Kansas State

Motor City Bowl Toledo (9-2) vs. Cincinnati (7-4) Site: Silverdome, Pontiac, Mich. TV: ESPN, noon Key matchup: Toledo's offense vs. Cincinnati's defense. Cincinnati will have success on offense behind true freshman QB Gino Guidugli, but it won't matter unless the Bearcats' defense plays better than its stats. Cincy gives up 382 yards per game, and will be going against one of the best offenses it has seen this season. QB Tavares Bolden and TB Chester Taylor are the centerpieces of a Rockets offense that rolls up 444.5 yards per game.

Maryland football James Franklin, a former Maryland assistant, is returning to the school as offensive coordinator. Franklin, who was the Terps' wide receivers coach from 2000 to 2004, has spent the past two seasons as the offensive coordinator and quarterbacks coach at Kansas State. "James Franklin is definitely the person who fits what I have been looking for," coach Ralph Friedgen said in a statement. "His knowledge of our program, his experience as a coordinator and his ability to recruit definitely strengthen us as a coaching staff and football program."

Kentucky (6-5) vs. Syracuse (6-5)When: Today, 4 p.m.Where: Adelphia Coliseum, Nashville, Tenn.TV: ESPNLine: Kentucky by 3Outlook: Most people didn't expect to find Kentucky in the postseason after QB Tim Couch left early for the NFL last year. But sophomore Dusty Bonner stepped in and led the team to its second straight bowl game. Kentucky dropped three of its last four, however. The season's highlight was a 31-20 win over Arkansas. Syracuse struggled through a rebuilding year after the departure of star QB Donovan McNabb.

College basketball Kansas State vs. Notre Dame 7 p.m. [ESPN] This game and the one after it are part of the Jimmy V Classic being played at Madison Square Garden. The second part of the television doubleheader features No. 24 Southern California and No. 2 Memphis at 9:30 p.m., also on ESPN. Former Ohio high school superstar teammates Bill Walker and O.J. Mayo play in the doubleheader. Walker, a forward, averages more than 10 points for Kansas State. Mayo, a guard, has been scoring 21 a game for USC. Both were thwarted from going to the NBA when the league changed its rules regarding high school players jumping to the pros.

Kevin Millar vows to be a little more careful about accepting basketball tips from a former national baseball writer. Peter Schmuck, a columnist at The Sun with a deep baseball background, approached Millar in the Orioles' clubhouse earlier this week and guaranteed a Southern California victory over Kansas State in the first round of the NCAA tournament. Millar has a long memory, so he took a short break before yesterday's game to relay the story. "Tell Schmuck to stick to writing. He's no NCAA basketball prognosticator," Millar said, fully aware that 11th-seeded Kansas State upset the sixth-seeded Trojans, 80-67.

Kansas State coach not seeking new jobKansas State football coach Bill Snyder said last night that he will remain at the school and is not a candidate for either the Maryland job or University of Minnesota job, according to a spokesman at Kansas State.Ben Boyle, Kansas State sports information director, said he spoke with Snyder last night after an Associated Press story had said Snyder was a candidate for the Minnesota job."Bill told me that he is not interested in the Minnesota job, the Maryland job or any other job that comes along," Boyle said.

Here were the potential brackets for an eight-team playoff:No. 1 Tennessee vs. No. 8 Texas A&M.No. 4 Kansas State vs. No. 5 Arizona.No. 3 Ohio State vs. No. 6 UCLA.No. 2 Florida State vs. No. 7 Florida.The four major bowls could have served as the quarterfinals, followed by a Final Four and a true national championship game.Which schools would have gotten shafted?No. 9 Wisconsin, which defeated UCLA in the Rose Bowl, 38-31. And No. 10 Tulane, which finished 12-0, but plays in Conference USA against opponents like Army.

The Navy football team is hoping senior reserve slotback Eddie Martin, who was stricken with a sudden illness, will recover and rejoin the Midshipmen by the time they open their season against East Carolina on Sept. 2. Martin, who reported to the academy last week complaining of severe stomach pain, has been diagnosed with cancer. The Capital of Annapolis reported yesterday that Martin, now resting at the National Naval Medical Center, was to begin chemotherapy treatment for lymphoma. "Anytime something like that happens, there's no good way to hear it. You could tell Eddie didn't feel well," Navy coach Paul Johnson said.

Liberty BowlPittsburgh (6-5) vs. No. 22 Southern Miss (8-3)Site: Memphis, Tenn.Time: 3: 30 p.m., todayTV: ESPNLine: Southern Miss by 10Coaches: Walt Harris (6-5);Jeff Bower (42-35-1)Outlook: Southern Mississippi, which went undefeated in Conference USA, is led offensively by junior QB Lee Roberts and senior RB Harold Shaw (1,045 yards rushing, 16 TDs), the league's top rusher. The Golden Eagles' defense, ranked 11th in the nation against the pass and 18th in total defense, has one of the nation's best secondaries, led by third-team All-America CB Patrick Surtain and first-team all-CUSA FS Perry Phenix.

FRIDAY'S GAMES Albany (N.Y.) vs. Duke 13, 9Noon Mississippi vs. Wisconsin TRUTV12:30 Temple vs. North Carolina State TBS1:30 Pacific vs. Miami TNT2 Cincinnati vs. Creighton 13, 92:30 La Salle vs. Kansas State TRUTV3 James Madison vs. Indiana TBS4 Colorado vs. Illinois TNT4:30 Florida Gulf Coast vs. Georgetown TBS6:45 Iona vs. Ohio State...