HOUSTON (AP) – Minnesota will play in the Texas Bowl for the second year in a row when it faces Syracuse on Dec. 27, at 5-p.m. The game will be televised by ESPN, CSi 14.The Gophers (8-4) improved by two wins in 2013 but have wound up in Houston yet again. Minnesota blew a 10-point lead in the final 1:10 and lost to Texas Tech 34-31 in last year’s Texas Bowl. Syracuse (6-6) finished 4-4 in its first season in the ACC and rallied past Boston College in the regular-season finale to earn bowl eligibility.
UNDATED (AP) – Top-ranked Florida State and No. 2 Auburn will play in the final BCS championship game on Jan. 6 at the Rose Bowl.
The Seminoles wrapped up their berth by crushing Duke 45-7 in Saturday’s ACC title game. The Tigers were 59-42 winners over Missouri for the SEC crown on Saturday, but Auburn’s spot in the BCS title game wasn’t secured until Michigan State beat Ohio State 34-24 hours later.
In other BCS bowl matchups:
– Alabama gets the SEC’s BCS consolation game as the Crimson Tide will face No. 11 Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl on Jan. 2.
– Ohio State has to settle for a spot in the Orange Bowl against No. 12 Clemson after blowing a berth in the BCS title game.
– Fourth-ranked Michigan State and No. 5 Stanford have been selected for the Rose Bowl’s centennial on New Year’s Day.
– The Fiesta Bowl will pit sixth-ranked Baylor against No. 15 Central Florida in a battle of 11-1 teams.
