I was driving north on I-95 Saturday morning and fast-moving SUV passed me in the left lane. The guy in the passenger seat gave me a shocked and wicked look, as if I’d committed a terrible traffic faux pas. But no. I had done nothing of the kind.

I noted his vehicle’s license plate said Michigan. At first, it didn’t register, but after a few more seconds it did. I have a “Go Big Red” license plate frame on my vehicle.

Omaha Wold Herald: In Nebraska’s push for $50 million to fund its new football complex, Athletic Director Steve Pederson continually has said every dollar counts.

That was put into perspective Tuesday when billionaire Boone Pickens slipped $165 million into the pockets of the Oklahoma State athletic department.

Asked how Nebraska could contend with such gifts, Pederson said the university would just keep needing to find other ways.

“I don’t think we’ve ever thought anything was easy at Nebraska,” Pederson said. “We’ve always been a program that’s tried to work hard and work smart to get things done, and I think that’s why we’ve had success. We haven’t had too many things fall into our lap.”

The donation from Pickens, an OSU alumnus and Texas oil tycoon, is the largest single gift ever given to an NCAA athletic program. Pickens has provided significant donations before, and said Tuesday that his latest gift “won’t be the last.”

Capital One: After months of fierce competition, University of Nebraska’s Herbie the Husker proved he’s top of the heap, having raked in the most votes to earn the coveted title of Capital One Mascot of the Year. Herbie edged out the ever-stylin’ Sam the Minuteman from UMass in the championship round. The highly anticipated announcement was made on air during halftime of the nationally televised Capital One Bowl. Herbie bested 11 deeply talented (and oddly-proportioned) All-American mascots to bring glory (and $10,000) to the University of Nebraska.

“This was our largest voter turnout yet. 17-million fans have spoken, and named Herbie as king,” said Pam Girardo at Capital One. “This contest was designed to recognize to the unsung heroes of college football, so we’re thrilled to see so many fans get behind their mascots.”

Last summer, 12 eye-catching characters were named to the Fourth Annual Capital One All-America Mascot Team, and have since been embroiled in an intense competition to be named Capital One Mascot of the Year. Since September 1st, fans have come out in force casting their vote for best beast at www.capitalonebowl.com or via text messaging.

Prior winners are Univ. of Montana’s grizzly bear, Monte (2002 and 2004), and Univ. of South Carolina’s gamecock, Cocky (2003).

USA Today Coaches Top 25
1. Texas (62) 13-0
2. USC 12-1
3. Penn State 11-1
4. Ohio State 10-2
5. LSU 11-2
6. West Virginia 11-1
7. Virginia Tech 11-2
8. Alabama 10-2
9. TCU 11-1
10. Georgia 10-3
11. Notre Dame 9-3
12. Oregon 10-2
13. UCLA 10-2
14. Auburn 9-3
15. Wisconsin 10-3
16. Florida 9-3
17. Boston College 9-3
18. Miami 9-3
19. Texas Tech 9-3
20. Louisville 9-3
21. Clemson 8-4
22. Oklahoma 8-4
23. Florida State 8-5
24. Nebraska 8-4
25. California 8-4

OTHERS RECEIVING VOTES
Tulsa 52, Nevada 35, Michigan 32, Toledo 18, Navy 17, Iowa 15, Boise State 7, South Carolina 7, Georgia Tech 5, Arizona State 2, Northwestern 2, Rutgers 2, N.C. State 1, Utah 1, Virginia 1.

DROPPED FROM RANKINGS
Michigan 21, Georgia Tech 24, Iowa 25.

According to a report on AlamoBowl.com, The Nebraka v. Michigan game last week was the #1 most-watched college football broadcast in ESPN history.

The 2005 MasterCard Alamo Bowl earned a 5.41 rating making it the most-watched college football game in ESPN history.

The rating translates into 4,875,554 households and 7.8 million viewers when considering ESPN’s household base and a 1.6 viewers-per-viewing household factor.

Since 1995, the Alamo Bowl has produced seven of the Top 20 most-watched bowl games in ESPN history.

“The record viewership is attributed to the fan following of these two storied football programs and the competitiveness of the game which is sure to be an instant classic,” said Derrick Fox, President/CEO of the MasterCard Alamo Bowl