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South Florida completed its season 9-2 and is looking to go to a bowl. Here are five possibilities, in order of likelihood USF could get a bid, with details on what the Bulls need to happen to get in. (Many bowls and conferences have flexible tie-in rules, so some scenarios are subject to change.)
By PETE YOUNG, Times Staff Writer
© St. Petersburg Times, published November 28, 2002
1. MOTOR CITY BOWL, DEC. 26, DETROIT
STATUS: At-large berth is available because of Big Ten shortfall of bowl-eligible teams (as long as Iowa is selected to a BCS bowl).
USF WOULD PLAY: A Mid-American Conference team, either Toledo, Bowling Green or Northern Illinois. The GMAC Bowl already has chosen Marshall from the MAC.
THE SKINNY: Since USF has defeated Bowling Green (9-2) and Northern Illinois (8-4), Motor City Bowl executive director Ken Hoffman said the Bulls' chances of getting a berth improve if host Toledo (8-3) beats Bowling Green on Saturday to advance to the MAC title game. Hoffman said USF is competing against two or three schools for a bid: the leftover bowl-eligible team from the Big 12 (likely Texas A&M, Oklahoma State or Iowa State) and ACC (Wake Forest, Clemson or Georgia Tech), and possibly the Big East, which would have a surplus if Notre Dame is bypassed by the BCS.
2. INDEPENDENCE BOWL, DEC. 27, SHREVEPORT, LA.
STATUS: At-large berth available if Mississippi (5-6) loses to Mississippi State today.
USF WOULD PLAY: A Big 12 team, possibly Texas Tech or Nebraska.
THE SKINNY: If Ole Miss loses in the Egg Bowl, USF jumps into at-large contention against the ACC and possibly Big East, leftovers from the MAC (possibly Bowling Green, Northern Illinois or Toledo) and New Mexico State (7-5).
3. HAWAII BOWL (DEC. 25) OR NEW ORLEANS BOWL (DEC. 17)
STATUS: At-large berth is available because of Conference USA shortfall of bowl-eligible teams if three things happen -- Cincinnati (5-6) beats UAB (5-6) and Southern Miss beats East Carolina (4-6) on Saturday, and East Carolina beats Cincinnati on Dec. 6.
USF WOULD PLAY: Hawaii or North Texas.
THE SKINNY: If those three games break the right way, C-USA has said it will endorse USF as the substitute at-large team. Hawaii is USF's more likely destination since the Bulls have beaten North Texas and it would allow Tulane to play in New Orleans.
4. SAN FRANCISCO BOWL, DEC. 31
STATUS: At-large berth available if Wyoming beats New Mexico (6-6) on Saturday.
USF WOULD PLAY: The Big East No.5 team, likely Boston College.
THE SKINNY: The tenuous status of Silicon Valley Classic (Dec. 31 in San Jose) could have a ripple effect. If that game falls through, it frees up a Pac-10 and Western Athletic Conference team, one of which likely would get a bid here.
5. SEATTLE BOWL, DEC. 30
STATUS: At-large berth is available because of Mountain West Conference shortfall of bowl-eligible teams.
THE SKINNY: Bowl representatives have said they want a Pac-10 team. No indications they are interested in USF.
-- Compiled by Pete Young.