Bowl picture slowly thinning out

Wildcat File Photo Arizona Daily Wildcat Jonathan Smith, Oregon State quarterback

Rose Bowl: Traditionally the Pac-10 and Big 10 Conference champions play in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., but due to the Bowl Championship Series, which determines the national championship game in the Fiesta Bowl, tradition may be put aside this year. If UCLA, currently ranked No. 2 in the nation, continues to go undefeated this year the Bruins would most likely play in the national championship game in Tempe.

The same holds true for Big 10 leader Ohio State, which is currently No. 1. If this happens, the Rose Bowl officials get first choice of teams they want to form the remaining field of alliance teams. They do not have to take the second place teams in the Pac-10 and Big 10.

If the season ended today: Rose Bowl officials would select two at-large teams to compete. Even though the officials decide, Oregon quarterback Akili Smith still believes the Ducks can control their own destiny. "We were always talking about the Rose Bowl," Smith said. "It is still in our grasp and we are all still focused up here."

Culligan Holiday Bowl: If the second place team in the Pac-10 is not selected in the Bowl Championship Series, they will play in the Culligan Holiday Bowl. The opponent would either be the Big 12 Conference No. 3 team or the Western Athletic Conference No. 1 team. If the runner-up in the Pac-10 is selected for the Bowl Championship Series, the third place Pac-10 team will go to the Holiday Bowl.

If the season ended today: The Pac-10 representative would be Arizona or Oregon if they are not selected in Bowl Championship Series. The Big 12 bowl picture will be more clear after Nebraska and Kansas State play, the winner facing Texas A&M in the conference championship game. San Diego State and Wyoming are the current leaders in the two WAC divisions.

Norwest Sun Bowl: The Norwest Sun Bowl receives the highest remaining Pac-10 team in the standings after the Rose Bowl, or Bowl Championship Series and Holiday Bowl selects their teams. Essentially, this would be the third place team in the Pac-10, though it could be the fourth if both the Bowl Championship Series and Rose Bowl select Pac-10 representatives.

If the season ended today: The Pac-10 representative would be either Arizona, Oregon or Washington. The team they would play would likely come from the Big 10, similar to last year when Iowa played Arizona State.

Jeep Aloha Bowl: The fourth place Pac-10 team will be selected for this game. Again, it could be the fifth place team if both the Bowl Championship Series and Rose Bowl take Pac-10 teams.

If the season ended today: The Pac-10 repre-sentative would be Washington or Southern Cal.

O'ahu Bowl: This is a second bowl game promoted by the operators of the Aloha Bowl. This game will feature the fifth place Pac-10 team.

If the season ended today: The Pac-10 rep-resentative would be Sou-thern Cal or California.

After a weekend of Pac-10 football that saw a thriller in Tempe, a great one in Seattle, a blowout in Tucson, a rare low-scoring game in Oregon and close contest in Berkeley, the players of the week have been named.

This week's honorary winners were quarterback Jonathan Smith of Oregon State, safety Larry Atkins of UCLA and punter Nick Harris of Cal.

Smith, a redshirt freshman, passed for a school record 469 yards in the 35-34 loss at Washington after coming off the bench to replace Tim Bryant. He threw touchdown passes of 80, 90 and 33 yards to go along with his 17 of 32 passing. He not only set a school passing record, it was also the seventh best single game passing day in conference history.

Senior Atkins led a UCLA defensive attack which limited Cal to 108 yards passing and 224 yards of total offense in the 28-16 Bruin victory. He had an interception at the goal line to stop a Cal drive and a fumble recovery at the 1-yard line to stop another. This is the second straight week a Bruin has won the defensive player of the week award.

Harris, a sophomore from Phoenix averaged 45.1 yards per punt on nine punts and put six inside the UCLA 20-yard line.

Also nominated on offense were quarterbacks Akili Smith of Oregon, Keith Smith of Arizona, Cade McNown of UCLA and running backs J.R. Redmond of Arizona State and Marcus Fields of Cal. Nominated on defense were cornerback Rashad Bauman of Oregon, linebacker Jonathan Jackson of Oregon State and tackle Daniel Greer of Arizona. Others noted for their special teams play were Jamil Braithwaite of Oregon State and Chris McAlister of Arizona.

Pac-10 Heisman watch

Akili Smith, Oregon: Normally opposing coaches comments do not count for much, but Heisman voters may want to listen to Arizona head coach Dick Tomey as he said, "Smith to me is the best quarterback in our league. He has made the biggest impact.

He has wheels, an arm and poise." Smith's numbers back up Tomey's comments as he has thrown 103 completions of 185 attempts for 1,870 yards, 19 touchdowns and only five interceptions. This weekend he and the Ducks have the biggest game of their season as they travel into Tucson to take on the Wildcats Halloween night.

Cade McNown, UCLA: In the Bruins' victory over Cal, McNown threw 15 of 27 for 187 yards and two touchdowns. He also had 57 yards rushing. For the season, McNown's numbers are 96 of 176 for 1,607 yards, 12 touchdowns and like Smith, only five interceptions. McNown returns home for the Bruins' homecoming game against Stanford this Saturday.

Daily Wildcat projected leader: Akili Smith, based on statistics alone.

Dan Rosen can be reached via e-mail at Dan.Rosen@wildcat.arizona.edu.