Word from Hooley (accept it if you so choose) vacationing in Arizona says discussions he has had with Fiesta Bowl officials guarantee if the expected becomes reality (OU stomping Mizzou and USC decimating UCLA) the Bucks are a 100% lock for a match up w/ the Steers & Queers. Given a choice b/w a mid major and the Bucks, there is no doubt the Buckeyes are going back to the desert. Officials say the promotion aspect of hyping a game lends itself to a much better match up if we play Texas rather than a mid major despite their records/ranking. Supposedly the travel issue isn't as much of a factor this year as it usually is. Since we have been to Arizona so much lately, many fans have already made that trip and given the economic status, many Buckeye fans may sit this trip out. However, the appeal to match up a team west of the Miss and a midwestern team lends itself to a better nationally intriguing game on television. This in addition to OSU's much larger national following trumps the mid majors' record and travel expectations.
At the end of the day, even though we all enjoy the rare games like Boise vs. Okla turning out to be great games, the powers that be will pit two perennial powerhouses from BCS conferences any day over the alternatives.