Iowa's two foes for Fiesta Bowl berth: Penn State and Nebraska

All right, Oklahoma State effectively removed itself for Fiesta Bowl contention Saturday. Oklahoma State Coach Mike Gundy's team, which has beaten no team that is currently ranked, scored zero points at Oklahoma and allowed 27.

Gundy declared his manhood a couple years ago, but he still isn't ready for a BCS bowl. Next!

The question is what the Fiesta Bowl wants to do now that it's off the hook to bring a Big 12 team to Phoenix. It technically wasn't on the hook, but it would have antagonized the conference had it left a 10-2 Big 12 team behind to take a 10-2 Big Ten squad.

However, the Fiesta will still get a Big 12 squad if Nebraska upsets Texas in the Big 12 title game, sending the Cornhuskers to Arizona and creating a BCS title game between the Alabama-Florida winner and TCU.

If the Longhorns win, they go to the BCS title game, the Sugar Bowl picks the Alabama-Florida loser, and the Fiesta Bowl is on the clock.

Hmmm, who to take, who to take? Iowa or Penn State? I'm not saying Boise State because the Broncos would still be available when the Fiesta gets its second pick. No way the Orange Bowl takes Boise State to play the ACC champs in its game.

The picking order on Dec. 6, by the way, is Sugar-Fiesta-Orange-Fiesta-Sugar. The Orange would have a spot already filled with the ACC champion, so it will only need one slot filled.

OK, here's my total theory: The Sugar takes the SEC title-game loser. The Fiesta takes Iowa or Penn State. The Orange takes unbeaten TCU since no Big Ten team will be available, the Big East champ (Cincinnati or Pittsburgh) offers no glamour, and Boise State won't rival TCU for national cache since the Horned Frogs are ranked fourth.

With its second pick, the Fiesta takes Boise State. The Sugar is then stuck with Pitt or Cincinnati.

If I'm right about this scenario -- and my chances are at least 6 percent -- the drama for the next week is if the Fiesta favors Iowa's band of fans or Penn State's television audience and marquee personality in Joe Paterno. Nothing that happened when the Hawkeyes won at Penn State matters. It would be all about what the Fiesta Bowl thinks is best for the Fiesta Bowl.

By the way, if you wonder if the Fiesta would go for a TCU-Boise State battle of the unbeatens, I deem it highly unlikely. The BCS' evil cabal will never let two teams from non-BCS leagues meet in a BCS showcase. They're still crying to themselves that the Broncos and Horned Frogs have both managed to set themselves up to each get a slice of the BCS' huge cash cow.

If the BCS were as wise as it is diabolical, however, it would consider a Boise-TCU matchup. Then it could say the winner is illegitimate though 13-0 because it didn't beat one of the big boys in a bowl.

I think the Fiesta will give Iowa the nod over Penn State. Is it wishful thinking so I don't have to cover the Hawkeyes against an SEC team with at least three losses in the Capital One Bowl? Yeah.

It may also be flawed thinking. Iowa-Boise State, ladies and germs, isn't the matchup of which great television ratings are made. Penn State-Boise State sounds like a clash of cultures, old football money and upstarts from somewhere way yonder.

Iowa-Boise State just sounds like a clash of potatoes to many. Corn and potatoes for those who really know their geography and agriculture.

But you can't tell me Iowa wouldn't bring at least 5,000 more fans than Penn State to Phoenix, and maybe twice that.

I'll tell you what. An Iowa-Boise State clash would be a lot of fun to consider for four weeks. The Hawkeyes' fine defense and the Broncos' fine offense ... something would have to give.