college football

It seems like Texas and either Florida or Alabama have been written into the national championship game since August. With three weeks left before the regular season ends and bowl season begins, now is the time those teams will show why they deserved to be glorified.

So I dial the phone number of the Cotton Bowl, ask for the person I need to contact inquiring about Ole Miss' chances for a second straight trip to Dallas.

I'm put on hold for maybe five seconds and this is what I hear: "McCluster, in the Wildcat formation, takes the snap. . ."

It's an audio clip from last year's Ole Miss victory over Texas Tech in the Cotton Bowl.

Capsule previews for Saturday's top college games. All times Eastern and all rankings Associated Press.

No. 9 OHIO STATE (9-2) at MICHIGAN (5-6), Noon, ABC.

FAVORITE: Ohio State by 12.

COACHES: Jim Tressel (92-21 in 9th year at Michigan) and Rich Rodriguez (8-15 in second year at Michigan).

You might not have a lot to take to the bank these days, but in college football, there's plenty you can bank on:

With six unbeatens occupying the top six spots in the BCS standings heading into Week 12 -- and only two matched up before the bowl season -- BCS bashers will be coming out of the woodwork en masse.

The playoff debate will rage anew.

Ballots for the 75th Heisman Trophy were mailed Monday. And finally, the race appears to be coming into focus.

Capsule previews for Thursday and Friday's top college football games. All times Eastern and all rankings Associated Press.

THURSDAY:

COLORADO (3-6) at No. 12 OKLAHOMA STATE (8-2), 7:30, ESPN.

FAVORITE: Oklahoma State by 16.

COACHES: Dan Hawkins (16-30 in fourth year at Colorado) and Mike Gundy (35-25 in fifth year at Oklahoma State).

Rich Rodriguez will get a third season at the helm of the Michigan football program in part because he is joined at the hip with athletic director Bill Martin. One's failure tarnishes the other's legacy and with Martin soon to retire he will, as a going-away present, give Rodriguez the rope he needs to turn things around and salvage their combined reputations.

A quick three and out as we mark the days until the Alabama-Florida SEC Championship Game showdown:

Nobody is quite sure yet whether to continue to press Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh on his future or to start thumping the tub for Saturday's Big Game with Cal, so let's go to Plan C -- the Emerald Bowl.

With six bowl-eligible teams, the Pac-10 is the best conference in college football and sitting at the throne is Stanford coach Jim Harbaugh. And to think, some people thought the $60,000 private bathroom the university built its coach over the summer was a bad idea.