1. Rose Bowl — No. 1 University of Southern California vs. No. 2 University of Texas on Jan. 4, 6 p.m.: For the first time in a long time the national championship will be decided on the field instead of by the BCS. Both teams are undefeated.

2. Orange Bowl — No. 3 Penn State vs. No. 22 Florida State on Jan. 3, 6 p.m.: Penn State head coach, Joe Paterno, is 79 years old, has 353 wins and 20 bowl wins. FSU head coach, Bobby Bowden, is 76 years old, has 359 wins and 19 bowl wins. These coaches are the two winningest coaches in college football, according to ESPN.com.

3. Las Vegas Bowl — BYU vs. Cal State on Dec. 22, 6 p.m.-: BYU Athletic Director, Tom Holmoe, was the head coach of Cal State from 1997 to 2001. BYU and Cal State have played twice, BYU won both games. The Cougars haven’t won a bowl game since the 1996 Cotton Bowl when they beat Kansas State 19-15.

4. Fiesta Bowl — No. 5 Notre Dame vs. No. 4 Ohio State on Jan. 2, 2:30 p.m.: Both of these legendary football programs finished the season 9-2, and both could have been playing for the championship had a play or two gone their way.

5. Sugar Bowl — No. 8 Georgia vs. No. 11 West Virginia on Jan. 2, 6:30 p.m.: Georgia won the SEC Championship, and West Virginia won the Big East Championship. The Mountaineers have lost 11 of their last 12 bowl games.

6. Peach Bow l — No. 9 Miami vs. No. 10 LSU on Dec. 30, 5:30 p.m.: This game could have been a BCS game. With a combined 19 victories this season, neither team is used to losing.

7. Holiday Bowl — No. 6 Oregon vs. Oklahoma on Dec. 29, 6 p.m.: The Holiday Bowl is home to some of the most exciting bowl games, and Oregon is mad about being snubbed by the BCS.

8. Alamo Bowl — No. 20 Michigan vs. Nebraska on Dec. 28, 6 p.m.: Which school has a better football tradition? Both teams enter this bowl game at 7-4.

9. Emerald Bowl — Utah vs. No. 24 Georgia Tech on Dec. 29, 2:30 p.m.: The Utes barely became bowl eligible by knocking BYU off in overtime on the road. Their reward? They face a Georgia Tech defense that is one of the best defenses in the nation.

10. MPC Computers Bowl — Boise State vs. No.19 Boston College on Dec. 28, 2:30 p.m.: This game will be played on the Broncos famous blue turf where they’ve won 31 games in a row.