Today’s Games

COTTON BOWL

At Dallas

Miss. St. (8-4)

vs. Texas (8-3)

8 a.m., Channel 11

* Bowl records: Mississippi State 4-5, Texas 17-18-2.

* Coaches: Jackie Sherrill, Mississippi State (154-86-4 career); Mack Brown, Texas (95-77-1 career).

* Mississippi State at a glance: The Bulldogs shared the SEC Western Division title with Arkansas. It’s the first traditional New Year’s Day game for the Bulldogs since the 1941 Orange Bowl. Senior running back James Johnson injured his groin against Alabama on Nov. 14, then injured his shoulder the following week against Arkansas.

* Texas at a glance: Heisman Trophy winner Ricky Williams rushed for more than 2,000 yards and set NCAA career records for rushing yards, touchdowns and points scored this season.

OUTBACK BOWL

At Tampa, Fla.

Penn St. (8-3)

vs. Kentucky (7-4)

8 a.m., ESPN

* Bowl records: Penn State 21-11-2, Kentucky 5-3.

* Coaches: Joe Paterno, Penn State (306-80-3 career); Hal Mumme, Kentucky (77-37-1 career).

* Penn State at a glance: Paterno is 18-9-1 in bowls. Penn State will be playing in its eighth consecutive Jan. 1 bowl. This will be Penn State’s 29th bowl appearance under Paterno, tying him for the career lead with Paul “Bear” Bryant.

* Kentucky at a glance: Quarterback Tim Couch broke seven SEC records this year, including total offensive yards (4,151), completions (400), completion percentage (72.3) and passing yards (4,275). Kentucky has not been to a bowl game since 1993 and to a New Year’s bowl since 1952.

GATOR BOWL

At Jacksonville, Fla.

Georgia Tech (9-2)

vs. Notre Dame (9-2)

9:30 a.m., Channel 4

* Bowl records: Georgia Tech 18-8, Notre Dame 13-9.

* Coaches: George O’Leary, Georgia Tech (27-21 career); Bob Davie, Notre Dame (16-8 career).

* Georgia Tech at a glance: The Yellow Jackets have come a long way since losing the 1997 opener to Notre Dame. Georgia Tech won its first bowl game since 1991 last season and captured a share of the Atlantic Coast Conference championship this year.

* Notre Dame at a glance: After beating Georgia Tech, 17-13, in that game 15 months ago, Notre Dame lost five of the next six to begin the Davie era on shaky footing. Since then, the Fighting Irish are 14-3. The Irish have a 26-4-1 record against the Yellow Jackets.

CITRUS BOWL

At Orlando, Fla.

Michigan (9-3)

vs. Arkansas (9-2)

10 a.m., Channel 7

* Bowl records: Michigan 14-15, Arkansas 9-16-3.

* Coaches: Lloyd Carr, Michigan (38-11 career); Houston Nutt, Arkansas (44-25-3 career).

* Michigan at a glance: The Wolverines opened the season with losses to Notre Dame and Syracuse. They’re meeting the Razorbacks for the first time. Cornerback William Peterson has been suspended and will not travel to the Citrus Bowl. If the Wolverines lose, it will be their fifth four-loss season in six years. * Arkansas at a glance: For the Razorbacks, it is their first New Year’s Day game since the 1990 Cotton Bowl. Arkansas won eight straight before losing to Tennessee (28-24) and Mississippi State (22-21).

SUGAR BOWL

At New Orleans

Texas A&M; (11-2)

vs. Ohio St. (10-1)

5:30 p.m., Channel 7

* Bowl records: Texas A&M; 12-11, Ohio State 13-17.

* Coaches: R.C. Slocum, Texas A&M; (94-27-2 career); John Cooper, Ohio State (177-74-6 career).

* Texas A&M; at a glance: Linebacker Dat Nguyen, Texas A&M;’s career tackles leader, was named winner of the Lombardi Award as the nation’s top collegiate lineman. Slocum is 2-5 in bowls.

* Ohio State at a glance: Cooper is 2-7 in bowls. The Buckeyes have the best defense against the run, giving up 67.4 yards per game. Ohio State last played Texas A&M; in 1987 in the Cotton Bowl, where the Buckeyes won 28-12. The No. 3 Buckeyes were co-champions with Wisconsin in the Big Ten Conference.