Thanks to Nebraska so horribly (and so wonderfully) failing to show up at the Big Ten championship game*, Northern Illinois took Oklahoma’s at-large spot in the BCS and the Big 12’s bowl affiliations were scrambled down the line.
Iowa State, as the only 6-6 team, drew the short straw and dropped down to being an at-large in the Liberty Bowl, against Tulsa. Yes, again.
Iowa State already beat Tulsa this season. The teams will play three times in 13 months. But now, as CUSA champions, Tulsa is 10-3 and looking for blood while Iowa State is on its third quarterback.
There are few ways this can end well. If the Cyclones win, they’re supposed to win because they already did so. If the Cyclones lose, it’s a “BCS program” scalp for a mid-major (where have we heard that before?) and the third losing season in a row for Paul Rhoads.
Now, about the bowl itself: Iowa State went there 40 years ago as a .500 team too (5-5-1). ISU lost to Georgia Tech 31-30 after a failed two-point conversion (where have we heard that before?)
No matter what happens, though, there is one good thing: It’s not Shreveport.
EDIT: Bowls like Iowa State because its fans travel. Cyclone Fanatic’s Chris Williams wonders what this rematch will do to that reputation.
*Second-most points ever scored against Nebraska (tied 2004 Texas Tech), biggest rushing game ever against Nebraska (539, vs. 506 from 1956 Oklahoma), second-most total offense ever against Nebraska (639, behind 656 from 1956 Oklahoma). Wisconsin will be the first five-loss team in the Rose Bowl.