It’s not official, yet, but the word making its way through the interwebs is that the Fiesta Bowl has chosen Iowa, and, as a result, Penn State will be heading to Orlando to take on the Tigers of Louisiana State.

The news was broken by David Jones, at the Patriot News, who indicated at 2:24 that “Penn State sources…believe Iowa is headed for the Fiesta Bowl.”  Jones isn’t the only one who’s well connected, though, and the reports came trickling in from other media types.  Sean Keeler at the Des Moines Register tweeted that BCS expert Jerry Palm told him that Iowa to the Fiesta was “a done deal.”  BlackHeartGoldPants, the phenomenal Iowa-centric blog, is calling it too, and in all fairness, it’s probably the right thing for Iowa and its fans.  Unlike some, I’m willing to admit that Iowa deserves a BCS bid more than Penn State does.  They beat us head-to-head, and, with their starting quarterback healthy, didn’t lose a game all season.  I’m not bitter one bit.

In fact, I’m actually pretty thrilled that Penn State will be heading to Orlando for a New Years’ Day showdown with LSU. First and foremost, I’ll actually be in Florida over the break with my family, so there’s no doubt I’m going.  But secondly, a matchup with an SEC opponent, especially one who’s won 2 BCS championships this decade, is a lot more intriguing than one against–in all likelihood–a Boise State team that has been getting nothing but heat from college football fans and commentators.  I’ve watched them play a bunch of times, and I haven’t been impressed.  They’re a decent team, but what’s the upside of beating Boise State?  But to take down an SEC opponent, one that’s been ranked in the top 10 for most of the year, now that’s an accomplishment.  Plus, I have no doubt that we’d beat LSU, whereas Boise State might actually pose a bigger threat for Penn State, with its dynamic passing game and pages upon pages in the playbook full of tricks.

So, don’t cry for Penn State, Phoenix.  We’ll have fun at Disney and beating LSU, while Iowa gets a no-win proposition against a team that doesn’t really impress anyone.  Still, I’m more than a little surprised that the Fiesta Bowl chose merit over money, here.  Sure, both teams would fill up the stadium, but you can’t argue that Iowa is a more nationally followed team than is Penn State.  If you asked a general fan of college football whether he’d rather watch Iowa-Boise State or Boise State-PSU, I’m pretty sure he’d choose the latter.  Still, I think they’d rather watch PSU-LSU than either game, and the Capital One Bowl will almost certainly be the marquee non-BCS game of the year.

On one last, non-BCS note: I am thrilled that Texas won last night, and especially in the fashion they did against Nebraska.  Did they look like a national championship caliber team to you?  So while they’re getting blown out by Alabama, and TCU is beating up on Georgia Tech in the Orange Bowl, the BCS will take even more heat.  I think TCU’s the second best team in the country, but if Texas had lost–and TCU reached the championship game–then the BCS would be vindicated.  Sorry, TCU, but you had to get screwed over, this time.  It’s for the good of the sport.

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