Air Force Hopes to Keep Two Trends Alive Today in Bluebonnet Bowl Against Texas

The Air Force Academy, ranked No. 11, will try to win its fourth straight college football bowl game today when the Falcons play Texas in the Bluebonnet Bowl at Houston.

In other New Year’s Eve games, Army plays Illinois in the Peach Bowl at Atlanta, and Michigan State plays Georgia Tech in the All-American Bowl at Birmingham, Ala.

The Longhorns (8-3) will be making their ninth consecutive bowl appearance with Coach Fred Akers. The Longhorns, however, have lost six of them, most recently to Iowa, 55-17, last year in the Freedom Bowl.

Senior quarterback Bart Weiss, who this season became the third player in NCAA history to rush and pass for more than 1,000 yards in each category, leads the Air Force (11-1), which is scoring 37.2 points a game--third-best in the nation.

Texas is coming off a 42-10 loss to Southwest Conference champion Texas A&M; in its regular-season finale.

Sophomore quarterback Bret Stafford leads the Longhorns, having completed 56% of his passes this season. Charles Hunter tops Texas in rushing with 717 yards in 154 carries.

In the Peach Bowl, Army (8-3) is ranked No. 2 in the nation in rushing, and is averaging 333 yards a game from a wishbone attack. Either Rob Healy, injured in the 17-7 loss to Navy, or Tory Crawford will quarterback against Illinois (6-4-1).

Tech will take an 8-2-1 record against Michigan State (7-4).