Bowl picture clearer as season winds down

Once again, Oklahoma was knocked out of the national championship chase with a surprising loss to Oklahoma State.

The third-ranked Sooners (10-2) were upended 38-28 by the Cowboys on Saturday and fell from title contention with their second loss of the season. Last year, Oklahoma also had a loss before falling to Oklahoma State 16-13 late in the season.

Oklahoma can still play in a Bowl Championship Series game if it beats Colorado next Saturday for the Big 12 Conference title. The winner receives an automatic BCS bowl bid, and would most likely play in the Orange or Sugar Bowl.

No. 1 Miami (11-0), meanwhile, remained on track to play No. 2 Ohio State (13-0) for the BCS national title in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 3. The Hurricanes routed Syracuse 49-7 on Saturday to clinch a BCS berth as Big East champions. A win over Virginia Tech (9-3) next Saturday and it's off to Tempe, Ariz.

Florida State, which played Florida on Saturday night, already clinched a BCS spot as Atlantic Coast Conference champions. The Seminoles probably are headed to the Orange or Sugar Bowl.

Also, Notre Dame played Southern California, with the result still leaving doubt where each team would play in the postseason. Both are contending for BCS bowls.

Several bowl games began taking shape, though:

West Virginia (9-3) and North Carolina State (10-3) probably will meet in the Gator Bowl on Jan. 1. The Mountaineers finished second in the Big East with a 24-17 victory over Pittsburgh on Saturday; North Carolina State completed its season last week.

Pittsburgh (8-4) appears headed to the Continental Tire Bowl in Charlotte, N.C., to play an ACC team on Dec. 28.

Maryland (10-3) will play in the Peach Bowl on Dec. 31 against a team from the Southeastern Conference. The Terrapins beat Wake Forest 32-14.

The Liberty Bowl on Dec. 31 is set: TCU (9-2) vs. Colorado State (10-3), champions of the Mountain West. TCU beat Memphis 27-20 Saturday and clinched at least a share of the Conference USA crown.

Also, Georgia Tech (7-5), despite a 51-7 loss to Georgia, is likely headed to the Seattle Bowl on Dec. 30; Arizona State (8-5), a 34-20 win over Arizona on Friday, probably will play in the Sun Bowl on Dec. 31; New Mexico (7-6) will play in either the Las Vegas or San Francisco Bowl; and Mississippi (6-6) could end up in the Independence or Music City Bowl.

Virginia Tech's 21-9 win over Virginia did not shed much light on either team's bowl future. The Hokies could end up in the Insight Bowl; the Cavaliers (8-5) the Tangerine or Continental Tire Bowl.

The winner of next week's SEC title game between No. 5 Georgia (11-1) and Arkansas is set for the Sugar Bowl. Also, Washington State needs to beat UCLA to clinch the Pac-10 title and a spot in the Rose Bowl. Otherwise, USC would head to the Rose, with No. 4 Iowa (11-1) the likely opponent.

Nebraska, which played for a national title last year, finishing this season 7-6 after a 28-13 loss to Colorado on Friday. The Huskers, though, will likely play in the Independence Bowl on Dec. 27 -- their 34th consecutive bowl appearance.

Before the weekend, several other teams clinched bowl spots: North Texas (New Orleans Bowl); Marshall (GMAC); Hawaii (Hawaii); Boise State (Humanitarian); Fresno State (Silicon Valley).