Big 12 Sets Potential Bowl Lineup
December 02, 1999 | Football
Dec. 2, 1999
DALLAS - The Big 12 Conference and its contracted bowl partners have finalized the 1999 post-season bowl lineup pending placement of only one team in the Bowl Championship Series.
"We are appreciative of the hard work of our partner bowl committees in building a consensus on the post-season assignments of our teams," Big 12 Commissioner Kevin Weiberg said. "This advance notice should allow our institutions and their fans to maximize the opportunity to make travel plans for trips to these outstanding venues." Weiberg emphasized that the preliminary bowl lineup was contingent upon the BCS releasing Kansas State as an at-large team on Sunday. "We are still in a holding pattern related to the absolute release of Kansas State," Weiberg said. "But we have developed a plan in case we only move one team into the BCS picture." The winner of this weekend's Dr Pepper Big 12 Football Championship Game in San Antonio, Texas, between the University of Nebraska and the University of Texas will likely earn an automatic spot in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl on January 2. The runner-up will represent the Conference in the Southwestern Bell Cotton Bowl on January 1. Kansas State, if not selected by the BCS, will play in the Culligan Holiday Bowl in San Diego on December 29. Nebraska, which is currently third in the BCS poll, remains a possible selection for the BCS championship game and the Nokia Sugar Bowl. "This decision was a joint effort of the Conference, the member institutions and our bowl partners," Weiberg said. "We are pleased that all parties have been able to develop a viable plan. We particularly are grateful to the Southwestern Bell Cotton Bowl for accepting a plan that satisfies our member institutions. "There is little question the early decisions help the schools, fans and bowls in their preparations," Weiberg said. "We believe this lineup offers an outstanding alignment between the schools and the bowls.
In addition to designation of teams to the Southwestern Bell Cotton Bowl and the Culligan Holiday Bowl, the Big 12 also announced the selections in the SYLVANIA Alamo Bowl, the Insight.com Bowl and the Sanford Independence Bowl. Texas A&M will face Penn State in San Antonio for the December 28 SYLVANIA Alamo Bowl. Colorado returns to the post-season bowl picture on December 31 to participate in the Insight.com Bowl in Tucson, Ariz., while the Oklahoma Sooners will fill the remaining slot in the December 31 Sanford Independence Bowl. "Each of our institutions are anxiously awaiting the more formal invitations from our bowl partners," Weiberg said. "Obviously the media interest is high related to these opportunities and we don't want to diminish the special moment that comes with the formal invitation, but all of the parties believe the time was right to make the announcement." Texas Tech, one of seven bowl eligible teams in the Big 12, was not extended an invitation but was under consideration by both the Insight.com and Sanford Independence bowls. The Red Raiders would be extended an invitation if the conference lands two teams in the BCS.