Gould’s projection for Notre Dame: First Rose Bowl bid since 1925
November 11, 2012 10:21PM
Texas A&M v Alabama
SUN-TIMES BIG TEN POWER RANKINGS
A Wisconsin-Nebraska Big Ten title game looms. Badgers have clinched their berth. Huskers, who have Minnesota and Iowa left, would only need a split if Michigan loses at Ohio State.
LW
1. Ohio State (10-0) 1
2. Nebraska (8-2) 2
3. Michigan (7-3) 4
4. Wisconsin (7-3) 7
5. Northwestern (7-3) 3
6. Penn State (6-4) 5
7. Michigan State (5-5) 6
8. Minnesota (6-4) 9
9. Purdue (4-6) 11
10. Indiana (4-6) 8
11. Iowa (4-6) 10
12. Illinois (2-8) 12
Updated: December 13, 2012 10:41AM
Imagine the hoopla for Notre Dame’s first Rose Bowl trip since 1925. And know that Pasadena is ND’s most logical destination.
An Oregon-Kansas State title game would put Notre Dame in the Rose Bowl or the Fiesta Bowl, a BCS bowl source told the Sun-Times on Sunday.
The deciding factor would be whether the Ducks or the Wildcats finish first in the BCS standings — and Oregon’s tough remaining schedule means it’s expected to finish No. 1.
“If Oregon finishes first, the Rose Bowl will get Notre Dame,’’ the source said. “If Kansas State finishes first, the Fiesta Bowl gets the Irish.’’
If Oregon finishes first, the Rose Bowl, which would lose its Pac-12 champion, would pick first. If K-State is on top, the Fiesta (Big 12 tie-in) would get the nod.
Even if the Irish were to lose to Wake Forest and get blown out by USC, the source said, the scenarios don’t change.
In the Rose Bowl, Notre Dame would face Nebraska or Wisconsin. In the Fiesta Bowl, the likely opponent would be Rutgers, with Louisville or Clemson also possible.
The projection for the BCS bowls:
◆ BCS title: Oregon vs. Kansas State.
◆ Rose: Nebraska vs. Notre Dame.
◆ Fiesta: Oklahoma vs. Texas A&M.
◆ Sugar: Alabama vs. Clemson.
◆ Orange: Florida State vs. Rutgers.
B1G sliver of hope
There is a scenario in which the Big Ten, for all its troubles, could place an at-large team in a BCS bowl for the eighth year in a row.
Nebraska would need to be handed its third loss by Wisconsin in the Big Ten title game. That would put the Badgers in Pasadena and make the Cornhuskers available as a BCS at-large if they finish in the top 14 teams in the final BCS standings. It would be close, but a BCS bowl source pointed out that schools such as Texas, Oregon State and UCLA, which are in the hunt for the top 14, also are likely to lose another game.
When Oregon State, which was 11th last week, lost 27-23 at Stanford, the Cornhuskers’ BCS at-large prospects got a big boost.
“The Oregon State loss was huge,’’ the source said, adding that neither the Beavers nor the Cardinal will make the top 14. “I don’t think either Pac-12 team will be there with three loses, but Nebraska could be. The Fiesta Bowl would grab Nebraska in a heartbeat. It would love to do an Oklahoma-Nebraska game.’’
That said, this remains as the most likely Big Ten bowl projection:
◆ Rose: Nebraska vs. Notre Dame.
◆ Capital One: Michigan vs. Georgia.
◆ Outback: Wisconsin vs. South Carolina.
◆ Gator: Michigan State vs. Mississippi State.
◆ Buffalo Wild Wings: Northwestern vs. Oklahoma State.
◆ Meineke Car Care: Minnesota vs. Iowa State.
Also lurking is Purdue, which needs to win at Illinois on Saturday and beat Indiana at home to become bowl-eligible. The Boilermakers would slot into the Heart of Dallas Bowl.
Two-way Heisman?
The national-championship picture isn’t the only thing coming into focus.
As the Heisman Trophy race heads into the homestretch, Johnny Manziel, Texas A&M’s wondrous freshman quarterback, is closing the gap on front-runner Collin Klein, the Kansas State senior QB who seemed to have a good lead.
Both have excellent numbers: Klein, 2,020 passing yards and 12 TD, 748 rushing yards and 19 TDs; Manziel, 2,780 passing yards and 18 TDs, 1,014 rushing yards and 12 TDs.
But Manziel added a signature victory at Alabama, which was considered unbeatable as well as unbeaten.
Manziel’s rise probably makes the Heisman a two-horse race. Oregon’s senior running back Kenjon Barner could re-emerge if the two QBs falter. Barner has 1,360 rushing yards and 19 TDs, plus 18 pass receptions for 219 yards and a TD.
Two Midwesterners could be invited to New York: Notre Dame linebacker Manti Te’o and Ohio State QB Braxton Miller. But that would be more for show.
THE POLLS
BCS STANDINGS
Per. Pvs
1. Kansas State .9674 2
2. Oregon .9497 3
3. Notre Dame .9396 4
4. Alabama .8534 1
5. Georgia .8328 5
6. Florida .7955 6
7. LSU .7331 7
8. Texas A&M .6621 15
9. South Carolina .6349 8
10. Florida State .6071 10
11. Clemson .5921 13
12. Oklahoma .5797 12
13. Stanford .5705 14
14. Nebraska .4679 16
15. Texas .4259 17
16. Oregon State .4161 11
17. UCLA .2925 18
18. USC .2769 19
19. Louisville .2159 9
20. Louisiana Tech .1911 20
21. Michigan .1665 NR
22. Rutgers .1529 23
23. Texas Tech .1416 22
24. Oklahoma State .1088 NR
25. Washington .0850 NR
ASSOCIATED PRESS
Record Pts Pvs
1. Oregon (45) 10-0 1,485 2
2. Kansas State (14) 10-0 1,451 3
3. Notre Dame (1) 10-0 1,382 4
4. Alabama 9-1 1,259 1
5. Georgia 9-1 1,223 5
6. Ohio State 10-0 1,212 5
7. Florida 9-1 1,089 7
8. LSU 8-2 1,046 9
9. Texas A&M 8-2 1,031 15
10. Florida State 9-1 1,024 8
11. Clemson 9-1 907 10
12. South Carolina 8-2 848 12
13. Oklahoma 7-2 798 14
14. Stanford 8-2 766 16
15. Oregon State 7-2 556 13
16. Nebraska 8-2 549 18
17. UCLA 8-2 541 17
18. Texas 8-2 496 19
19. Louisiana Tech 9-1 374 19
20. Louisville 9-1 322 11
21. USC 7-3 297 21
22. Rutgers 8-1 179 24
23. Michigan 7-3 135 NR
23. Texas Tech 7-3 135 25
25. Kent State 9-1 93 NR
Others receiving votes: Oklahoma St. 79, N. Illinois 77, Mississippi St. 48, Wisconsin 26, UCF 16, Boise St. 14, Arizona 6, Cincinnati 6, Fresno St. 6, TCU 5, San Jose St. 4, Tulsa 4, Utah St. 4, San Diego St. 3, Northwestern 2, Toledo 1, Washington 1.
• USA TODAY coaches, HArris polls, Page 58
