

2025 stats- 2,980 passing yards, 33-TDs, 6-INTs

"Mendoza won all of the awards and accolades this season and deservedly so. He has elite deep ball placement, pocket maneuverability and processing ability. His processing in Indiana's pro-style offense is a rare trait for college quarterbacks. Mendoza boasts a 70.8% completion rate and a 79.2% adjusted completion percentage all while having an average depth of target of 9.5 yards." - Thomas Martinez (Sports Illustrated)

 

Sugar Bowl - Ole Miss Rebels (6) vs. Georgia Bulldogs (3)

8pm ET at Caesars Superdome in New Orleans, LA

Ole Miss Player to Watch: Kewan Lacy (RB)- 5'11", 200-lbs, Sophomore

2025 stats- 1,366 rushing yards, 21-TDs, 5.0-YPC

"Lacy is considered a "home-run hitter" with the top-end speed to pull away once he reaches the second level. He demonstrates excellent contact balance, the ability to run through arm tackles, and lateral agility. He is also a reliable pass-catcher out of the backfield. Areas for improvement include- ongoing development in vision, pad level, and cutting ability to maximize yardage on every play." - nfldraftbuzz.com

Georgia Player to Watch: Christen Miller (DL)- 6'4", 305-lbs, Junior

2025 stats- 20 tackles, 1.5 sacks

"Miller broke out this season, and the 6-foot-4, 305-pounder should be viewed as a potential 3-technique with some 5-technique versatility upfront." - Matt Miller (ESPN)

 

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Contributing Writer