College Football News

The Big Ten bowl picture is all but set. Five teams accepted postseason bids Tuesday, led by No. 10 Wisconsin's return to the Capital One Bowl in Orlando Fla., to take on a Southeastern Conference team on Jan. 1

Top-ranked Ohio State already is headed to the Bowl Championship Series title game, in Glendale, Ariz., on Jan. 8, and No. 2 Michigan still awaits its BCS matchup.

Penn State, Iowa, Minnesota and Purdue joined Wisconsin (11-1) in learning their postseason destinations.

Penn State is in the Outback Bowl, making back-to-back bowl appearances for the first time since the 1998 and '99 seasons. The Nittany Lions (8-4) and an SEC team will play Jan. 1 in Tampa, Fla.

Purdue (8-4) is going to the Champs Sports Bowl, making a return to the postseason after missing last year for the only time in Joe Tiller's 10 seasons as coach. The Boilermakers will take on an opponent from the Atlantic Coast Conference.

Minnesota's appearance in the Insight Bowl will be its fifth consecutive bowl game and seventh in the past eight seasons. The Gophers (6-6) will meet a Big 12 team Dec. 29 in Tempe, Ariz.

Iowa (6-6) is headed for the Dec. 30 Alamo Bowl in San Antonio for a matchup against a Big 12 school. In 2001, Iowa's win against Texas Tech drew the second-largest crowd in Alamo Bowl history.

BYU, Navy and No. 25 Hawaii are the only other schools who have accepted bowl bids.

Navy is going to the Meineke Bowl on Dec. 30 in Charlotte, N.C., and BYU has accepted a spot in the Las Vegas Bowl on Dec. 21. The Warriors are playing in the Hawaii Bowl on Dec. 24.

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Some post-season award finalists:

West Virginia center Dan Mozes, Wisconsin offensive tackle Joe Thomas and Texas offensive lineman Justin Blalock are the finalists for the Outland Trophy, given to the best interior lineman.

Michigan's Leon Hall, Florida's Reggie Nelson and Texas' Aaron Ross were selected as finalists for the Jim Thorpe Award, given annually to the top defensive back.

Mike Hart of Michigan, Darren McFadden of Arkansas and Steve Slaton of West Virginia were named finalists for the Doak Walker Award, which honors the nation's top running back.

Colt Brennan of Hawaii, Brady Quinn of Notre Dame and Troy Smith of Ohio State were named finalists for the Davey O'Brien Award, presented to the nation's top quarterback.


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