E. Carolina Wins Hawaii Bowl

Congress explores launching antitrust probe, backing playoff

(NEWSER) - A Congressional resolution could have the Justice Department looking into whether the college football bowl system is illegal, the AP reports. The authors of the resolution say the system restricts trade because only the biggest schools seem to have a shot at being voted into the championship game. A look at the leglsiators' home addresses suggests a personal angle, however. More»

Warriors defeat defending champions Boise State, 39-27

(NEWSER) - The 11-0 Hawaii Warriors followed Heisman-candidate Colt Brennan to a 39-27 victory last night, beating defending WAC champions Boise State to take the conference crown outright for the first time. Brennan broke records with his five touchdowns and 495 passing yards, as the Warriors proved that "giants do fall," reports the Honolulu Advertiser. More»

Watch title game, skip Little Caesars (except the pizza)

(NEWSER) - With college football bowl season set to begin today, Dennis Dodd tells you which of the 34 are appointment viewing, and which you should avoid at all costs. The top three:

• BCS title game—Alabama vs. Texas (Jan. 7, ABC): Storied traditions, a Heisman winner … and coaches with combined salaries of $9 million.
• Fiesta Bowl—Texas Christian vs. Boise State (Jan. 4, Fox): Hey, if Texas beats Alabama after TCU wins here in a blowout, Horned Frogs could be national champs.
• Las Vegas Bowl—Oregon State vs. Brigham Young (Dec. 22, ESPN): Early matchup of ranked teams promises some serious offense.

Fighting the rising cry for playoffs is one of sport's worst jobs

(NEWSER) - Bill Hancock is one of the best-liked people in the sporting world, but he's been tasked with defending one of its most-hated systems, writes Sean Gregory. Hancock, a former director of the Final Four, has been appointed as the first permanent director of the Bowl Championship Series. That makes him a target for everyone—from President Obama on down—who think there's got to be a better way than the incomprehensible BCS system to find a national champion of college football. More»

Philosophy professor led sports powerhouse after firing Bob Knight at Indiana U.

(NEWSER) - Myles Brand, the first academic in 50 years to head the National Collegiate Athletic Association and perhaps best known as the man who, as president of Indiana University, fired legendary basketball coach Bob Knight, died today of pancreatic cancer; he was 67, the New York Times reports. The former philosophy professor spearheaded academic reform, instituting a system under which universities are penalized if student-athletes don’t meet certain standards. More»