College Football
Notebook: BCS is weekend's big winner

By Seattle Times news services

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Well, what do you know? If USC, as expected, beats Oregon State on Dec. 6, the two best teams in the nation appear likely to play in the BCS championship game for the second season in a row.

This season, it would be Oklahoma-USC in the Sugar Bowl. Last season, it was Miami-Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl.

Oklahoma still must win a game, too, against Kansas State in the Big 12 championship game, but as well as the Wildcats have been playing (six wins in a row), the only team that can beat Oklahoma is Oklahoma. K-State's two Big 12 losses were to Texas and Oklahoma State, teams OU beat by a combined 117-22.

Losses by TCU and, to a lesser extent, Ohio State have the BCS smelling sweet right about now.

The Horned Frogs' loss Thursday to Southern Mississippi removed them from the at-large mix.

The Buckeyes' loss Saturday to Michigan removed them from the Sugar Bowl mix.

While TCU could fall all the way to the Fort Worth Bowl, Ohio State remains an attractive BCS at-large candidate. The Buckeyes will sell a ton of tickets and are a good TV draw.

Also worth considering: For all the BCS' faults, the best team has won the national title in each of the five seasons the system has been around.

In 1998, unbeaten Tennessee prevailed (over a one-loss Florida State team); the only other undefeated team was Tulane. In 1999, unbeaten FSU beat unbeaten Virginia Tech; Marshall also had an unblemished record. In 2000, Oklahoma was the only unbeaten team and it won the title. In 2001, Miami was the lone unbeaten and it took home the championship. And last season, the only two unbeatens matched up for the title.

Nebraska's Solich says he has not considered retirement

LINCOLN, Neb. — Nebraska coach Frank Solich is not considering retiring after the Cornhuskers' final regular-season game.

"That's never crossed my mind," Solich told reporters yesterday after Nebraska's practice at Cook Pavilion.

Solich commented after the Lincoln Journal Star, citing three unnamed sources, reported yesterday that the 59-year-old coach could be forced into retirement after Friday's game against Colorado.

Solich declined to comment directly on the report.

"We're excited about trying to finish up the season well, so it really doesn't make sense to comment, especially on anonymous-source type of information," said Solich, who has a 57-22 record in six seasons at Nebraska.

Solich compared the story to unsigned letters he receives that are critical of him. He wouldn't say whether he had discussed the Journal Star story with his team.

Though the Huskers have won eight games — one more than last year — Solich has come under fire for the way the Cornhuskers have looked in their three losses.

In a 41-24 loss at Missouri, the Huskers led 24-14 after three quarters and then gave up 27 straight points.

In a 31-7 loss at Texas, the Huskers were inexplicably flat while rushing for just 53 yards and generating a total of 175 yards.

The 38-9 loss to Kansas State was Nebraska's worst at home since 1958.

Chris Anderson, athletic department spokeswoman, said athletic director Steve Pederson would not comment on Solich's status.

Note

• New Mexico will play in the Las Vegas Bowl for the second year in a row.

The opponent will be a team from the Pac-10. The Lobos (8-4, 5-2 Mountain West) finished the regular season with a 26-3 win over Wyoming on Saturday.

The Las Vegas Bowl is Dec. 24, with a payout of about $800,000 per team.

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