Florida State suffered a worse defeat – 24-7 to North Carolina State – than did Ohio State in its lone loss (28-24) to Michigan State.

But a deeper study confirms Bobby Bowden's Seminoles deserve the "championship game" slot opposite Tennessee on Jan. 4 in the Fiesta Bowl.

Forty-four college football teams received official bowl assignments Sunday. Illinois wasn't one of them.

For the fourth consecutive year, the Illini will spend the holidays at home. The last bowl trip came after the 1994 season. Illinois is 10-33-1 since.

CHAMPAIGN – The Illinois quarterback meetings are going to be a player short in the spring. Redshirt freshman Jeff Ziegler has decided to transfer to Division II Grand Valley (Mich.) State.

After the season finale against Michigan State, Ziegler talked about leaving. But Illinois coach Ron Turner told him to reconsider, promising him a chance to compete for the starting job.

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Coaches aren't supposed to go to a bowl game after a 3-8 season. Don't tell Buddy Teevens.

Teevens will be working either the Orange or the Citrus ... as a member of Florida's coaching staff.

   Craig Morton wants to talk about his son, but there''s someone else on the other line.

   "It''s a coach," Morton says. "Can you hold on?"

If you hate voice mail, better avoid calling the Illinois football office.

The lights are on but almost nobody's home.

Give Illini coaches Ron Turner and Lon Kruger an "A" for crystal-balling.

Turner, combining knowledge from a revealing summer camp with the strong efforts of assistant Greg McMahon, got a commitment from Chris Morton before the football season, and the speedy Morton went out this fall to become the most prolific passer in Missouri history, carrying Riverview Gardens to the 5A state title.

   On Sunday, the fine folks at the Bowl Championship Series will announce

the pairings for their games. Staff writer Bob Asmussen gives you a preview

of potential matchups for the BCS and other bowl games.