THE CURIOUS INDEX, 11/22/2013

SORRY, TEXAS. You knew he was unlikely to leave a program he'd built from nothing. You were careful to take every positive rumor with several grains of salt. You told yourself there were plenty of other younger qualified candidates - missing out on one of the greats wasn't going to be the end of the world. But it still stung like hell when you learned the dream was dead: Terry Bowden is staying at Akron.

DECEMBER 6, 2003. If you are a Sooners fan, do not read this recounting of Ell Roberson and Darren Sproles taking down an Oklahoma team nobody thought they could beat. If you are an Oklahoma State fan, read it, laugh, and then remember you lost to West Virginia.

A CHRISTMAS WITHOUT CHOCOLATE. Louis Nix is out for the year after having surgery on his torn meniscus, thrusting Tommy Rees into the starting job at quarterb-really? All season? Wow. At least Notre Dame is getting Everett Golson back for bowl practices.

LET'S GET WEIRD. If the Orange Bowl really does end up getting back-to-back selections, here's what you do: Baylor plays Baylor. We'll hit 200 total points before halftime.

ETC. Just your typical Louisiana legal battle over animal taxonomy. WEEKEND PLANS AHOY.