The Other Bowls

On display on New Year's Day were not only this year's No. 1 but, in all likelihood, the teams with the best shot at unseating Oklahoma next fall. In the Fiesta, Michigan whipped Nebraska 27-23 behind sophomore scatback Jamie Morris, who had 156 yards, and sophomore tackle Mark Messner, who made nine tackles. Texas A & M rocked Auburn 36-16 as sophomore Kevin Murray passed for a Cotton Bowl-record 292 yards. The Aggie D, which stopped Bo Jackson six times for no gain in the final quarter, loses only two starters. In the Sugar, Miami's callow 'Canes received a 35—7 lesson in humility from Tennessee that should make them stronger in '86. Finally, UCLA started just four seniors on offense and four on defense in its 45-28 upset of Iowa as the Big Ten suffered its 15th Rose Bowl defeat in 17 years.

UCLA freshman Eric Ball (above) ran through Iowa for 227 yards and four touchdowns; a 60-yard gallop by Jeff Powell (left) gave Tennessee a 28-7 third-quarter lead over Miami; Nebraska held Michigan quarterback Jim Harbaugh in check—except at the goal line.

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PHOTO

RICHARD MACKSON

PHOTO

JERRY LODRIGUSS

PHOTO

JEFF KIDA

SI Top 20

1. OKLAHOMA (11-1)

2. MICHIGAN (10-1-1)

3. PENN STATE (11-1)

4. FLORIDA (9-1-1)*

5. TENNESSEE (9-1-2)

6. MIAMI (10-2)

7. AIR FORCE (12-1)

8. TEXAS A & M (10-2)

9. UCLA (9-2-1)

10. IOWA (10-2)

11. ALABAMA (9-2-1)

12. ARKANSAS (10-2)

13. NEBRASKA (9-3)

14. OHIO STATE (9-3)

15. MARYLAND (9-3)

16. FLORIDA STATE (9-3)

17. FRESNO STATE (11-0-1)

18. BYU (11-3)

19. GEORGIA TECH (9-2-1)

20. BAYLOR (9-3)

*On probation