Welp, there’s a glimmer of hope.

The Holiday Bowl indicated to Olivas it will take USC if it beats Arizona but hasn’t made a decision between Arizona, Oregon State, Cal or Stanford in the event of an Arizona win.

http://www.elpasotimes.com/sports/ci_13931971

With the USC loss and Cal now losing, my feeling on this:

1. Arizona has the head to head vs the Beavers, so they should go, but…

2. Oregon State was playing Oregon for the Rose Bowl, suggesting they’re the 2nd best team in the conference.

3. OSU travels well, has a lot of alumni in California, and would bring in more money via flights, hotels,etc. Arizona fans could make a day trip and not spend the night.

4. Stoops vs Stoops is a plausible matchup in the Sun Bowl, one for which I’d think the selection committee would lobby.

5. The Holiday Bowl representative at the Civil War said he loved the Beavers and they got his vote, but others on the committee dissented. The telecasters during the USC/Arizona game said, “The winner of this game is going to the Holiday Bowl.”  Not sure if that was inside information or just ignorant assumptions.

6. I have no idea where Stanford fits into the picture. They might like the idea of having a Heisman candidate in the game. Quiz has some appeal in that regard, but not as much, and again they bowl would lose on a lot of possible income.

The bowl matchups will be announced tomorrow night. Cross your fingers, but don’t hold your breath.

This story from the Gazettetimes has some legs it appears.

De Carolis confirmed that OSU has had some discussion with Texas Christian about opening the 2010 season with an ESPN game at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, midway between Dallas and Fort Worth. It would replace the Sept. 4 game with Eastern Washington at Reser Stadium.

“ESPN has approached us about trying to do a game like that,” De Carolis said. “But right now we’d have to find somebody to take Eastern Washington,” and give the Eagles a payday game similar to the one they’d give up against the Beavers.

“That’s been the struggle.”

Substituting TCU, the Mountain West Conference champion and probable BCS-bowl entrant, for FCS Eastern Washington would give OSU one of the toughest nonconference schedules in the country. It’s also slated to host Louisville of the Big East on Sept. 18, and visit Western Athletic Conference champion Boise State – another probable 2009 BCS team – on Sept. 25.

If Lyle is granted a 6th year (and this is possible, as a LB in this Pitt game was granted a 6th year under almost identical circumstances) then I’m all for scheduling TCU. But with Katz taking over, a cupcake like EWU is important for early game experience and confidence. Tough call–do you go all in and take on a tough schedule in hopes of earning respect and having a magical season, or do you take the win and increase your bowl chances? With the personnel the Beavers have returning, I’d say the latter makes more sense.