FAYETTEVILLE — Arkansas has played football against 121 different schools, but never Notre Dame.

That could change this year.

Actually, it could change on Jan. 3, 2007.

That’s when the Sugar Bowl will be played, and an Arkansas-Notre Dame matchup in New Orleans is being projected by ESPN. com, SI. com and Fox Sports. com

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Arkansas is becoming a popular pick to win the SEC championship and play in the Sugar Bowl with the Razorbacks improving to 9-1 after pounding Tennessee 31-14 last week.

If the Razorbacks win at Mississippi State on Saturday, they’ll clinch the West title and play Florida in the SEC Championship Game on Dec. 2 in Atlanta.

The SEC champion will play in the Sugar Bowl unless it qualifies for the Bowl Championship Series title game — played on Jan. 8 in Glendale, Ariz. — by finishing No. 1 or 2.

“The SEC champion is our anchor team, and if it’s Arkansas, we’ll be glad to have them,” Sugar Bowl spokesman Greg Blackwell said. “Arkansas would bring a lot of tradition and a lot of fans, I’m sure.”

Arkansas, No. 7 in the BCS standings this week, retains an outside shot to play in the title game, but the Razorbacks’ more likely destinations include the Sugar, Capital One, Cotton or Orange Bowls.

CBSsportsline. com picks Arkansas to play Wisconsin in the Capital One Bowl on Jan. 1 in Orlando, Fla., while MSNBC forecasts an Arkansas-Oklahoma Cotton Bowl on Jan. 1 in Dallas.

It’s also possible Arkansas could be a BCS at-large team and play in the Orange Bowl against the ACC champion on Jan. 2 in Miami.

“There are still so many possible scenarios,” Orange Bowl CEO Eric Poms said. “But Arkansas is having a tremendous season, and they’re definitely on our board.”

Arkansas has strong ties to the Cotton Bowl with 12 postseason appearances in Dallas, going back the 1934 Dixie Classic, the Cotton Bowl’s forerunner.

Razorbacks Coach Houston Nutt enjoyed one of his greatest victories when Arkansas beat Texas 27-6 in the 2000 Cotton Bowl. Arkansas Athletic Director Frank Broyles is a member of the Cotton Bowl Hall of Fame and coached the Razorbacks to a 2-2 record in the Cotton Bowl, including a 10-7 victory over Nebraska on Jan. 1, 1965 that clinched a share of Arkansas ’ only national championship.

But the Razorbacks won’t be spending New Year’s Day in Dallas if they play in a BCS bowl.

“Arkansas is family for the Cotton Bowl and we have great interest in the Razorbacks, but we also are aware they can end up with one of those special years and be the SEC champions,” Cotton Bowl President Rick Baker said. “We certainly understand that and wish only the best for them.

“ We’re just really happy for Houston Nutt and Coach Broyles and all of the Razorbacks.”

If Arkansas beats Mississippi State and LSU on Nov. 24 in the regular-season finale, but loses to Florida and isn’t a BCS at-large team, the Razorbacks could play in the Capital One Bowl.

The Capital One Bowl gets first pick of an SEC team not playing in a BCS bowl.

Wisconsin is “pretty much a lock,” to fill the game’s Big Ten slot, Capital One Bowl spokesman Matt Repchak said, because both Ohio State and Michigan figure to play in BCS bowls.

The Badgers beat Auburn in Orlando last year, so that likely eliminates the Tigers from consideration this season because the Capital One Bowl doesn’t want the same matchup.

That moves Arkansas high onto the Capital One’s list along with LSU. Florida also is a possibility to play in Orlando if it loses in the SEC Championship Game, though the Capital One Bowl would prefer to invite a team that would bring out-ofstate fans likely to spend several days in the area.

Scouts from the Sugar, Orange, Cotton and Capital One Bowls came to Fayetteville last Saturday for the Arkansas-Tennessee game.

“We appreciate the bowl scouts being here,” Arkansas Coach Houston Nutt said. “It’s a good feeling. It means you’re winning.

“ But nobody on our team is talking about bowls or the BCS right now. We’re focused on Mississippi State.”

In addition to Arkansas, the Cotton Bowl’s top options appear to be Auburn and LSU.

“We’re watching Arkansas very closely,” Baker said. “When all the games have been played and all the dust has settled, we’re hoping the Razorbacks end up where they deserve to be playing.” MAJOR BOWLS SCHEDULE OUTBACK BOWL Jan. 1 at Tampa, Fla. Big Ten No. 3 vs. SEC No. 3, 10 a. m. (ESPN ) COTTON BOWL Jan. 1 at Dallas SEC vs Big 12, 10: 30 a. m. (Fox ) CAPITAL ONE BOWL Jan 1 at Orlando, Fla. Big Ten vs. SEC, noon (ABC ) GATOR BOWL Jan. 1 at Jacksonville, Fla. ACC No. 2 vs. Big East No. 2 or Notre Dame, noon (CBS )

ROSE BOWL Jan. 1 at Pasadena, Calif. BCS (Pac-10 champion ) vs. BCS (Big Ten champion ), 4 p. m. (ABC ) FIESTA BOWL Jan. 1 at Glendale, Ariz. BCS vs. BCS (Big 12 ), 7 p. m. (Fox ) ORANGE BOWL Jan. 2 at Miami BCS vs. BCS, 7 p. m. (Fox )

SUGAR BOWL Jan. 3 at Atlanta BCS vs. BCS, 7 p. m. (Fox ) BCS NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP Jan. 8 at Glendale, Ariz., BCS 1 vs. BCS 2, 8 p. m. (Fox )