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Unless Michigan upsets No. 9 Ohio State on Saturday, the Wolverines will go a second straight season without a bowl under coach Rich Rodriguez.

3. The state of the Big 12
You're going to read this, and you're not going to believe it. But trust me, it's true. I looked it up: If Kansas State beats Nebraska, it wins the Big 12 North and is one game away — Big 12 championship game vs. Texas — from playing in the Fiesta Bowl.

But if Kansas State loses to Nebraska, it's not bowl-eligible — its six wins will include two against Division I-AA opponents, and only one counts toward bowl-eligibility — and will stay home for the holidays.

That scent you get isn't the sweet smell of opportunity. It's the stench of what has devolved into a horrific season in the Big 12. There's Texas, and then … who?

The reality is, Nebraska should be 9-1 going into the K-State game. The Huskers blew a lead at Virginia Tech and lost 16-15 in the last seconds. Then they committed eight turnovers in a 9-7 loss to Iowa State.

But after Texas and Nebraska — and you just know league bigwigs are desperate for a Huskers win Saturday — there's a whole lot of Independence Bowl.

It's enough to make one of the game's best coaches (Bob Stoops) think about that plateau his program has hit, and move on to the best job in college sports.

Hey, I can make up a rumor as good as the next guy.

4. The bottom of the barrel
Rice found a way out of the depths of ugly last week, leaving New Mexico, Eastern Michigan and Western Kentucky as the nation's only winless teams.

Two of the three winless teams (New Mexico, EMU) have first-year coaches; the other already has fired its coach.

To make matters worse: the last weeks of the season won't change a thing.

New Mexico
Feeling positive: Embattled Lobos coach Mike Locksley has sought guidance from the man among men, Tony Dungy. Even Dungy can't stop this train-wreck of a season/coaching hire.

Embracing reality: Lobos play host Saturday to Colorado State, the only team in the Mountain West Conference that can remotely feel its pain (seven straight losses; giving up at least 31 points in six of the losses). Win there, or the last stop between victory and a winless season is at TCU.

Eastern Michigan
Feeling positive: No matter what happens, EMU has a respected, revered man (Ron English) as its head coach. We don't need to get into who doesn't, if you know what I mean.

Embracing reality: Of EMU's last two opponents, Toledo has tanked since the first month of the season, and Akron has won twice this fall. The problem: both games are on the road.

Western Kentucky
Feeling positive: WKU played its best game of the season last week in a 21-18 loss to Louisiana-Monroe.

Embracing reality: WKU's remaining opponents, FAU and Arkansas State, are two of the Sun Belt's most talented teams, even though they haven't played that way this fall. Why not sneak up on one of the two when there's nothing left to play for?

SportingNews.com Lots of hype, hope _ and Dion Lewis _ for Pitt 6 teams with something to prove Rutgers looking for bigger and better bowl in 2010 After the fall, a new subdued era at USC It's what's up front that counts for Buckeyes

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