Rose Bowl

Michigan (9-2) vs. Texas (10-1)

Where: Rose Bowl, Pasadena, Calif.

When: 1:30 p.m. TV: ABC.

Key stat: Michigan is 27th nationally in rushing defense (126.5 ypg). Texas is second in rushing offense (302.4 ypg).

About Michigan: The Wolverines have a nice trio on offense, headed by senior WR Braylon Edwards (87 catches, 1,221 yards, 12 TDs), who will find some room against the Longhorns’ secondary. The other keys guys are true freshmen: TB Michael Hart and QB Chad Henne. Defensively, Michigan has been relatively stout and has to keep Texas under 200 rushing yards to win this.

About Texas: TB Cedric Benson has had a monster season, ranking fourth in the nation at 160.4 ypg; he has been held under 141 yards once (by Oklahoma) and had at least 161 yards seven times. QB Vince Young is a great runner, a bad passer. If Benson is shut down (as he was by OU), Texas won’t win. The defense is solid and led by LB Derrick Johnson. The pass defense was shaky the last half of the season; partly because it has been extremely difficult to run on the Longhorns.

The buzz: This is the first meeting between these perennial powers.