NO. 8 MICHIGAN STATE SPARTANS (10-2) VS. NO. 5 BAYLOR BEARS (11-1)

JAN. 1, 12:30 P.M. ET, ARLINGTON, TEXAS, AT&T STADIUM (ESPN)

MICHIGAN STATE BREAKDOWN

Season highlights: Michigan State’s biggest win of the season came in early October, when it held Nebraska running back Ameer Abdullah under 50 rushing yards in a 27-22 win. The Spartans took their foot off the pedal in the fourth quarter, but not before establishing themselves as the better team. A 35-11 beatdown of in-state rival Michigan, highlighted by three rushing touchdowns from Jeremy Langford, will also draw fond memories in their locker room.

Season lowlights: The Spartans missed both their chances during the regular season to take down a giant of the sport. They played No. 2 Oregon and No. 5 Ohio State even through the first half in both games, then trailed off under pressure from two of the country’s best offenses. A win in either of those games would have kept Michigan State in the playoff discussion until the end. Head coach Mark Dantonio trumpeted the team’s 10-win season, but there’s no doubt that missing two big fish still stings.

Player to watch: Senior wide receiver Tony Lippett has gone from a reserve with a case of the drops to the best receiver in the Big Ten. He has 1,124 receiving yards and 12 total touchdowns this season. In late November, he also added cornerback duties as the Spartans’ first two-way starter in four decades. At 6-foot-3, he gives the secondary the big, athletic body it needs to play the aggressive style that defensive coordinator Pat Narduzzi likes.

Motivation factor: Like we said above, missing chances against Oregon and Ohio State stings for a program that has convinced itself it is habitually disrespected by the college football elite. Two trips to New Year’s bowls in two years is a major accomplishment in East Lansing. Taking down a highly regarded opponent and proving the Spartans belong in the top is the driving force this postseason. -- Dan Murphy

vs.BAYLOR BREAKDOWN

Season highlights: Getting there wasn’t as easy as last year, but Baylor successfully defended its Big 12 title belt, becoming just the second repeat champ in its conference’s history. The Bears did so in brand-new McLane Stadium with their usual blend of high-firepower offense and a defense the came through in big games. Baylor had plenty: a 61-58 win over TCU in which BU scored the game’s final 24 points, a 48-14 win at Oklahoma for the worst home loss of Bob Stoops’ tenure and, of course, the 38-27 finale win over a top-10 Kansas State team on Saturday night.

Season lowlights: If not for a 41-27 loss at West Virginia on Oct. 18, the Bears might be the No. 1 team in the country. One week after the prizefight against TCU, Baylor was shut out on six of its seven second-half drives against a WVU team that finished 7-5. Baylor’s close-call win over Texas Tech, a 48-46 game at AT&T Stadium, also didn’t help its playoff positioning.

Player to watch: These Bears go as Bryce Petty goes. One week after being knocked out of the Tech game with a mild concussion, he bounced back big against Kansas State with 412 yards on 85 percent passing. When he’s good, Baylor is great. His numbers took a slight dip in 2014 as he played through a back injury, but the senior makes this offense unstoppable on his best days.

Motivation factor: Texas-sized. If it wasn’t clear already, Art Briles’ last-ditch media rampage on Saturday night and Sunday morning sent the message that this team is mad. Mad at the Big 12, mad at Bob Bowlsby, mad at the College Football Playoff committee, mad at TCU and mad that Baylor wasn’t guaranteed a playoff spot on its résumé alone. No matter the postseason destination, the chip-on-the-shoulder factor for Baylor has never been greater. -- Max Olson