VIEWERS’ GUIDE

Television viewers can begin getting a taste of today’s Rose Bowl BCS championship game at 2:30 p.m. with “Rose Bowl Road Show” on ESPN Classic.

A half-hour edition of “ESPN College GameDay” follows at 4:30 p.m. on ESPN, and ABC takes over at 5 p.m. with game coverage.

The kickoff is scheduled for 5:20 p.m.

ON THE AIR

* “Rose Bowl Road Show,” ESPN Classic, 2:30-4:30 p.m. Rick Neuheisel will serve as a co-host with ESPN’s Ron Thulin. They will be joined live by Barry Alvarez, Anthony Carter, Don James and John Robinson as they look back at many memorable Rose Bowls.

Included will be a look at the 1942 game played at Durham, N.C., three weeks after the Japanese bombed Pearl Harbor.

The show also will include an interview with Keith Jackson.

* “ESPN College GameDay,” ESPN, 4:30-5 p.m. The Rose Bowl preview show will originate from inside the stadium. The program will include special features, such as a profile of Miami’s first-year Coach Larry Coker and a how-to-beat Miami preview by Virginia Tech’s Frank Beamer, whose team lost to Miami, 26-24, on Dec.1, Miami’s last regular-season game.

* Game coverage, 5 p.m., Ch. 7. Keith Jackson and Tim Brant will announce the game, with Todd Harris and Lynn Swann working the sidelines.

* Radio: ESPN Radio coverage will be carried by KSPN (1110) and XTRA (690). Pregame coverage with Brent Musburger and Jack Arute begins at 4:45 p.m. Ron Franklin and Mike Gottfried will announce the game, with Adrian Karsten working the sidelines.

* Spanish radio: XPRS (1090) will carry Radio Desportes coverage, with Jorge Villanueva and Efren Dominguez calling the action.

ALSO

* Free street party on South Lake Avenue, featuring music, face and body painting, children’s activities and tailgating treats. Noon-5 p.m., South Lake Avenue between Green Street and California Boulevard. Details: (626) 792-1259.