Friday, November 21, 1997
Rose Bowl awaits final customary matchup
ROSE BOWL: Jan. 1 game between Pac-10, Big Ten marks end of
agreement
By Brent Boyd
Daily Bruin Staff
It is only fitting that there is a mad race for the Rose Bowl in
this, the final year of the traditional Big Ten- Pac-10 matchup in
the "granddaddy of them all."
As the stretch run of the three-month marathon commences
Saturday, six teams remain alive for the two berths – UCLA,
Washington State and Arizona State in the Pac-10, along with
Michigan, Ohio State and long-shot Penn State in the Big Ten.
This season’s contest marks the end of a 52-year agreement
between the two conferences that pit their champions against one
another in Pasadena on New Year’s Day.
Beginning next season, along with three other bowl games, the
Rose Bowl will join the new College Football Bowl Alliance. The
champions of six major conferences – including the Pac-10 and Big
Ten – along with two wildcard picks, will be included in this
alliance, which would then seed teams in order to ensure a national
championship game.
The national championship contest would feature the top two
ranked teams nationally and would rotate among the four bowls on an
annual basis, with the Rose Bowl first hosting the title game in
2002.
And if either a Pac-10 or a Big Ten team is ranked first or
second, it would be sent to the designated bowl game and would skip
the Rose Bowl for the first time since 1947.
The Pac-10 and Big Ten champs, however, would still face off in
Pasadena during any year in which neither conference champion
qualifies for the national title game, and it’s not the Rose Bowl’s
turn to host the championship contest.
Reaction around Westwood is positive.
"I’m an old traditional guy," UCLA head coach Bob Toledo said.
"I love the Rose Bowl, but I think that teams should be able to win
the championship on the field."
As it stands now, the Rose Bowl has recently been a curse to
those pursuing the national title. With the two conference champs
locked in to the game, oftentimes a team competing for a national
championship doesn’t get a chance to battle the other
contenders.
It happened to Penn State in 1994 when they were undefeated and
were forced to play an 8-3 Oregon team.
It happened to Arizona State last season, when the Sun Devils
were forced to battle Ohio State instead of undefeated Florida
State.
And it may happen again this year.
Michigan enters this weekend’s contest with Ohio State as the
top-ranked team in the Associated Press poll, but No. 2 in the
coaches poll.
A win here and the Wolverines automatically go to the Rose Bowl,
to face a Pac-10 team that probably won’t be ranked among the top
five.
Meanwhile, undefeated Nebraska and Florida State could be
fighting it out in the Orange Bowl for the national title.
Say Michigan remains undefeated as does Nebraska or Florida
State, who’s No. 1?
It comes down to a popularity contest among sportswriters and
coaches nationwide.
Regardless, Michigan (10-0, 7-0 Big Ten) will be heading for
Pasadena for the first time since 1993 with a victory over the
fourth-ranked Buckeyes (10-1, 6-1).
However, Ohio State would like nothing more than to upset the
Wolverines, who have beaten the Buckeyes in seven of the last nine
contests and ruined OSU’s national title chance a year ago.
Michigan has won seven of the past nine games between the two
rivals.
In fact, Ohio State could steal Michigan’s bid with a win and a
loss by Penn State (8-1, 5-1) in one of its two remaining games
against Wisconsin and Michigan State. Ohio State and Michigan would
tie for first, and OSU would win the tiebreaker based on its
head-to-head advantage.
If OSU beats Michigan and Penn State wins its final two games,
there would be a three-way tie for first, sending the Wolverines to
Pasadena because they have the longest absence.
But, hold on a minute. There is a clause that says if any team
tied for first and is ranked first or second in the nation, it
automatically gets the Rose Bowl bid.
And if the fourth-ranked Buckeyes win Saturday, they would hop
Michigan and could jump No. 3 Nebraska or second-ranked Florida
State if there is an upset (FSU faces 10th-ranked Florida Saturday,
Nebraska plays at Colorado Nov. 28). OSU would then be ranked at
least second and would be Pasadena-bound.
Sixth-ranked Penn State is technically still alive for the Big
Ten bid but would need Ohio State to beat Michigan and would have
to jump over the Buckeyes in the rankings – which is very
unlikely.
It is much clearer out here on the Pacific Coast.
Washington State (9-1, 6-1 Pac-10) advances to the Rose Bowl for
the first time since 1931 with a win at Washington Saturday and
either a UCLA win over USC, or a loss by Arizona State to Arizona
on Nov. 28.
Regardless of their outcome in Seattle, the Cougars would also
advance if both UCLA and ASU lose.
UCLA (8-2, 6-1) gets to play in its home stadium one more time
with a win Saturday and a WSU loss.
Finally, if UCLA loses, Arizona State (8-2, 6-1) will have a
chance to repeat as Pac-10 champions if they beat the arch-rival
Wildcats at home next weekend.
Regardless of what happens this weekend (or next) the Rose Bowl
is bound to be a good one this year. Just think of all the
possibilities:
* Top-ranked and undefeated Michigan and the nation’s No. 1
defense fighting for national championship against UCLA and one of
the nation’s top offenses.
* Washington State against whomever, to complete the Cougars’
improbable dream season.
* A repeat of last year’s classic duel between Ohio State and
Arizona State.
The possibilities and the sub-plots go on and on, but, the
picture should be a lot clearer after Saturday … maybe.