Now this is what New Year's Day football is supposed to feel like.
Wisconsin 34, Auburn 31, in overtime.
Michigan State 42, Baylor 41, in a wild, come-from-behind victory for the Spartans.
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And those two games served as undercards to the main event: the first College Football Playoff.
The Big Ten went 2-1 in the day's warmups with the Wisconsin and Michigan State wins (Missouri beat Minnesota in the other bowl game).
Melvin Gordon was fantastic, as he has been all season.
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Gordon rushed for 251 yards and finished the season with 2,587, second only to Barry Sanders. The highlight was this 53-yard run on fourth-and-1.
Auburn kicker Daniel Carlson missed a 45-yard field goal — it caromed off the right upright — trying to force a second overtime in the Outback Bowl.
But the Cotton Bowl got downright crazy. (And that's not even taking into account this 390-pound touchdown).
Baylor led 41-21 early in the fourth quarter. A Connor Cook TD toss to Josiah Price and Jeremy Langford TD run cut the lead to 41-35.
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The Bears had a chance to ice the game, but Chris Callahan's 43-yard field goal attempt was blocked and RJ Williamson returned it 26 yards to the Spartans 45 with 1:05 left in the game.
Cook found Keith Mumphery for a 10-yard TD with 17 seconds left and Michigan State sacked Bryce Petty twice to close out the victory.
Not bad for some pregame entertainment.