The Associated Press

NEW YORK - Miami University quarterback Ben Roethlisberger and Ohio State punter B.J. Sander, a Roger Bacon High graduate, were named third team All-Americans on Monday.

Two other Buckeyes made the teams: defensive back Will Allen (first team), and defensive lineman Will Smith (second team).

Kentucky wide receiver/kick returner Derek Abney was selected to the second team as an all-purpose player. He also was named team MVP Monday after catching 51 passes for 616 yards and five touchdowns and leading the Southeastern Conference with a 24.1-yard kickoff return average.

But Oklahoma is this year's undisputed No. 1 when it comes to All-Americans.

Heisman Trophy-winning quarterback Jason White was among a record-tying five Sooners on the All-America teams.

Heisman finalist Eli Manning of Mississippi was the second-team pick at quarterback.

The two other Heisman finalists were first-teamers.

Pittsburgh receiver Larry Fitzgerald was picked after catching 87 passes for 1,595 yards and 22 touchdowns, while Michigan's Chris Perry earned his spot for gaining 1,955 yards from scrimmage and scoring 19 touchdowns.

AP All-America Team

FIRST TEAM

OFFENSE

Quarterback - Jason White, Oklahoma, senior.

Running backs - Chris Perry, Michigan, senior; Darren Sproles, Kansas State, junior.

Wide receivers - Larry Fitzgerald, Pittsburgh, sophomore; Mike Williams, Southern California, sophomore.

Tight end - Kellen Winslow, Miami, junior.

Center - Jake Grove, Virginia Tech, senior.

Guards-Tackles - Shawn Andrews, Arkansas, junior; Alex Barron, Florida State, junior; Robert Gallery, Iowa, senior; Jacob Rogers, Southern California, senior.

Kicker - Nate Kaeding, Iowa, senior.

All-Purpose - Antonio Perkins, Oklahoma, jr.

DEFENSE

Linemen - David Ball, UCLA, senior; Tommie Harris, Oklahoma, junior; Chad Lavalais, LSU, senior; Kenechi Udeze, Southern California, junior.

Linebackers - Derrick Johnson, Texas, junior; Teddy Lehman, Oklahoma, senior; Grant Wiley, West Virginia, senior.

Backs - Will Allen, Ohio State, senior; Keiwan Ratliff, Florida, senior; Derrick Strait, Oklahoma, senior; Sean Taylor, Miami, junior.

Punter - Dustin Colquitt, Tennessee, junior.

SECOND TEAM

OFFENSE

Quarterback - Eli Manning, Mississippi

Running backs - Kevin Jones, Virginia Tech; Michael Turner, Northern Illinois.

Wide receivers - Mark Clayton, Oklahoma; Rashaun Woods, Oklahoma State.

Tight end - Ben Troupe, Florida.

Center - Ben Wilkerson, LSU.

Guards-Tackles - David Baas, Michigan; Jamaal Brown, Oklahoma; Tony Pape, Michigan; Stephen Peterman, LSU.

Kicker - Nick Browne, TCU.

All-purpose - Derek Abney, Kentucky.

DEFENSE

Linemen - David Pollack, Georgia; Shaun Phillips, Purdue; Bo Schobel, TCU; Will Smith, Ohio State.

Linebackers - Josh Buhl, Kansas State; Karlos Dansby, Auburn; Jonathan Vilma, Miami.

Backs - Josh Bullocks, Nebraska; Will Poole, Southern California; Bob Sanders, Iowa; Corey Webster, LSU.

Punter - Tom Malone, Southern California.

THIRD TEAM

OFFENSE

Quarterback - Ben Roethlisberger, Miami.

Running backs - Steven Jackson, Oregon State; Quincy Wilson, West Virginia.

Wide receivers - Michael Clayton, LSU; Roy Williams, Texas.

Tight end - Kris Wilson, Pittsburgh.

Center - Greg Eslinger, Minnesota.

Guards-Tackles - Vernon Carey, Miami; Tillman Holloway, Texas; Alex Stepanovich, Ohio State; Claude Terrell, New Mexico.

Kicker - Jonathan Nichols, Mississippi.

All-purpose - Skyler Green, LSU.

DEFENSE

Linemen - Dan Cody, Oklahoma; Shaun Cody, Southern California, Darnell Dockett, Florida State; Dusty Dvoracek, Oklahoma.

Linebackers - Rod Davis, Southern Mississippi; Michael Boulware, Florida State; D.J. Williams, Miami.

Backs - Sean Jones, Georgia; Antrel Rolle, Miami; Stuart Schweigert, Purdue; Nathan Vasher, Texas.

Punter - B.J. Sander, Ohio State.

Today's bowl game

New Orleans Bowl

Matchup: North Texas (9-3) vs. Memphis (8-4).

Time/TV: 7 p.m./ESPN2.

Line: Memphis by four.

Last Meeting: 1980, North Texas 29-10.

Bowl Records: N. Tex. 1-3, Memphis 1-1.

Last Bowl Appearance: North Texas beat Cincinnati 24-19 in the 2002 New Orleans Bowl; Memphis beat San Jose State in the 1971 Pasadena Bowl.

What To Look For: The bowl season begins and ends in the Superdome in New Orleans. A couple of weeks after this game, LSU and Oklahoma play for the BCS national title and possibly The Associated Press title. North Texas has made the past three New Orleans Bowls. The Mean Green have the nation's top rusher in Patrick Cobbs, who averages 157 yards per game. How he matches up against Memphis' staunch run defense (holding opponents to 109 yards per game, 18th in the country) should be the key to the game. Memphis was carried most of the season by RB DeAngelo Williams (1,430 yards, 10 TDs). But the Conference USA Offensive Player of the Year is out with a left knee injury.

Streaks, Stats and Notes: Memphis is in a bowl game for the first time in 32 years. ... North Texas won the Sun Belt Conference for the third season in a row. ... Memphis had its first winning season since 1994. ... North Texas has won eight straight games.