By Mike Lopresti

Living in Indiana - a state so reliable in its voting that it is usually projected 14 seconds after the polls close - we have free time to study other states' issues.

By 7:30 p.m. Tuesday, our re-elected senator already had made his victory speech. And it didn't take long to know that among our winners for state representative was the guy who's an Elvis impersonator.

So here's a quiz on political events of the day elsewhere that crossed over into sports. Just to make sure everyone is up to date.

1. Tom Osborne was returned to Congress from Nebraska with 88 percent of the vote. What this means is:

A. Good news if the Republicans in the House need a coach for their touch-football team.

B. 88? That's even more than Nebraska gave up to Texas Tech.

C. Imagine what his numbers would be if he were running to return to the Cornhuskers sideline.

2. Among the most anxiously watched numbers from Ohio Tuesday night were:

A. The size of George Bush's vote in Cincinnati.

B. The size of John Kerry's vote in Cleveland.

C. The attendance at the Miami-Toledo game. Miami was hoping for a big crowd to push it above the NCAA-mandated 15,000 home average for Division I-A. Ben Roethlisberger's alma mater needs some customers. The announced crowd was only 13,940, but maybe not all the provisional tickets have been counted.

3. Scott Paterno lost his congressional bid in an eastern Pennsylvania district. We can conclude from that:

A. It's a state that tends to lean Democratic.

B. Too many voters had seen highlights of that 6-4 Penn State loss to Iowa.

C. He needed more offense. Just like his dad, Joe.

4. Former Vikings defensive lineman Alan Page was re-elected to the Minnesota Supreme Court. This should not be surprising, because:

A. He's a respected judge.

B. Minnesota citizens fondly remember members of the Vikings' fabled defense, because they haven't seen much lately.

C. It wasn't the Super Bowl.

5. Former major-league pitcher Jim Bunning barely held off a challenge for his Senate seat in Kentucky. His numbers faded in recent weeks, because:

A. He made more errors than the Red Sox in the World Series.

B. His opponent was an aggressive campaigner.

C. Phillies pitchers always have trouble holding the lead.

6. Former track star and Olympic silver medalist Jim Ryun successfully ran for re-election to Congress from Kansas. We should have expected this, because:

A. Incumbents nearly always win.

B. If there's one thing a guy who once had the world record in the mile ought to know how to do, it's run.

C. No Kenyans were in the race.

7. The voters of Arlington, Texas, agreed to a tax increase to pay for a new football stadium to attract the Cowboys from Irving in 2008. Arlington taxpayers' main concern is:

A. Maybe by then, the Cowboys will have a quarterback.

B. To help the economy and give local residents something to do in October. Because, with the Rangers, they never have to worry about being busy during the World Series.

C. That the Cowboys bring their cheerleaders with them.

8. Election returns aren't entirely complete from Ohio. State residents still want to know:

A. How many provisional ballots will be counted.

B. President Bush's final margin of victory.

C. Who Ohio State's going to start this week at quarterback.

Mike Lopresti writes for Gannett News Service.