Opponent foes in the bowls

Michigan (7-5): vs. Kansas State on Dec. 28 in the Buffalo Wild Wings Bowl in Tempe, Ariz.

Michigan State (12-1): W 34-24 vs. No. 2 Ohio State

BCS ranking: Rose six spots to No. 4

Bowl: vs. No. 5 Stanford on Jan. 1 in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif.

Michigan State’s defense stymied opposing rushing attacks all season long until Ohio State gashed the Spartans for 273 rushing yards. Fortunately for Michigan State and, for that matter, Auburn, quarterback Connor Cook picked up the slack by throwing for 304 yards and three touchdowns while running back Jeremy Langford ran for 128 yards and the game-sealing score.

Although the Spartans defense gave up more yards than it had in all but one contest all season -- Nebraska gained 391 yards -- it also held Ohio State to 1-of-10 on third-down conversions and stopped two fourth-down attempts as well.

Oklahoma (10-2): W 33-24 at No. 6 Oklahoma State

BCS ranking: Rose six spots to No. 11

Bowl: vs. No. 3 Alabama on Jan. 2 in the Sugar Bowl in New Orleans

In the de facto Big 12 championship game, Oklahoma earned a BCS bowl berth thanks to a last-minute touchdown. When Oklahoma State tried to make the game’s catchphrase “Bedlam in Bedrock” come to life with a series of laterals as time expired, the Cowboys fumbled, giving the Sooners an exclamation point.

Jalen Saunders put Oklahoma on the scoreboard with a 64-yard punt return in the first quarter. The receiver also scored the winning touchdown.

Arizona State (10-3): L 38-14 vs. No. 7 Stanford

BCS ranking: Fell three spots to No. 14

Bowl: vs. Texas Tech on Dec. 30 in the Holiday Bowl in San Diego

Arizona State stayed within striking distance of Stanford until the Cardinal held the Sun Devils scoreless in the second half. Playing without spitfire running back Marion Grice for the second week in a row, Arizona State managed only 3.2 yards per carry, and thus possessed the ball for only 26:21.

Stanford gashed the Sun Devils for 517 total yards, led by running back Tyler Gaffney’s 133 rushing yards, six yards per carry and three touchdowns.

USC (9-4): vs. No. 20 Fresno State on Dec. 21 in the Las Vegas Bowl in Las Vegas

BCS ranking: Returned to the rankings at No. 25

Navy (7-4): vs. Army on Dec. 14 in Philadelphia

Bowl: vs. Middle Tennessee State on Dec. 30 in the Armed Forces Bowl in Fort Worth, Texas

Pittsburgh (6-6): vs. Bowling Green on Dec. 26 in the Little Caesars Pizza Bowl in Detroit

BYU (8-4): vs. Washington on Dec. 27 in the Fight Hunger Bowl in San Francisco

Stanford (11-2): W 38-14 at No. 11 Arizona State

BCS ranking: Rose two spots to No. 5

Bowl: vs. No. 4 Michigan State on Jan. 1 in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif.

Cardinal quarterback Kevin Hogan’s efficient 12-of-18 passing for 277 yards and a score moved Stanford down the field, and running back Tyler Gaffney found the end zone three times once they were in range.

Meanwhile, the Cardinal defense held a dynamic Sun Devil attack to 311 yards and 5-of-16 third-down conversions.

Note: Temple, Purdue and Air Force finished with losing records in the 2013 season and will therefore not be playing in any bowl games.