Corey Wootton News

Bowl season got a boost Tuesday night when BYU and Oregon State, both top 20 teams, clashed in Las Vegas.

There was an extra spring in everyonea s step and an extra buzz in the football offices at Northwestern today.

Northwestern's Andrew Brewer celebrates his touchdown with Josh Rooks during the first quarter against Wisconsin.

One of the best things about qualifying for a postseason bowl -- aside from playing in the game itself -- is the ancillary benefits.

Iowa's Ricky Stanzi and A.J. Edds stand on the sideline before their game against Minnesota Saturday, Nov.

Brendan Smith will stand alone among Northwestern football players. The senior safety will become the first NU player to play in three bowl games when the Wildcats face Auburn on New Year's Day in the Outback Bowl in Tampa, Fla.

Through most of this decade, Northwestern's defense has been as bad as the offense has been good.A The 2000 season saw an opportunistic defense and a lights-out offense lead the Wildcats to a Big Ten co-championship.A Since then, NU hasn't really been that close to another title.

For the first time since 1997, Northwestern will conclude its season in Florida.

Northwestern athletic director Jim Phillips got the news while driving home from the Bears game on Sunday.

Ask Sean Lissemore what his hometown of Dumont is best known for and hea s ready with a quick answer.

Northwestern parlayed a strong finale into a trip to Tampa, Fla., for the Outback Bowl on New Year's Day, when they face Auburn.

The Denver Broncos are fresh off of their biggest victory of the season, defeating the New York Giants 26-6 on Thanksgiving night.

Coach Pat Fitzgerald has said all along his seniors have played their best football late in the season, and their efforts were recognized Monday.

Doesn't it seem like just yesterday that the Hawkeyes were blocking back-to-back field goals at the end of the game against in-state rival Northern Iowa? So much has transpired this season since those two fateful plays.

Each Sunday, our staff of college football experts will offer thoughts on things they learned over the weekend.

Tomorrow afternoon, 21 NU seniors will play at Ryan Field for the final time. They've been through hell and have emerged as one of the most successful senior classes in Northwestern football history.

Last meeting: 2006, Wisconsin 41-9. What's at stake The Badgers can still have a 10-win season - they play at Hawaii in their finale - and carve out a spot in a top-notch bowl with a victory.

His workday begins at 6 a.m. and ends around 10:30 p.m., a 16 1/2 -hour grind of film study, meetings, film study, practice and, for dessert, more film study.

Madison - During his two seasons as the University of Wisconsin's defensive coordinator , Mike Hankwitz was known affectionately as "the professor." Though well into his second season running Northwestern's defense, Hankwitz doesn't have a similar tag.

First, the good news: James Vandenberg has thrown 10 times as many collegiate passes as he had three days ago, and Iowa's freshman quarterback will have a full week to prepare for his first start with the Hawkeyes.