No psychics, please

Though they attend one of the nation's most prestigious public universities, don't ask California's football players to decipher their chances of playing in a Bowl Championship Series game.

"I think you have to go to grad school for that," defensive end Tom Sverchek said. "We're not going to even try. If we get too caught up in looking ahead to January and lose right now, it won't matter."

The seventh-ranked Golden Bears (5-1, 3-1 Pac-10) still have plenty of work to do. But after years of mediocrity and turmoil, it's becoming difficult to avoid thoughts of the school's first New Year's Day bowl since the 1991 season - particularly a chance at Cal's first trip to the Rose Bowl in 45 years.

Starting in Saturday night's meeting with No. 20 Arizona State, Cal finishes its conference schedule with three home games and a trip to lowly Washington. The Bears should be a favorite in all four, as well as their hurricane-postponed trip to Southern Miss.

This one's for you, Zook

When athletic director Jeremy Foley fired Ron Zook, he asked him to coach Florida's remaining four games.

Zook agreed. Now he finds himself in the awkward position of finishing the season knowing his future isn't with the program.

But what will the Gators do? Will they rally around their coach or stumble through the rest of the season?

"We're not going to collapse," kicker Matt Leach said. "They can bend us, but they're not going to break us. We've got more to play for now. We're going to show everyone that we can get it done. That's what we're playing for."

Seeking 241 yards

Timmy Chang can become the most prolific passer in all divisions of college football when Hawaii visits No. 18 Boise State tonight. The fifth-year senior from Honolulu needs 241 yards passing to break the NCAA mark of 15,031 yards set by BYU's Ty Detmer in 1988-91.

Size doesn't matter

Michael Hart is 5-foot-9 and 194 pounds, not the most imposing presence. Just try to tackle him, though.

It would be foolish to underestimate the freshman after what he's done for the 12th-ranked Wolverines.

He's run for 936 yards this season, already a Michigan freshman record, despite barely playing in the first two games and not starting until the fifth.