Thursday, November 22, 2001
BCS, titles to be sorted out this weekend
The Associated Press
Big bowls, bigger paydays and the biggest prize of all — the national championship — are up for grabs over the long Thanksgiving weekend.
The drive to a $13 million payoff in one of four Bowl Championship Series games begins today, when No.10 Illinois (9-1, 6-1 Big Ten) plays host to Northwestern (4-6, 2-5). On the line? The Big Ten championship and a chance at the Fiesta Bowl.
On Friday, the Big 12 takes center stage, with No.5 Texas (9-1, 6-1) at Texas A&M (7-3, 4-3) followed by No.2 Nebraska (11-0, 7-0) at No.14 Colorado (8-2, 6-1).
At stake? The Longhorns all but clinch a BCS spot with a win, while the Huskers-Buffs winner advances to the league title game Dec.1.
To cap off the weekend Saturday, No.1 Miami (9-0) tries to avenge its last loss — 20 games ago — when No.12 Washington (8-2) visits the Orange Bowl. The Hurricanes need to win, then beat No.16 Virginia Tech on the road Dec.1 to claim their spot in the BCS' national title game at the Rose Bowl Jan.3.
Also, No.3 Oklahoma (10-1, 6-1) is heavily favored to beat Oklahoma State (3-7, 1-6), win the Big 12 South and move to the league title game. And Michigan (8-2, 6-1), which owns the tiebreaker over Illinois, claims the Big Ten's automatic BCS berth with a win over Ohio State (6-4, 4-3).
Illinois quarterback Kurt Kittner, who has passed for 2,607 yards and 19 touchdowns, should have a field day against the Wildcats, who allow 34.4 points a game. Even though the game is the biggest in years for the Illini, it will not be televised.
“I'd love to have a sold-out crowd, but it really doesn't matter,” Kittner said. “We could play at Schaumburg High School back home and I'd be happy.”
Miami and Washington are coming off big wins, the Hurricanes hammering Syracuse 59-0, the Huskies beating rival Washington State 26-14 in the Apple Cup.
Washington is headed to the Holiday Bowl; Miami is looking to play for a fifth national championship.
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BCS, titles to be sorted out this weekend
