Peterson still out of Oklahoma’s lineup

No. 8 Oklahoma will be without tailback Adrian Peterson when it faces No. 19 Nebraska in the Big 12 Conference championship game Saturday in Kansas City, Mo.

Peterson, the 2004 Heisman runner-up, has sat out six weeks after breaking his collarbone Oct. 14 on a touchdown run against Iowa State.

“Adrian is not going to play,” Sooners Coach Bob Stoops said Tuesday. “Without being too technical, he’s close. He could be cleared to play, but each week that passes the likelihood of it reoccurring is less and less.”

Peterson, the nation’s No. 2 rusher at the time of his injury, initially was expected to be out six weeks.

“There’s enough healing that, yes, he could possibly play,” Stoops said. “But there’s still a chance if he fell on it wrong or took a severe hit -- I don’t know if they’re ever totally sure, will it hold up at this point? We’re not going to take that chance.”

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Tulane fired coach Chris Scelfo after eight years and only two winning seasons.

“It’s an extremely critical time for Tulane athletics and our football program plays an extremely critical role,” Athletic Director Rick Dickson said in announcing Scelfo’s dismissal.

“We’re in the midst of trying to bring ourselves back to full strength and the largest engine of support toward that goal has to come from our football program.”

Scelfo was not at the news conference.

Dickson said he considered Scelfo a good coach and friend and he understood there were extenuating circumstances that contributed to the team’s difficulties on the field, such as last year’s displacement because of Hurricane Katrina.

However, Dickson said the university’s athletic program as a whole is at a critical juncture as it rebuilds and it’s important to retain the support of fans and alumni.

Tulane, which went 4-8 this season, returned to the Louisiana Superdome but played in front of sparse crowds during its home schedule.

The 2005 season was perhaps Scelfo’s most difficult. Hurricane Katrina forced the team to travel throughout the season, playing 11 games in 11 different cities while compiling a 2-9 record.

Scelfo’s overall record was 37-57.

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Postseason plans are being firmed up for several teams.

Northern Illinois accepted a bid to play Texas Christian in the Poinsettia Bowl on Dec. 19 in San Diego.

No. 21 California accepted an invitation to play in the Holiday Bowl. The Golden Bears will play a Big 12 team, probably No. 22 Texas A&M;, on Dec. 28 in San Diego.

Oregon State agreed to play in the Sun Bowl. The Beavers will face Missouri or the second-place team from the Big East on Dec. 29 in El Paso.

Dirk Koetter, fired Sunday by Arizona State, will coach his team against Hawaii in the Sheraton Hawaii Bowl on Dec. 24.

Oregon will play Brigham Young in the Las Vegas Bowl on Dec. 21.

Western Michigan will play in the inaugural International Bowl in Toronto on Jan. 6 against an undetermined team from the Big East.

Central Michigan will play in the Motor City Bowl on Dec. 26 against a team to be determined.

Tulsa will play Utah in the Armed Forces Bowl on Dec. 23 in Fort Worth.

Rice will make its first bowl appearance since 1961 when the Owls play in the New Orleans Bowl on Dec. 22. The likely opponent is Troy, which needs a win over winless Florida International this weekend to earn the berth.

East Carolina accepted a bid to play in the first PapaJohns.com Bowl in Birmingham, Ala., on Dec. 23. The Pirates will play a team from the Big East, probably Cincinnati or South Florida.

Southern Mississippi and Houston will play Friday for the Conference USA championship -- the winner goes to the Liberty Bowl and the loser heads to the GMAC Bowl.

Also, San Jose State will play New Mexico in the New Mexico Bowl on Dec. 23 and Nevada was expected to be formally invited today to play in the MPC Computers Bowl in Boise, Idaho.