Today’s Games

VIRGINIA TECH (8-3) vs. ALABAMA (7-4)

at Nashville

2 p.m., ESPN

* AT A GLANCE: Coach Mike DuBose turned the Alabama program around after a dismal 4-7 season a year ago. The Crimson Tide was crushed by Arkansas and handled by Tennessee, but played Florida tough and beat rival Auburn, 31-17. Tailback Shaun Alexander (17 touchdowns, 1,178 yards rushing) is a physical runner with speed. Virginia Tech was 5-0 before a shocking loss to Temple. The Hokies lost on the last play of the game at Syracuse and blew a big lead in the season finale against Virginia. Virginia Tech counts on its strong defense (23 interceptions) and special teams to score. The Hokies gave up only 12.9 points a game--fourth-best in the nation--and rank seventh in total defense. Defensive end Corey Moore, who has 14 sacks, was the Big East defensive player of the year.

NORTH CAROLINA STATE (7-4) vs. MIAMI (8-3)

at Miami

4:30 p.m., TBS

* AT A GLANCE: North Carolina State upset Florida State and Syracuse but struggled against Ohio and lost at Baylor. The prolific passing combination of quarterback Jamie Barnette and All-American wide receiver Torry Holt makes the offense explosive. Holt has 88 catches for 1,604 yards, both ACC single-season records. Miami ended the regular season with a 49-45 upset of UCLA a week after getting blown out by 53 points at Syracuse. The victory over UCLA squashed the Bruins’ national title dreams and was huge for a program trying to regain its old mystique and swagger.

PURDUE (8-4) vs. KANSAS STATE (11-1)

at San Antonio

5:30 p.m., ESPN

* AT A GLANCE: Kansas State seemed headed for the national title game before a devastating double-overtime loss to Texas A&M; in the Big 12 championship game. Can the Wildcats rebound and play with any emotion here? Quarterback Michael Bishop, runner-up for the Heisman Trophy, makes the offense go. Purdue enjoyed another successful season under Coach Joe Tiller and his pass-happy system. The Boilermakers average 33.9 points a game and sophomore quarterback Drew Brees set a host of NCAA, Big Ten and school records. The Big Ten’s offensive player of the year completed 65.1% of his passes for 3,753 yards and 36 touchdowns.