Instead, the must-see bowl game this holiday season is the appropriately named Fiesta Bowl, which matches Stanford and Oklahoma State on Monday in what shapes up as a high-scoring, three-hour thrill ride.
"If somebody was going to take a poll across the country, there's a lot of excitement about this game compared to any other bowl," Oklahoma State coach Mike Gundy said.
How good is it?
The teams have a combined record of 22-2 and possess two of the country's most explosive offenses and two of the best quarterbacks.
Andrew Luck, Stanford's All-American quarterback, won't even be the most prolific passer on the field. That title belongs to Oklahoma State's Brandon Weeden, who has a higher completion percentage and 1,200 more passing yards than Luck.
Stanford's No. 4 ranking also is second-best; Oklahoma State is No. 3. The Cowboys have been installed as a 3-point favorite.
"This is the best team we've played this year, by far," said Stanford linebacker Chase Thomas, who has faced powerhouses USC and Oregon.
Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck, who finished second to Baylor's Robert Griffin III for this year's Heisman, fears he might have finished 10th had he played Oklahoma State every week.
"They take a knock for giving up yards," Luck said. "But when they need to make a play, they make a play. Forty-two takeaways, that's a statistic quarterbacks pay attention to."
This should an interesting over and undertaking. Luck and Weeden are two of the nation's most prolific passers, playing their last collegiate games.
Luck caps a transcendent career before heading off to become the top pick in this year's NFL draft.
Weeden will also be off to the big leagues after turning a flamed-out baseball career into one of college football's great stories.
Weeden, now 28, toiled for years as a minor league pitcher before arm trouble chased him back to college.
The motion that pained him as hurler did not affect him as a passer.
"My arm has been great," he said. "I haven't had any injury, any soreness, anything with my shoulder. It is amazing. It is funny how two different motions are completely different."
Weeden has thrown 68 touchdown passes the last two seasons; Stanford's Luck has amassed 80 in three.
"I don't think there is any question that these two quarterbacks were certainly the most valuable players on their team," Oklahoma State Coach Mike Gundy said.
The question: Will Oklahoma State's defense be able to jar turnovers out of Stanford's ball-control offense?
The Cardinal has only 13 three-and-out drives all season.
Oklahoma State's defense has 23 interceptions, but how many can you reasonably expect to coax out of the future Peyton Manning?
"They are very patient," Young said of Stanford. "Three yards is plenty for them on one down, because they'll get 10 yards or five yards on the next."
Luck's numbers dropped off late in the season after injuries to wide receiver Chris Owusu and two of his three tight ends.
Owusu (concussion) won't be back for the Fiesta Bowl, but all three tight ends are at full strength.
Coby Fleener, Levine Toilolo and Ertz have combined for 79 catches for 1,281 yards and 19 touchdowns.
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