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Home , Big 12 Championship Game, Greg Hardy, Jevan Snead, Michael Crabtree, SEC Championship Game, Tony Pike

1 BLACK D13 DAILY 11-30-08 MD M2 D13 BLACK

The Washington Post x M2 Sunday, November 30, 2008 D13

Down&Distance By Steve Yanda and News Services

FIRST DOWN » HOW THE TOP 25 FARED THIRD DOWN » 1. ALABAMA (12-0) DEF. AUBURN, 36-0 SECOND DOWN » LOOKING AHEAD TWO-MINUTE DRILL The Tide outgained the Tigers, 412-170, and forced three . Alabama ran for 234 yards and three scores against a defense that had BY THE NUMBERS allowed just four rushing in its first 11 games. Next: Saturday, SEC championship game vs. Florida Breaking Down the Bowl Scenarios 2,928 2. FLORIDA (11-1) DEF. NO. 23 FLORIDA STATE, 45-15 Here’s what we know about the matchups, as well as what’s most likely: Career kickoff return yards for In winning their eighth straight, the Gators scored on five of their first Southern Methodist’s Jesse seven possessions, held the Seminoles without a for the Henderson, breaking the NCAA 1 BCS CHAMPIONSHIP first 2 ⁄2 quarters and outgained them 502-242 in yards. record of 2,922 set by Tulane’s Next: Saturday, SEC championship game vs. Alabama What We Know: The winner Jeff Liggon from 1993 to ’96 3. OKLAHOMA (11-1) DEF. NO. 11 OKLA. STATE, 61-41 of Saturday’s Southeastern The Sooners, who haven’t been held below 35 points all season, scored Conference title game 4 more than 60 for the fourth straight game and forced two turnovers to between No. 1 Alabama and School records broken by bring their total to 18 takeaways in their past five games. More, D11 No. 2 Florida almost certainly Kansas’s Todd Reesing this Next: Regular season complete will be here. In lopsided wins season: completions (302), yesterday, both teams left attempts (460), total yards 4. (11-1) DEF. TEXAS A&M, 49-9, THURS. little doubt they deserve to be (3,683) and passing yards In their first win in the rivalry since 2005, the Longhorns held the at the top of the polls. (3,575) Aggies to 245 total yards and minus-24 yards rushing. They sacked What’s Most Likely: If the Jerrod Johnson and Stephen McGee a combined six times. BY MARC SEROTA — GETTY IMAGES winner of the Big 12 South BY BUTCH DILL — Next: Regular season complete beats North champion 7,449 Career rushing yards for Mount Missouri in Saturday’s 5. SOUTHERN CAL (10-1) DEF. NOTRE DAME, 38-3 Union’s Nate Kmic, breaking the Florida conference championship Alabama passed for 267 yards and two touchdowns, and the Division III record of 7,353 set game, it should claim the quarterback Fighting Irish didn’t get a first down until the last play of the third by R.J. Bowers of Grove City spot opposite the SEC winner, John Parker quarter. The Trojans have allowed 10 touchdowns this season. College in Pennsylvania from with Southern Cal lobbying Wilson Next: Saturday at UCLA 1997 to 2000 for consideration. 6. PENN STATE (11-1) IDLE Only a one-point loss to Iowa is keeping the Nittany Lions out of the QUOTABLE national title discussion; they outscored their opponents in the regular “We got smacked season by an average of more than 27 points (40.17-12.42). Utah is sweet Next: Rose Bowl vs. TBA on a Sugar around our first year What We Know: A representative from the SEC Bowl berth. in the Big East. I’m at 7. TEXAS TECH (11-1) DEF. BAYLOR, 35-28 will face an at-large team or Big East champion was 41 for 50 for two touchdowns and 309 yards for a loss for words. It’s the Red Raiders, who trailed 28-14 but rallied to win 11 games in a . season for the third time in the program’s 84 years. What’s Most Likely: The loser of the SEC just utter bliss.” championship game still will earn a BCS bid and Next: Regular season complete Cincinnati Mardy play in New Orleans, probably against Utah of the Gilyard, celebrating the Bearcats’ 8. UTAH (12-0) IDLE . conference title The Utes are expected to receive a BCS bowl bid after finishing the regular season undefeated with the nation’s 16th-best scoring offense BY CAROLYN KASTER — ASSOCIATED PRESS “I think they should (37.42 points per game) and 14th-best scoring defense (17.25). break that three-way Next: Regular season complete tie based on a FIESTA BOWL Terrelle Pryor 9. BOISE STATE (12-0) DEF. FRESNO STATE, 61-10, FRI. and State graduation rate. I Ian Johnson ran for 128 yards and scored two touchdowns to tie the What We Know: An at-large team will face a are eyeing the WAC record of 57 rushing touchdowns set by Marshall Faulk at San think the Big 12 representative from the Big 12. Fiesta Bowl. Diego State from 1991 to ’93. conference should Next: Regular season complete What’s Most Likely: If either Oklahoma, Texas or Texas Tech beats Missouri in the Big 12 title game, have an executive 10. OHIO STATE (10-2) IDLE that squad will advance to the BCS championship session tonight.” The Buckeyes completed their fourth consecutive 10-victory season, game. In that case, the next-highest Big 12 South but their streak of three consecutive BCS bowls could be in jeopardy, team in the BCS rankings will play in Tempe, Texas Tech Coach Mike Leach, with Penn State claiming the Big Ten’s automatic bid. probably against Ohio State. whose Red Raiders lead Big 12 Next: Regular season complete BY ANDY LYONS — GETTY IMAGES football programs with a 79 percent graduation rate 11. OKLAHOMA STATE (9-3) LOST TO NO. 3 OKLA., 61-41 Perrish Cox became the fourth player to return a kickoff for a touchdown ORANGE BOWL Cincinnati’s NOTABLE against the Sooners this season, and the Cowboys twice cut their Lynell MAC VACANCIES: Bowling deficit to three in the fourth quarter before succumbing. More, D11 Payne, left, Green fired Coach Gregg Next: Regular season complete What We Know: The ACC champion (either Boston College or Virginia Tech) will face an at-large and Delbert Brandon after six seasons, and 12. MISSOURI (9-3) LOST TO KANSAS, 40-37 team or Big East champion Cincinnati. Ferguson Miami (Ohio) Coach Shane 1 may have an Montgomery resigned after a Missouri needed 16 ⁄2 minutes to get a first down, and Chase Daniel What’s Most Likely: The winner of the ACC will started 0 for 6, throwing an on his third pass. He also take on Cincinnati in a contest that will draw little ACC 2-10 season. fumbled and was sacked for a safety. More, D11 interest outside of the family, friends and fans of opponent in HARVIN INJURED: Florida wide Next: Saturday, those involved. their future. receiver sprained his right ankle against Florida 13. GEORGIA (9-2) LOST TO NO. 18 GEORGIA TECH, 45-42 BY JOE ROBBINS — GETTY IMAGES State, and Coach Urban Meyer finished 24 of 39 for 407 yards, becoming the third said he is questionable for player in school history to throw five touchdown passes in a game, Saturday’s SEC title game. joining David Greene and D.J. Shockley. More, D11 Next: Regular season complete ROSE BOWL Penn State Coach Joe 14. TCU (10-2) IDLE The Horned Frogs lead the nation in rushing defense (48.67 yards per What We Know: Big Ten champion Penn State will Paterno has a game) and total defense (215.08) and rank second in scoring defense face the Pacific-10 champion, probably Southern rosy outlook (10.92 points per game) behind only Southern Cal. California, which would win the conference with a these days. Next: Regular season complete victory over UCLA, unless the Trojans lobby their FOURTH DOWN » way into the championship game. HEISMAN WATCH 15. BALL STATE (12-0) DEF. W. MICHIGAN, 45-22, TUES. What’s Most Likely: Unless Alabama finishes MiQuale Lewis ran for three touchdowns, breaking the school record for undefeated, the winner of a Trojans-Nittany Lions most rushing scores with 20 this season, and the Cardinals became the game will proclaim loudly that it deserves national Oklahoma quarterback first to enter the MAC title game unbeaten since Marshall in 1999. championship consideration. BY JONATHAN FERREY — GETTY IMAGES A Big 12 championship game Next: Friday, MAC championship game vs. Buffalo would give him an audition his rivals wouldn’t have. 16. CINCINNATI (10-2) DEF. SYRACUSE, 30-10 threw a pair of touchdown passes, and the Bearcats tied the Yest. 2008 school record with their 10th victory. It was the final game for Syracuse Coach Greg Robinson, who finished 10-47 in four seasons. YESTERDAY’S WINNERS YESTERDAY’S LOSERS Pass 30-44 268-393 Next: Saturday at Hawaii Yds 370 4,080 17. OREGON STATE (8-4) LOST TO NO. 19 OREGON, 65-38 ACC Improves Eligibility Trouble for Texas Teams TD-Int. 4-0 46-6 Entering last night, the Beavers were behind only USC in the Pac-10 in total defense, allowing 289.6 yards a game. They then proceeded to Steve Beck was just one of the many EagleBank Neither No. 4 Texas nor No. 7 Texas Tech lost COLT MCCOY surrender 693 yards to the Ducks. More, D11 Bowl officials who feverishly flipped channels their regular season finale, yet both came away Texas quarterback Next: Regular season complete between three ACC games. The EagleBank Bowl feeling a little down. Could he finish behind Bradford, gets the ninth selection of ACC bowl teams, and The Red Raiders squeaked out a 35-28 win over whom he outdueled when their 18. GEORGIA TECH (9-3) DEF. NO. 13 GEORGIA, 45-42 entering yesterday, only eight ACC teams were Baylor but lost the best wide receiver in college teams met in October? After Roddy Jones’s TD run and Josh Nesbitt’s two-point conversion tied eligible. football in the process. Sophomore wideout the score at 28, Georgia fumbled the kickoff and the Yellow Jackets Thurs. 2008 recovered and scored on the next play to take command. More, D11 By mid-afternoon, Beck, the executive director of Michael Crabtree, who has tallied 93 receptions, Next: Regular season complete the EagleBank Bowl, was able to settle his nerves. 1,135 yards and 18 touchdowns this season, left Pass 23-28 291-375 Though Virginia lost, Clemson and North Carolina the game midway through the second quarter Yds 311 3,445 19. OREGON (9-3) DEF. NO. 17 OREGON STATE, 65-38 State won their respective games, which gave the because of a right foot injury. He watched the With their first victory in Corvallis since 1996, the Ducks ended a ACC 10 eligible teams and ensured the EagleBank second half from the sideline wearing a protective TD-Int. 2-0 32-7 two-game losing streak in the Civil War series and extended their overall Bowl an ACC opponent opposite Navy. boot. series lead to 56-46-10. More, D11 Beck said in a telephone interview he had no Texas Tech’s win erased the Longhorns’ surest TIM TEBOW Next: Regular season complete feeling toward which ACC team the EagleBank route to the Big 12 championship game. Texas, Florida quarterback Bowl would most likely draw, though he did say it which handed Oklahoma its only loss this season, Last year’s winner also has run 20. BYU (10-2) IDLE won’t necessarily be the team that finishes ninth in defeated Texas A&M, 49-9, on Thursday, but for 507 yards and 12 scores. The Cougars have put together a memorable season, but their two the conference. settled for a three-way tie in the South Division losses — 32-7 to TCU and 48-24 to Utah in the regular season finale “It’s been hard not to know who we have,” Beck with the Red Raiders and Sooners, who defeated Yest. 2008 — left them an emphatic third in the Mountain West. Next: Regular season complete said. “Now we know it’s going to be the ACC and Oklahoma State last night. That means the South Pass 12-21 160-246 the soonest we know what ACC team it is, the better Division winner will be determined by the BCS Yds 185 2,683 20. BOSTON COLLEGE (9-3) DEF. MARYLAND, 28-21 it’s going to be for our ticket sales.” ratings that will be released today. The Eagles clinched the ACC’s Atlantic Division title for the second TD-Int. 3-0 25-2 straight year by holding the Terps to minus-6 yards rushing and getting a score from their defense or special teams for a seventh straight game. Next: Saturday, ACC championship game vs. Virginia Tech

22. MICHIGAN STATE (9-3) IDLE EXTRA POINTS » AROUND THE NATION Led by ’s 132.5 rushing yards per game, the Spartans won nine games for the first time since the 1991 season, but their three K CLEMSON 31, SOUTH CAROLINA 14: The Ti- threw three touchdown passes, and Trimane games. They also avoided becoming the first losses were by a combined 73 points. gers, 3-4 a month ago, have won four of their fi- Next: Regular season complete Goddard intercepted a pass in the closing sec- team in history to lose eight games nal five under interim coach Dabo Swinney and onds to seal the win for the Tar Heels (8-4, 4-4 in a season. The Wildcats (6-6, 2-6) were hoping 23. FLORIDA STATE (8-4) LOST TO NO. 2 FLORIDA, 45-15 are in line for the Champs Sports Bowl, whose ACC), who ended a two-game losing streak and to impress the bowl scouts and avoid a third The Seminoles’ touchdown midway through the third quarter ended a representatives attended the game. James Da- beat the Blue Devils (4-8, 1-7) for the 18th time straight Music City Bowl bid. span of 111:44 without a touchdown against the Gators, but they vis scored three touchdowns in his last Death in 19 years. Thaddeus Lewis finished 34 of 49 K RICE 56, 42: Chase Clement threw missed the extra point, then failed to recover an onside kick. Valley appearance and Clemson (7-5) beat the for 278 yards for Duke. for 381 yards and five touchdowns to deny the Next: Regular season complete Gamecocks for the sixth time in seven seasons. K WAKE FOREST 23, VANDERBILT 10: Alphonso Cougars a chance at the Conference USA cham- South Carolina (7-5) fell to 1-3 against its state Smith’s record-tying 20th career interception pionship. Needing a win to clinch the West in 24. NORTHWESTERN (9-3) IDLE rival under Coach . set up Rich Belton’s game-clinching touchdown Conference USA, Houston (7-5, 6-2) instead The last time the Wildcats won nine games in a season, their coach, Pat K N.C. STATE 38, MIAMI 28: run, and the Demon Deacons (7-5) closed the quickly fell behind and lost to the Owls (9-3, Fitzgerald, was playing linebacker. They were 10th in the country in threw for two touchdowns and ran for a score to regular season with a victory that should give 7-1) for the first time in the series since 2004. sacks with 2.75 per game. help make the Wolfpack eligible for a bowl after Next: Regular season complete them a school-record three consecutive bowl The result means that Tulsa and East Carolina four straight wins. Wilson threw for 220 yards trips. Redshirt freshman quarterback Larry will play for the conference title next week. and ran for 58 more for North Carolina State Smith made his debut in the second half for the K GRAMBLING STATE 29, SOUTHERN 14: In the 25. MISSISSIPPI (8-4) DEF. MISSISSIPPI STATE, 45-0, FRI. (6-6, 4-4 ACC). The Wolfpack became the first Jevan Snead threw for 213 yards and four touchdowns, and Commodores (6-6). Bayou Classic, Greg Dillon accounted for 287 had three of the Rebels’ school-record 11 sacks in the most lopsided team to lose its first four ACC games then win K TENNESSEE 28, KENTUCKY 10: In Philip Ful- yards and two touchdowns, and the Tigers Egg Bowl since Mississippi’s 48-0 victory in 1971. its last four since the league went to an eight- mer’s last game as coach, the Volunteers (5-7, clinched a spot in the Southwestern Athletic

Next: Regular season complete game schedule in 1992. 3-5 SEC) extended the nation’s longest active Conference title game. Dillon was 9 of 13 for

K NORTH CAROLINA 28, DUKE 20: T.J. Yates winning streak by one team over another to 24 151 yards. 1 BLACK D13