The Associated Press

PARK RIDGE, Ill. - Michigan running back Chris Perry was named the Big Ten offensive player of the year Tuesday, and Ohio State defensive end Will Smith took defensive honors.

Michigan State coach John L. Smith was named conference coach of the year by the media for doubling the Spartans' wins in his first season.

Perry rushed for a career-high 1,589 yards and 17 touchdowns this year, leading the Big Ten with 132.4 yards rushing per game.

Michigan teammates John Navarre, Braylon Edwards, David Baas and Tony Pape joined Perry as first-team All-Big Ten selections by both the coaches and the media.

Others named to both first teams for offense: Minnesota running back Marion Barber III; Wisconsin receiver Lee Evans; Minnesota center Greg Eslinger; Ohio State guard Alex Stepanovich; Iowa tackle Robert Gallery, who was named the Big Ten's offensive lineman of the year; and Iowa kicker Nate Kaeding.

Will Smith had 10 1/2 sacks this season, two shy of his total for his first three seasons combined. He also had 20 tackles for loss.

Smith also is a finalist for the Ted Hendricks Award, given annually to the nation's top defensive end.

Buckeyes teammates A.J. Hawk (linebacker) and B.J. Sander (punter) joined Smith as first-team All-Big Ten selections. Sander is a Roger Bacon High graduate.

BOWL BIDS:

• Clemson beat out North Carolina State for the Atlantic Coast Conference's spot in the Peach Bowl, sending the Wolfpack to the Tangerine Bowl instead.

Clemson (8-4) won its last three games, including a 26-10 upset of Florida State, to get the nod over N.C. State (7-5) despite losing the head-to-head matchup. Clemson won't learn its opponent for nearly two weeks. The Peach Bowl has the fourth selection among Southeastern Conference schools but will have to wait until after the league's Dec. 6 title game to pick.

• Memphis appears to be the Conference USA team that will be selected for this season's New Orleans Bowl, but organizers will not know until next week when the league makes its postseason assignments.

Memphis will be available for the Dec. 16 game against Sun Belt champion North Texas if Southern Mississippi wraps up the C-USA title Saturday at East Carolina.

• Maryland has accepted an invitation to play in the Gator Bowl for the first time since 1975.

TEXAS: Quarterback Chance Mock, who lost his starting job to freshman Vince Young, will consider transferring next season to seek more playing time, his father said Tuesday.

Going to another school could help Mock, a junior, get to the NFL, Mike Mock said.

"He's considering options," Mike Mock said. "He has to. It's logical."