It’s an Unrivaled Day for Matchups

This is the way it should be: UCLA having to beat USC for a Rose Bowl entry pass, Michigan needing to whack Ohio State to move within a victory of its first national title since 1948, Washington State having to put a media quarantine on its players after receiver Chris Jackson said of Washington, “We’re going to kill them. . . .”

The only bump on Florida State’s road to a national title game in the Orange Bowl is supposed to be Florida, coached by antagonist/genius Steve Spurrier, who denied the Seminoles the title last year.

“We don’t like them, they don’t like us; it should be a heck of a game,” Spurrier said.

Auburn is 8-2, fighting for a spot in an alliance bowl, but has never been more fearful of a 4-6 team than it is of Alabama.

It’s all on the line: conference titles, Victory Bells, Apple Cups, Governor’s Cups, Old Oaken Buckets, Beer Barrels, egos, reputations, jobs, pride.

In Columbus, Ohio State Coach John Cooper almost blew a gasket when Buckeye receiver David Boston said of Michigan star cornerback Charles Woodson, “He ain’t no Shawn Springs.” Boston then boldly predicted a landslide Ohio State victory before school handlers gag-ordered him.

Bo Schembechler, the former Michigan coach and athletic director, can’t wait to settle in his seat at Michigan Stadium.

“I’ll open a window and let the air and the sounds all come in and have one hell of a Saturday afternoon,” he said.

Here’s a quick look at key rivalry games:

* No. 11 Washington State (9-1) at No. 17 Washington (7-3):

Situation: The Cougars clinch their first trip to the Rose Bowl since 1931 if they beat the Huskies and UCLA defeats USC. Beyond that, it’s complicated. Washington State can also get to the Rose Bowl with a loss if it ends up in a three-way tie with UCLA and Arizona State. Washington State could beat Washington and not go to the Rose Bowl if UCLA loses and Arizona State defeats Arizona next week. In a two-way tie between Arizona State and Washington State, the Sun Devils go to the Rose Bowl because they defeated the Cougars on Nov. 1.

Background: Washington has lost consecutive games and is out of the Rose Bowl race but is 5-0 against Washington State in Seattle since 1987.

* No. 4 Ohio State (10-1) at No. 1 Michigan (10-0):

Situation: Michigan secures the Big Ten title with a win and guarantees that the Rose Bowl will play a part in deciding the national champion. An Ohio State victory coupled with a Penn State loss either this week or next sends the Buckeyes to Pasadena. Ohio State also gets the bid if there’s a three-way tie with Penn State and the Buckeyes are ranked No. 1 or No. 2 in the polls.

Background: Today is the most important meeting between the schools since Nov. 22, 1975, when No. 1 Ohio State rallied to beat No. 4 Michigan, 21-14, in Ann Arbor.

Normally stone-faced Wolverine Coach Lloyd Carr was a relative one-man lounge act this week in an attempt to take the pressure off his team.

“This game is not life and death,” Carr said. “It’s a great experience for everyone involved, particularly the players,” he said. “There’s nothing to be fearful about.”

* No. 2 Florida State (10-0) at No. 10 Florida (8-2):

Situation: With a win, Florida State advances to the Orange Bowl and plays for at least a share of the national title. Florida still has an outside shot at an alliance game, but is probably headed for the Citrus Bowl.

Background: Spurrier is 3-5-1 against Florida State, but one of those wins came against the Seminoles in the Sugar Bowl last January to win the national title.

In other rivalry matchups, No. 13 Auburn hosts Alabama needing a win to keep its Southeastern Conference title hopes alive; Utah (5-5) and Brigham Young (6-4) meet in Provo; Clemson (6-4) travels to South Carolina (5-5), each needing a win to become bowl eligible; California (3-7) plays at Stanford (4-6) in the 100th Big Game; Harvard (8-1) and Yale (1-8) meet in The Game.