Le'Veon Bell's 2012 season really began last January, when fellow running back Edwin Baker announced he was skipping his senior year to enter the NFL draft.

Suddenly, Bell's carry-splitting arrangement in Michigan State's backfield was a thing of the past. There was no doubt about whom the Spartans would build their running game around.

Michigan State hasn't won as many games as in seasons past, but Bell has certainly done his part. The 6-foot-2 junior enters Saturday's Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl against Texas Christian with 1,648 yards on 350 carries - and his 266-yard effort in the regular-season finale against Minnesota is the biggest reason the Spartans are in the postseason at all.