Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: WEDNESDAY, October 25, 1995 TAG: 9510250044
SECTION: SPORTS PAGE: B-1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: JACK BOGACZYK
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
It's the Tennessee trap play. The Volunteers could finish the season ranked second in the nation with a 10-1 record, but they won't be able to play in the Fiesta Bowl for the national title. It's not probable, but possible.
It's likely the fifth-ranked Vols will finish at least that high in the poll and be locked out of the six-team bowl alliance. The Sugar Bowl would love to have the Vols but probably can't get them.
That's because the first year of the bowl alliance includes a first-year guarantee to Notre Dame that if the Fighting Irish finish in the top 10, they'll get one of the six spots in the Fiesta, Orange and Sugar bowls.
Notre Dame is 12th this week, with Boston College, Navy and Air Force to play. Sounds like a 9-2 season, and some teams ahead of the Irish now won't stay there. Even if the Irish didn't make the top 10, it can be an alliance pick, but it wouldn't get the at-large spot this year because Tennessee would be the choice.
The alliance - this year - will take the champions of the ACC, Big East, Big Eight, Southeastern and Southwest conferences and Notre Dame (if in the top 10). The Fiesta gets the first two picks, with the Orange choosing third and fifth and Sugar fourth and sixth. Tennessee could rank second and play with the SEC's No.2 berth in the Florida Citrus Bowl.
How? Well, if Nebraska and Ohio State fall from the list of unbeatens and Florida State knocks Florida from perfection, then it figures that FSU would be ranked first and Tennessee second. However, Florida, unbeaten in the SEC, would play in the league championship game, which sends its winner into the SEC's alliance berth.
In that scenario, Tennessee would be left out of the alliance, and there would be no clear-cut national championship game. If Notre Dame doesn't reach the top 10, then the Vols could be picked for the alliance at-large spot, ahead of any conference champs - and certainly before those from the Southwest and Big East.
Such confusion is a one-year prospect. Starting in 1996, the bowl alliance will be stronger, although certainly still not a perfect system.
There will be no Southwest Conference, and the Big 12 will be tougher than the Big Eight - eight future Big 12 members are in this week's Associated Press poll. While there will be two at-large berths, neither is guaranteed to Notre Dame no matter where the Irish finish in the polls.
So, it's possible - if an unbeaten Florida State loses to a once-beaten team in the Fiesta Bowl - that a No.2 Tennessee could win the national championship by beating the Big Ten's second choice in the Citrus Bowl. The Vols may not even have to beat Northwestern to get there.
The Wildcats could be playing in the Rose Bowl.
It's been that kind of season.
Keywords:
FOOTBALL
by CNB