Player Anatomy: DE Brian Orakpo, Texas

Character / Leadership Ability: Orakpo established himself as a leader in the Texas locker room before the 2008 season began. His work in the weight room over the summer was well documented in the national news. He is a leader by example, but will not be afraid to verbally lead. Orakpo is a high character person and player.

Competitive Nature / Work Ethic: Works hard on every snap. Doesn’t take plays off. Plays hard late in games and seems to turn it up a notch on third downs. Is a big-game player. Will not have any issues with working hard.

Football Intelligence: Orakpo gets by on his athleticism, but you can tell he has spent time in the film room. He translates film to field well. He made great adjustments early against Texas Tech (2008) to stop screens and draw plays.

Size: The Longhorn has freakish size and strength--the ideal defensive end.

Athletic Ability: Is very strong and athletic. He does run well, but will not clock below 4.6. Has great arm strength and an astonishing vertical jump.

Toughness / Durability: The senior missed four games in 2007 with a sprained knee. He is a tough player who will stay on the field when it’s possible.

Quickness: Orakpo is quick off the edge and shows great burst. He’s asked to anchor and drop a lot. Film may not show him pinning his ears back and racing to the QB. Plays good, quick, assignment football.

Strength: Unbelievable strength. Will be able to compete from day one in the NFL. Should not struggle to adjust to NFL left tackles although he may need to get stronger in his lower body to hold up against the run. Can completely take over a game with his strength. Can squat 600+ lbs, power cleans 380 lbs and actually has some room to grow.

Instincts / Recognition: Shows natural instincts against the run. Orakpo anchors very well for a right end. Does a great job of staying at home and reading the play. Puts what he sees on film into action on the field.

Pass Rush: He is more of a complete end. Shows a good double move. Improved in ‘08 with a bull rush and better hand placement, although scouts would like to see him turn the corner more consistently. His nine sacks were good for 10th in the country. He completely dominated Oklahoma LT Phil Loadholt, a future day one pick. Has started to show a very good outside-in move, which he really uses well by baiting the tackle to commit outside then cutting back inside. Will hesitate off the line intentionally at times, which may not work in the NFL.

Pursuit: Is a chase-defender, who will run down the line in pursuit. Stays back well and anticipates the cut back. Is smart, but tenacious. Will get after the ball, but in control.

Run Defending: Is smart enough to plant and wait for the cutback. Gets free from blockers easily with this strength and quickness. Has gotten better at stopping the run now that he is healthy.

Tackling: A hard hitter, especially when moving to the ball. Uses his long arms to wrap up from behind.

Technique / Leverage: Might get his belly over his feet too much. Plays flat footed at times. Can line up inside or outside the tackle. Likes to use a four-point stance. Dips his shoulder well and gets outside the tackle. Has a very good rip move.

Photo Credit: College Press Box, University of Texas Athletics

Fiesta Bowl: Ohio St. vs. Texas

By JOHN SEARS - BIG TEN INSIDER

January 5, 2009 * 8:00 PM * FOX

In this year’s Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, Ohio State (10-2) and Texas (11-1) will revisit their brief home-and-home rivalry from 2005-06, where the visiting team each contest. Despite their recent pairings potentially serving a backdrop for this showdown, we again face the BCS nightmare of controversy and potential mismatch. The Longhorns are suffering from some form of elimination by advanced calculus, which ruled them (and Texas Tech for that matter) out of contention for the Big 12 Championship game and potentially, the National Title game. Ohio State, likewise receiving an at-large bid to the Fiesta Bowl, was selected over undefeated Boise St. despite being completely overmatched in their last two BCS games and an early season match-up with 11-1 USC. The Buckeyes’ only other loss this year came at the hands of another BCS-qualified team, Penn State. In Columbus, the scarlet and gray stood toe-to-toe with the eventual Big Ten champions, but fell short on a late game interception. Will we be reflecting on this game as the mismatch of teams undeserving of the BCS equation? Or will we be pleasantly surprised?

When the Buckeyes Have the Ball

The one word that would describe Ohio State’s 2008 regular season would be: adjustment. Boring, perhaps…but appropriate. The keys to the offense at the beginning of the season were handed to sixth-year senior Todd Boeckmann, an efficient field general who took the Buckeyes to the National Title game last year. But he was ousted midstream against USC, when head coach Jim Tressel pulled the trigger on true freshman, dual threat quarterback, Terrelle Pryor. The Buckeyes never looked back. The offense, originally pro-style and founded on power running by Beanie Wells, was quickly converted to a shotgun spread, with the focus coming from the arm and rushing of their quarterback. As Pryor was adjusting to his role as starter, a running back-by-committee approach was utilized until Wells recovered from a foot injury. With Wells healthy again, the conundrum of how the offense would be structured arose – shotgun zone read (befitting Pryor) or pro-style I-formation (befitting Wells). How about both? The Buckeyes have lined up in everything from a double-tight end formation to a variation of the pistol, eventually holding the 28th-best rushing offense in the FBS (3rd in the Big Ten, 193 yards/game). What’s so dynamic is the Buckeyes’ ability to bruise defenses between the tackles with the 6‘ 1”, 237 pound Wells or have them chasing tread marks made by Pryor’s graceful speed. Despite Wells’ injury, Boeckmann’s benching and Pryor’s inexperience, Ohio State still managed to keep the offense churning enough to take a share of the Big Ten title.
An area of concern for the Buckeyes, however, is their diminished passing attack. It is not at all a reflection of their flashy receiving duo, Brian Hartline and Brian Robiskie, that Pryor’s maturation as an efficient passer is an ongoing process. Ohio State has fallen to 105th in the FBS in passing with 148 yards/game, but this may be aided somewhat by the Longhorns’ inability to stop the pass.

Texas has surrendered 266 yards/game through the air (albeit generally against the pass-heavy Big 12 conference). Just as misleading could be Texas’ 2nd ranked rushing defense in the FBS (74 yards/game) although they were able to hold Big 12 Champion Oklahoma to just 1.8 yards/carry. Further, their top tacklers come from not only their linebackers (Roddrick Muckelroy first in team tackles with 96 total), but also the safety positions – Earl Thomas and Blake Gideon are the next top tacklers behind Muckelroy. While safety play is often associated with managing the pass defense, their utility and required expertise has grown substantially with the evolution of running quarterbacks – you can’t contain rushing quarterbacks off the edge with poor safety play. Thus, it may come in handy for Texas that their safeties already possess the ability to find the ball and bring the rusher down. With that being said, one could argue that senior defensive end Brian Orakpo may prove to be the playmaker needed to slow down Ohio State’s attack. He’s sacked quarterbacks 10.5 times and also leads his defense in tackles-for-loss with 15. In passing situations Pryor has shown a tendency to either hold on to the ball too long or scramble too much before taking off down field, causing numerous drive-killing sacks. If Orakpo has a big day, he may all but eliminate Ohio State’s passing ability single-handedly.

When the Longhorns Have the Ball

As everyone knows, Texas boasts an elite quarterback in junior Colt McCoy, and not surprisingly, he is the anchoring point of their offense. This Heisman Trophy finalist made his job look simplistic while accumulating statistics a sixteen-year-old would be proud of coming from his Xbox: 3,445 yards, 32 touchdowns and only seven interceptions while completing 78 percent of his passes for an astronomical rating of 179. Not enough? How about the fact that McCoy also leads his team in rushing with 576 yards (4.5 average) and 10 touchdowns? The task sounds simple enough–stop McCoy and you win. But the Longhorns receiving corps won’t make that an easy task for the Buckeyes. Jordan Shipley and Quan Cosby have been found by McCoy almost equally this year and have combined for 157 receptions, 1,934 yards and 19 touchdowns. Both are less than six feet tall, but what they lack in size, they make up for by possessing great speed and hands. Shipley also just happens to double as a playmaker in the return game, posting touchdowns from a kickoff and punt return against Oklahoma and Texas Tech, respectively. Altogether McCoy and company finished 11th in the FBS with 300 yards/game passing, which will be directly in the crosshairs of the Buckeyes’ 7th ranked pass defense (164 yards/game).

This may be another case of statistical inflation as the Buckeyes saw only one passing offense in the Big Ten that was in the top 20 in passing offense (Illinois).
Less of a statistical anomaly would be their stoutness against the run, as they surrendered only 115 yards/game on the ground. The Ohio State defensive leadership comes from their all-everything middle linebacker James Laurinaitis, who led the team in tackles and sacks (four) and combined with outside linebacker Marcus Freeman for 197 tackles and 7.5 sacks. Yet, as they are stronger against the run, it is plausible to see Texas in the shotgun, passing for 80 percent of their plays. This will call for senior (and leader of the secondary) cornerback Malcolm Jenkins to step up against the strength of Texas’ passing game. Jenkins and fellow defensive back Kurt Coleman combined for seven interceptions and 14 pass-breakups. Their ability to lockdown on Cosby and Shipley could be the match-ups which dictate how well the Longhorns can move the ball.

Final Analysis

This match-up seems to favor Texas on paper – great leadership and ability from their quarterback and defense. Ohio State is suffering a minor identity crisis in its passing game and may have to rely on Beanie Wells for 200 yards rushing to stand a chance. However, recent reports are sprouting suggesting that Ohio State may come out in offensive sets where both Boeckmann and Pryor are on the field at the same time. I am reticent in believing a gimmick offense (which has been employed in high school offenses as the “A11” set) would be the answer for a team that has confidence to beat their opponents outright. But is that not exactly what happened a few years ago when David (Boise St.) took down Goliath (Oklahoma) in this very same Bowl game? And, what about the emotional preparation on the Texas sideline as they went from National Title contenders to Big 12 contenders, to hopes for an at-large BCS bid? That has to be deflating. And that’s why the nod has to go to…the Longhorns. Why? The one word that describes what Ohio State has been lacking when facing tough opponents in the big game the last two years? Adjustment.

CFI Prediction: Texas 37, Ohio State 27

Photo Credit: College Press Box, University of Texas Athletics, OSU Athletics

This Date in College Football History

Dec. 27, 1971: At Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, 51,098 watch as Arizona State beats Florida State in the first-ever Fiesta Bowl 45-38. Tied 38-38, Sun Devil quarterback Danny White (1998 College Football Hall of Fame inductee) leads a 57-yard drive setting up halfback Woody Green's winning two-yard touchdown run with :34 seconds left in the game.

Credit: The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame

VANDERBILT IS TOSTITOS FIESTA BOWL NATIONAL TEAM OF THE WEEK

DALLAS (FWAA) - With their 14-13 win over 13th-ranked Auburn, the Vanderbilt Commodores (5-0) are the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl National Team of the Week for games of the weekend of Oct. 4.

Mackenzi Adams threw a pair of touchdown passes as the Commodores improved to 5-0 for the first time since 1943. The Vanderbilt defense limited Auburn to just 208 yards and registered five sacks by five different players.

Vanderbilt's 3-0 start in SEC play is the school's best since 1950. The win over Auburn snapped a 13-game losing streak to the Tigers that dated back to the 1955 Gator Bowl. Coming in ranked No. 19, the Commodores also produced their first win as a ranked team since 1956.

Other Tostitos Fiesta Bowl Bowl National Team of the Week nominees for the weekend of Oct. 4 included:

· Army (1-4): Collin Mooney ran for 187 yards and four touchdowns to help the Black Knights end a 10-game losing streak with a 44-13 win at Tulane.

· North Carolina (4-1): Converted safety Shawn Draughn ran for 109 yards and a score as the Tar Heels recorded their first win over a ranked non-conference opponent since 1997 with their 38-12 win over No. 24 Connecticut.

· Pittsburgh (4-1): LeSean McCoy ran for 142 yards and two touchdowns as the Panthers upset 10th-ranked South Florida, 26-21, in Tampa.

The FWAA has named a national team of the week since the 2002 season. This is the fifth season that the award has been sponsored by the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.

Members of the FWAA board of directors and All-America committee decide the weekly honor. Each Monday during the 2008 college football season, the FWAA will name the Tostitos Bowl National Team of the Week through Dec. 1.

Since 1971, the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl has hosted six games that have decided the college football national championship, including three Bowl Championship Series title games. This season the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl game will be played on Jan. 5, 2009 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., and the Insight Bowl will be played on Dec. 31, 2008 at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz.

For more information on the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl National Team of the Week, go to footballwriters.com or fiestabowl.org.

OREGON STATE IS TOSTITOS FIESTA BOWL NATIONAL TEAM OF THE WEEK

DALLAS (FWAA) - With their 27-21 win over top-ranked USC, the Oregon State Beavers (2-2) are the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl National Team of the Week for games of the weekend of Sept. 27.

Freshman Jacquizz Rodgers ran for 186 yards and two touchdowns as the Beavers sprinted to a 21-0 halftime lead. Safety Greg Laybourn's fourth-quarter interception led to Oregon State's final score and sealed the win.

It was the second time in school history that Oregon State has knocked off a No. 1 team, the last coming in a 3-0 win over USC in 1967. Two years ago, the Beavers beat No. 3 USC in Corvallis as well.

Other Tostitos Fiesta Bowl Bowl National Team of the Week nominees for the weekend of Sept. 27 included:

· Alabama (5-0): The Crimson Tide scored on its first five possessions to lead 31-0 on its way to a convincing 41-30 win at Georgia.

· Duke (3-1): The Blue Devils ended a 25-game ACC losing streak with a 31-3 win over Virginia. Duke, off to its best start since 1994, forced five second-half turnovers in the win.

· Ole Miss (3-2): Jevan Snead threw two touchdown passes and ran for another and the Rebels blocked the game-tying extra point and stuffed Tim Tebow on fourth down to upset Florida, 31-30, in Gainseville. The win ended a 14-game road losing streak in SEC play for Ole Miss.

The FWAA has named a national team of the week since the 2002 season. This is the fifth season that the award has been sponsored by the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.

Members of the FWAA board of directors and All-America committee decide the weekly honor. Each Monday during the 2008 college football season, the FWAA will name the Tostitos Bowl National Team of the Week through Dec. 1.

Since 1971, the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl has hosted six games that have decided the college football national championship, including three Bowl Championship Series title games. This season the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl game will be played on Jan. 5, 2009 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., and the Insight Bowl will be played on Dec. 31, 2008 at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz.

For more information on the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl National Team of the Week, go to footballwriters.com or fiestabowl.org.

2008 Tostitos Fiesta Bowl National Teams of the Week
· Weekend of Aug. 30: Alabama
· Weekend of Sept. 6: East Carolina
· Weekend of Sept. 13: USC
· Weekend of Sept. 20: Boise State
· Weekend of Sept. 27: Oregon State

BOISE STATE IS TOSTITOS FIESTA BOWL NATIONAL TEAM OF THE WEEK

DALLAS (FWAA) - With their 37-21 win at Oregon, the Boise State Broncos (3-0) are the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl National Team of the Week for games of the weekend of Sept. 20.

Kellen Moore threw for 386 yards and three touchdowns as the Broncos used a 24-point second quarter to build a 37-13 lead.

Boise State ended Oregon's 18-game winning streak vs. Western Athletic Conference schools as the Broncos upended a BCS conference team on the road for the first time in school history.

Other Tostitos Fiesta Bowl Bowl National Team of the Week nominees for the weekend of Sept. 20 included:

· LSU (3-0): Jarrett Lee threw an 18-yard touchdown pass to Brandon LaFell with 1:03 left as the Tigers rallied past Auburn, 26-21.

· Vanderbilt (4-0): The Commodores forced six turnovers in a 23-17 win at Ole Miss to improve to 4-0 and earn a spot in the Associated Press Top 25 for the first time since 1984.

The FWAA has named a national team of the week since the 2002 season. This is the fifth season that the award has been sponsored by the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.

Members of the FWAA board of directors and All-America committee decide the weekly honor. Each Monday during the 2008 college football season, the FWAA will name the Tostitos Bowl National Team of the Week through Dec. 1.

Since 1971, the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl has hosted six games that have decided the college football national championship, including three Bowl Championship Series title games. This season the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl game will be played on Jan. 5, 2009 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., and the Insight Bowl will be played on Dec. 31, 2008 at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz.

For more information on the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl National Team of the Week, go to footballwriters.com or fiestabowl.org.

USC IS TOSTITOS FIESTA BOWL NATIONAL TEAM OF THE WEEK

DALLAS (FWAA) - With their 35-3 win over 5th-ranked Ohio State, the USC Trojans (2-0) are the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl National Team of the Week for games of the weekend of Sept. 13.

Mark Sanchez threw four touchdown passes and Joe McKnight ran for 102 yards as the Trojans lived up to their No. 1 ranking in front of 93,607 at the Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum.

USC won for the 39th time in its last 40 home games and dominated the first meeting with the Buckeyes since 1990.

Other Tostitos Fiesta Bowl Bowl National Team of the Week nominees for the weekend of Sept. 13 included:

· BYU (3-0): Max Hall threw seven touchdown passes as the Cougars handed UCLA its worst loss in 75 years, 59-0, in Provo.

· UNLV (2-1): Malo Taumua blocked a field goal in overtime as UNLV upset Arizona State, 23-20, to complete a four-game weekend sweep of the Pac-10 by the Mountain West.

The FWAA has named a national team of the week since the 2002 season. This is the fifth season that the award has been sponsored by the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.

ALABAMA IS TOSTITOS FIESTA BOWL NATIONAL TEAM OF THE WEEK

DALLAS (FWAA) - With their 34-10 win over Clemson in Atlanta, the Alabama Crimson Tide (1-0) is the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl National Team of the Week for games of the weekend of Aug. 30.

The Alabama defense held Clemson to just 188 yards of total offense and 11 first downs. Clemson finished the game with no rushing yards.

John Parker Wilson completed 22-of-30 passes for 180 yards and two scores and Mark Ingram and Glen Coffee combined for 186 yards rushing. Leigh Tiffin also booted four field goals for the Crimson Tide.

For Alabama, it was the Tide's 12th straight win over Clemson and its seventh straight to open a season.

Other Tostitos Fiesta Bowl Bowl National Team of the Week nominees for the weekend of Aug. 30 included:

· East Carolina (1-0): T.J. Lee blocked a punt and returned it 24 yards for a touchdown with 1:52 left in the game to give the Pirates a 27-22 over Virginia Tech.

· UCLA (1-0): Kai Forbath's 42-yard field goal in overtime gave coach Rick Neuheisel a 27-24 win over Tennessee in his coaching debut for the Bruins.

· Utah (1-0): Brian Johnson threw for 305 yards and Louie Sakoda kicked four field goals as the Utes beat Michigan, 25-23, in front of 108,421 in Ann Arbor.

The FWAA has named a national team of the week since the 2002 season. This is the fifth season that the award has been sponsored by the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.

Members of the FWAA board of directors and All-America committee decide the weekly honor. Each Monday during the 2008 college football season, the FWAA will name the Tostitos Bowl National Team of the Week through Dec. 1.

Since 1971, the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl has hosted six games that have decided the college football national championship, including three Bowl Championship Series title games. This season the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl game will be played on Jan. 5, 2009 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz., and the Insight Bowl will be played on Dec. 31, 2008 at Sun Devil Stadium in Tempe, Ariz.

For more information on the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl National Team of the Week, go to footballwriters.com or fiestabowl.org.

Missouri is Tostitos Fiesta Bowl National Team of the Week

DALLAS (FWAA) - With their 36-28 win over Kansas, the Missouri Tigers (11-1) are the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl National Team of the Week for games of the weekend of Nov. 24.
Chase Daniel completed 40-of-49 passes for 361 yards and three touchdowns as the Tigers won the Big 12's North Division.

With the win, the Tigers handed Kansas its first loss of the season and then earned the school's first No. 1 ranking since 1960.

"The best thing about tonight is the win," said Daniel. "The bottom line is, we got the win. I don't care what happens; I hope we are No. 1, but all of that stuff doesn't matter."

Other Tostitos Fiesta Bowl Bowl National Team of the Week nominees for the weekend of Nov. 24 included:

• Hawaii (11-0): Colt Brennan threw for 495 yards and five touchdown as the Warriors won their first outright WAC title with a 39-27 win over Boise State.

• West Virginia (10-1): Pat White rushed for 186 yards and two touchdowns and threw a touchdown pass in the Mountaineers' 66-21 rout of Connecticut.

The FWAA has named a national team of the week since the 2002 season. This is the third season that the award has been sponsored by the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.

Select members of the FWAA board of directors decide the weekly honor. Each Monday during the 2007 college football season, the FWAA has named the Tostitos Bowl National Team of the Week. This is the final selection for the 2007 season.

Indiana is Tostitos Fiesta Bowl National Team of the Week

DALLAS (FWAA) - With their 27-24 win over Purdue, the Indiana Hoosiers (7-5) are the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl National Team of the Week for games of the weekend of Nov. 17.
Austin Starr nailed a 49-yard field goal with 30 seconds left as the Hoosiers won the Old Oaken Bucket for just the second time in 11 seasons.

With the win, the Hoosiers are eligible for a bowl berth for the first time since 1993. Indiana was led by Marcus Thigpen, who ran for a career-high 140 yards in front of Indiana's first home sellout of the season. Among those in attendance was Jane Hoeppner, the wife of late Indiana coach Terry Hoeppner, who passed away before the season.

"Well, that was a great win for our kids," said head coach Bill Lynch. "That's a happy locker room in there right now and it's really fun to see those kids that way. You don't don't get that opportunity very often to see a locker room with kids in there crying because they are so doggone happy. That's a neat feeling."

Other Tostitos Fiesta Bowl Bowl National Team of the Week nominees for the weekend of Nov. 17 included:

• Louisiana-Monroe (5-6): The Warhawks forced four turnovers in upsetting Alabama, 21-14, for their first win over an SEC team since 1995.

• Western Michigan (4-7): Tim Hiller threw for 367 yards and three touchdowns as the Broncos stunned Iowa, 28-19, in Iowa City.

The FWAA has named a national team of the week since the 2002 season. This is the third season that the award has been sponsored by the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.

Select members of the FWAA board of directors decide the weekly honor. Each Monday during the 2007 college football season, the FWAA will name the Tostitos Bowl National Team of the Week through Nov. 26.

Illinois is Tostitos Fiesta Bowl National Team of the Week

DALLAS (FWAA) - With their 28-21 win at Ohio State, the Illinois Fighting Illini (8-3) are the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl National Team of the Week for games of the weekend of Nov. 10.
Juice Williams threw four touchdown passes as Illinois ended Ohio State's 28-game regular-season winning streak and a streak of 20 straight Big Ten wins.

Illinois, which is now 8-3 after finishing the 2006 season at 2-10, defeated a top-ranked team for the first time since 1956 and the first time ever on the road.

"I know 'shock the world' is overused," Illini linebacker J Leman said. "It is pretty shocking to most people, but not to the guys in the locker room."

Other Tostitos Fiesta Bowl Bowl National Team of the Week nominees for the weekend of Nov. 10 included:

• Nebraska (5-6): The Huskers rebounded from a 76-39 loss to Kansas by crushing Kansas State, 73-31.

• Virginia (9-2): The Cavaliers handed Miami its worst-ever home shutout loss, 48-0, in its final game at the Orange Bowl. It was also the first time Miami had been held scoreless at home since 1974.

The FWAA has named a national team of the week since the 2002 season. This is the third season that the award has been sponsored by the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.

Navy is Tostitos Fiesta Bowl National Team of the Week

DALLAS (FWAA) - With their 46-44 overtime win at Notre Dame, the Navy Midshipmen (5-4) are the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl National Team of the Week for games of the weekend of Nov. 3.

Kaipo-Noa Kaheaku-Enhada threw a 25-yard touchdown pass to Reggie Campbell on the first play of the third overtime possession, then found him again in the end zone for the 2-point conversion as Navy defeated Notre Dame for the first time since 1963.

The win ended an NCAA-record 43-game losing streak to Notre Dame, dating back to a 35-14 Navy win in '63.

Navy's Michael Walsh and Irv Spencer sealed the win when they tackled Notre Dame's Travis Thomas short of the goal line on the Fighting Irish's final play.

"Wow, what a game," Navy coach Paul Johnson said. "I'm so happy for our players. Now they will have that they are the class that broke the streak and they won't have to hear any more about it."

Other Tostitos Fiesta Bowl Bowl National Team of the Week nominees for the weekend of Nov. 3 included:

· Kansas (9-0): Todd Reesing threw six touchdown passes as the Jayhawks piled up the most points ever scored vs. Nebraska in a 76-49 rout.

· Oregon (8-1): Dennis Dixon threw five touchdown passes in the Ducks' 35-23 win over previously unbeaten Arizona State.

The FWAA has named a national team of the week since the 2002 season. This is the third season that the award has been sponsored by the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.

Select members of the FWAA board of directors decide the weekly honor. Each Monday during the 2007 college football season, the FWAA will name the Tostitos Bowl National Team of the Week through Nov. 26.

Since 1971, the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl has hosted five games that have decided the college football national championship, including two Bowl Championship Series title games. Last season, the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl presented three post-season games, including the Insight Bowl and the BCS title game. This season the game will be played on Jan. 2, 2008 at University of Phoenix Stadium in Glendale, Ariz.

Vanderbilt is Tostitos Fiesta Bowl National Team of the Week

DALLAS (FWAA) - With their 17-6 win at South Carolina, the Vanderbilt Commodores (4-3) are the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl National Team of the Week for games of the weekend of Oct. 20.

Mackenzi Adams threw two touchdown passes and D.J. Moore intercepted two passes for a Vandy defense that held South Carolina to 195 total yards.

The win marked Vanderbilt's first win over a team ranked as high as No. 6 since a 7-6 win over LSU in 1937.

I'm proud of the effort of our team." Vanderbilt coach Bobby Johnson said. "They played extremely hard and tried to execute the game plan while they were out there. We didn't always do it, but the majority of the time we played extremely well. I thought we played extremely aggressive on defense."

Other Tostitos Fiesta Bowl Bowl National Team of the Week nominees for the weekend of Oct. 20 included:

· Kansas (7-0): The Jayhawks moved to 7-0 for just the second time since 1968 with a 19-14 win at Colorado, their first win in Boulder since 1995.

· Rutgers (5-2): Ray Rice ran for 181 yards and the Scarlet Knights handed South Florida its first loss of the season, 30-27.

· Temple (3-5): The Owls won their third straight game for the first time since 1990 with a 24- 17 triumph over Miami (Ohio).

The FWAA has named a national team of the week since the 2002 season. This is the third season that the award has been sponsored by the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.

Select members of the FWAA board of directors decide the weekly honor. Each Monday during the 2007 college football season, the FWAA will name the Tostitos Bowl National Team of the Week through Nov. 26.

Oregon State is Tostitos Fiesta Bowl National Team of the Week

DALLAS (FWAA) - With their 31-28 win at California, the Oregon State Beavers (4-3) are the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl National Team of the Week for games of the weekend of Oct. 13.

Cal quarterback Kevin Riley was tackled in bounds at the Oregon State 9-yard line as time ran out as the Beavers upset the previously No. 2-ranked Bears.

Yvenson Bernard ran for 110 yards and two touchdowns and caught eight passes for 53 yards to lead Oregon State, which built a 10-point fourth quarter lead before holding on.

"I'm real proud of our team and our coaches," Oregon State coach Mike Riley said. "We had some opportunities early and didn't capitalize and they just kept working hard and playing."

Other Tostitos Fiesta Bowl Bowl National Team of the Week nominees for the weekend of Oct. 13 included:

· Kentucky (6-1): André Woodson threw three touchdown passes as the Wildcats upset top-ranked LSU, 43-37, in overtime. It was Kentucky's first win over a No. 1 team since beating Ole Miss in 1964.

The FWAA has named a national team of the week since the 2002 season. This is the third season that the award has been sponsored by the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.

Select members of the FWAA board of directors decide the weekly honor. Each Monday during the 2007 college football season, the FWAA will name the Tostitos Bowl National Team of the Week through Nov. 26.