The 2025 bowl season is in full swing and ESPN's college football experts are here to highlight the best performances.
We'll pick MVPs from each of the 36 bowl games from Dec. 13 to Jan. 2. These are our experts' picks and won't necessarily align with the official bowl MVP.
Check back after each game for the latest top performances from bowl season.
Union Home Mortgage Gasparilla Bowl: NC State 31, Memphis 7
MVP: Caden Fordham
The NC State linebacker made his final college game a very memorable one, helping the Wolfpack to their first bowl win since 2017. He was all over the field, especially during a dominant first half that essentially put the game out of reach. Fordham led NC State with 13 tackles, including 1.5 for loss. He assisted on a fourth-down stop of Memphis' Frank Peeasant midway through the first quarter. Then, on the next Memphis series, Fordham intercepted a Brendon Lewis pass and raced 55 yards to the Tigers' 3-yard line. Will Wilson scored two plays later as NC State took a three-touchdown lead. It was the second career interception for Fordham, a first-team All-ACC selection and third-team AP All-America selection, who led the team and ranked fifth nationally in tackles per game (10.8).-- Adam Rittenberg
Myrtle Beach Bowl: Western Michigan 41, Kennesaw State 6
MVP: RB Jalen Buckley
Can you win bowl MVP before the end of the first quarter? Buckley, a junior running back for Western Michigan who earned third-team All-MAC honors and won league championship game MVP honors, proved it was possible on the teal turf. He set the tone on the very first snap, scooting through a hole on the right side of the line for a 65-yard touchdown. Buckley added a 57-yard run later in the quarter to set up WMU's fourth touchdown and also showed his effectiveness in short-yardage situations, converting a fourth-and-1 inside the Kennesaw State 10-yard line to set up another score. With several minutes left in the first quarter, Buckley was up to 172 yards on only seven carries, as WMU led 27-0. He added only one carry the rest of the way, turning things over to a defense that scored two touchdowns and received big performances from end Rodney McGraw (two forced fumbles, 2.5 sacks) and others. -- Rittenberg
Xbox Bowl: Arkansas State 34, Missouri State 28
MVP: WR Corey Rucker
The Arkansas State sixth-year senior wide receiver became only the 24th player in FBS history to reach 4,000 career receiving yards. Rucker's 71-yard touchdown reception -- the second longest of his career, according to ESPN Research, which also put him over 4,000 -- handed Arkansas State an early 14-0 lead. Despite the hot start, the Red Wolves still had to survive a late Missouri State rally, following a missed field goal attempt and series of costly penalties. Rucker finished with six receptions for 166 yards, as the Red Wolves prevailed 34-28 to win bowl games in consecutive years for the first time since 2012-13. -- Jake Trotter
68 Ventures Bowl: Delaware 20, Louisiana 13
MVP: RB Jo Silver
It was hardly a game of offensive fireworks, but in Delaware's first season as an FBS program, the Blue Hens won a bowl thanks in large part to the explosiveness of Silver. His 61-yard run in the first half opened the scoring, and he finished with 116 yards on 14 carries. Silver's success on the ground helped make up for a lackluster passing performance from a team that had led Conference USA in yards through the air. It was Silver's second 100-yard game of the season. -- David Hale
StaffDNA Cure Bowl: Old Dominion 24, South Florida 10
MVP: QB Quinn Henicle
Old Dominion moved to 10-3 on the season, and it did so without starting quarterback Colton Joseph.
Neither team had its regular QB1, but while USF's reserves tossed four picks in the game, ODU's Henicle did all he needed to win without making any critical miscues. Henicle finished with 127 passing yards, 107 more on the ground and a pair of touchdowns. -- Hale
IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl: Jacksonville State 17, Troy 13
MVP: WR Deondre Johnson
After transferring from Rutgers in the offseason, the 6-foot-8 redshirt sophomore slowly became more integrated in the Jacksonville State offense as the season progressed and was a key player by the time the regular season ended. In the Gamecocks' 17-13 win against Troy in the IS4S Salute to Veterans Bowl, Johnson capped his strong second half of the season with another sparkling performance. He caught six passes for 101 yards and had another 40-plus yard reception negated due to offensive pass interference. Assuming he remains at Jacksonville State, Johnson figures to be one of the better receivers outside the Power 4 in college football next year. -- Kyle Bonagura
Bucked Up LA Bowl: Washington 38, Boise State 10
MVP: QB Demond Williams Jr.
Washington quarterback Williams capped a strong sophomore season with an MVP performance in the Bucked Up LA Bowl, guiding the Huskies to a 38-10 win against Boise State. Williams completed 15 of 24 passes for 214 yards with 4 touchdown passes. Three of those scores came in the second quarter as Washington jumped out to a 24-3 halftime lead. Williams had brilliant moments throughout the season -- but he was inconsistent -- and again showed the type of talent that could make the Huskies a serious contender in the Big Ten next season. -- Bonagura
Cricket Celebration Bowl: South Carolina State 40, Prairie View A&M 38
MVP: WR Jordan Smith
Smith turned in one of the great Celebration Bowl performances to help South Carolina State overcome a 21-0 halftime deficit and beat Prairie View A&M 40-38 in quadruple overtime. Smith finished with nine receptions for 152 yards and a pair of scores to go along with five carries for 28 yards and another touchdown. His 10-yard receiving touchdown with two minutes left in regulation forced overtime as part of the Bulldogs' 35-point second half. -- Bonagura