ORLANDO, Florida (Ticker) -- North Carolina State came within a play or two of upsetting Ohio State and Florida State in the regular season, losing to both in overtime.
Now, in what may seem like a consolation prize, the Wolfpack have to settle for a meeting with Kansas in the Tangerine Bowl following an up-and-down regular season.
Coach Chuck Amato needs to keep his players focused because when the season began, North Carolina State (7-5) had visions of winning its first Atlantic Coast Conference title since 1979 and securing a spot in a BCS bowl.
In September, the Wolfpack came within inches of upsetting Ohio State in Columbus as tailback T.A McLendon was stopped inches short of the goal line on fourth down, preserving the Buckeyes' 44-38 triple-overtime victory. In November, Florida State outlasted North Carolina State, 50-44, in double overtime.
However, the Wolfpack also suffered disappointing losses to Wake Forest, Georgia and Maryland and finished just 4-4 in the Atlantic Coast Conference.
Kansas (6-6) is thrilled to be playing in any bowl game. Trying to revive a struggling program, second-year coach Mark Mangino led Kansas to its best record since 1995, the last time the Jayhawks played in a bowl game.
Quarterback Bill Whittemore is back for Kansas after missing three-plus games with a shoulder injury. Whittemore returned for the regular-season finale and led the Jayhawks to a 36-7 win over Iowa State. In nine games, he completed 62.6 percent of his passes (139-of-222) for 2,142 yards with 16 touchdowns and only four interceptions.
"I'll tell you what, we're really impressed with their quarterback," Amato said. "He's got quick feet, he's fast and he can really throw the ball. If he hadn't been out for four games, he might be the leading rusher on their football team."
North Carolina State's inconsistent season could hardly be blamed on Philip Rivers, who will be making the final appearance of his spectacular career. The ACC Player of the Year, Rivers completed 81 percent of his passes (311-of-438) for 4,016 yards with 29 TDs and just seven interceptions. He set single-season school records for completions, TD passes, completion percentage, 300-yard games (8) and 400-yard games (4).
Rivers' favorite target is Jerricho Cotchery, who grabbed 73 passes for 1,198 yards, averaging 99.8 yards per game. Only St. Rams' all-pro receiver Torry Holt (88 receptions for 1,604 yards in 1998) has caught more passes for more yards in one season in NC State history.
In the only previous meeting between the teams, North Carolina State posted a 31-18 victory in the 1973 Liberty Bowl.
