ALOHA BOWL

* The Teams: No. 25 Michigan State (7-4) vs. No. 21 Washington (7-4)

* Series History: Tied 1-1.

* Bowl Records: Michigan State 5-8, Washington 13-10-1.

* How They Got There: Michigan State had a streaky season, winning its first five, losing its next four and then winning its final two. The Spartans were looking at a backyard bowl game--the Motor City in Pontiac, Mich.--instead of beaches and coconut trees before they pounded Penn State, 49-14, in their regular-season finale. Still, Michigan State finished sixth in the Big Ten Conference. Washington was considered national-championship material until it was manhandled by Nebraska at Seattle in its third game. Injuries to quarterback Brock Huard, tailback Rashaan Shehee and defensive end Chris Campbell contributed to a late-season tailspin that changed the Huskies’ holiday plans from Pasadena to Honolulu.

* The Game: Nebraska ran all over Washington when the Huskies were at the top of their game, so Michigan State’s one-two tailback punch of Sedrick Irvin and Marc Renaud figures to be a big concern. Irvin and Renaud each ran for more than 200 yards against Penn State, with guard Flozell Adams often springing them for big gains. Quarterback Todd Schultz was rarely a Michigan State football hero with 14 interceptions and 16 touchdown passes in a so-so senior season. Washington’s crippled offense has had a month to heal and should be close to full strength. Before getting injured, Huard was the nation’s third-leading passer and Shehee was the Pacific 10 Conference’s leading rusher. Jerome Pathon stayed healthy and had the second-most receiving yards (1,245) in Pac-10 history. Michigan State might bid Coach Nick Saban aloha after the game--he’s considered a leading candidate for the vacant Indianapolis Colts’ job.

* The Line: Washington by 4 1/2.

MICHIGAN STATE

Western Michigan: W 42-10

Memphis: W 51-21

at Notre Dame: W 23- 7

Minnesota: W 31-10

at Indiana: W 38- 6

at Northwestern: L 19-17

Michigan: L 23- 7

Ohio State: L 37-13

at Purdue: L 22-21

at Illinois: W 27-17

Penn State: W 49-14

WASHINGTON

at Brigham Young: W 42-20

San Diego State: W 36- 3

Nebraska: L 27-14

Arizona State: W 26-14

at California: W 30- 3

at Arizona: W 58-28

at Oregon State: W 45-17

USC: W 27- 0

Oregon: L 31-28

at UCLA: L 52-28

Washington State: L 41-35