Ohio State's BCS hopes still alive
Posted: Sunday December 06, 1998 01:29 AM
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) -- Ohio State's hopes for a berth in the Bowl
Championship Series improved Saturday as two of the nation's three
remaining unbeaten teams lost.
The Buckeyes, thought to be knocked out of the BCS hunt with a
late-season loss to Michigan State, were helped Saturday by Miami,
which upset No. 3 UCLA 49-45, and Texas A&M's 36-33 double-overtime
win against Kansas State.
UCLA was ranked second and Kansas State third in the BCS
standings before Saturday's games. The Buckeyes were fifth, behind
No. 4 Florida State.
Tennessee, ranked No. 1 in the BCS ratings, beat Mississippi
State 24-14 Saturday night in the Southeastern Conference
championship game to clinch a spot in the Fiesta Bowl, which will
feature the top two teams according to the BCS standings in a game
for the national championship.
Before the games began Saturday, Tennessee and UCLA were on
course to meet in the Fiesta Bowl. The BCS will make its selections
for the Fiesta, Rose, Orange and Sugar bowls on Sunday.
Conference champions Tennessee (SEC), Florida State (Atlantic
Coast), UCLA (Pacific Ten), Texas A&M (Big 12) and Syracuse (Big
East) will receive BCS bids for winning their leagues. Big Ten
champion Wisconsin has accepted a Rose Bowl bid, leaving two BCS
positions to be decided.
Ohio State coach John Cooper on Saturday was attending a
National Football Foundation event in New York and could not be
reached for comment, sports information director Gerry Emig said.
Athletics director Andy Geiger was at the Ohio State-Notre Dame
hockey game and was unavailable for comment, his wife said.
Ohio State was ranked No. 1 in the preseason this year and
maintained its lead in both The Associated Press and coaches polls until a 28-24 upset loss to 28-point underdog
Michigan State on November 7. The Buckeyes were also No. 1 in the BCS
rankings heading into that game.
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