Fresno State Is Humbled Again, 40-28

Matt Kubik threw three touchdown passes and Louisiana Tech capitalized on five turnovers to deny No. 23 Fresno State a share of the Western Athletic Conference title Friday night with a 40-28 victory at Fresno.

Fresno State, 8-4 overall and 6-2 in the conference, was in control of the WAC after ending a four-game losing streak to Boise State with a 27-7 win Nov. 10. Then came the trip to Los Angeles when Fresno State put a scare into USC before losing, 50-42.

That led to a Liberty Bowl bid even though Fresno State had two games left and hadn’t secured the conference title. The emotions of the two big games appeared to have taken a toll on Fresno State, which lost, 38-35, at Nevada last week before the collapse against Louisiana Tech (7-4, 6-2).

Boise State and Nevada are co-champions of the WAC. Louisiana Tech tied Fresno State for third, but its chances at a bowl bid are slim.

Louisiana Tech could go to the Las Vegas Bowl if Oregon makes the bowl championship series and has an outside shot at the Motor City Bowl if Ohio State goes to the BCS.

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Calling the BCS “deeply flawed,” Joe Barton, a Texas Republican, has called a hearing on the controversial system used to determine college football’s national champion.

Barton is chairman of the House Energy and Commerce subcommittee, charged with regulating America’s sports industry.

The hearing is scheduled for Wednesday.