Photo Illustration by Kenny Greer/The LanternA source within the MSU football program said the Spartans are preparing for the Capital One Bowl, presumably for a game against Georgia.
The source said MSU coach Mark Dantonio told his staff they would receive an invitation to the Capital One Bowl on Sunday and would accept it.
A spokesman for Florida Citrus Sports, which oversees the Champs Sports and Capital One Bowls, said no invites have been issued and formal invites will not be made until Sunday.
An MSU spokesman denied any invitation for the team.
“We don’t anticipate an official bowl offer and announcement until Sunday, Dec. 7,” the spokesman said in an e-mail. The spokesman did not confirm or deny coach Dantonio’s statements to his staff.
If Michigan State (9-3, 6-2), the Big Ten’s third-place team, is planning for a trip to Orlando, it would mean a BCS bowl is in Ohio State’s future.
Representatives for both the Fiesta and Sugar Bowls said Ohio State is a team being considered by their committees.
Ohio State (10-2, 7-1) is a co-Big Ten Champion along with Penn State (11-1, 7-1), but the Nittany Lions are the conference’s representative in the Rose Bowl, having defeated the Buckeyes.
OSU is currently ranked 10th in the BCS standings, one spot behind undefeated Boise State (12-0).
Many speculate that the Broncos are Ohio State’s top competition for a BCS at-large selection on Sunday, along with Ball State.
Conference championships in the SEC, ACC and Big 12 are Saturday and will determine three of the automatic BCS bids.
Big Ten champion Penn State, Big East champion Cincinnati and the Pac 10 champions, (USC currently leads the Pac 10), are the other automatic bids to BCS bowls.
Utah is also an automatic bid because they have the highest BCS ranking from a non-BCS conference and are ranked ahead of a BCS conference champion.
The second 2008 BCS Commissioner Team Selection call will be held today.
After the second call, a press release will be distributed naming the teams held for possible selection to this year’s BCS bowl games and the BCS National Championship.
Zack Meisel contributed to this report.
James Crepea can be reached at [email protected].
