Anyone who's read my occasional posts and comments knows that I'm obsessed with the notion that UCLA has the top combination of athletics and academics anywhere.  We're still ahead of the tree in total championships, and Duck is still a long way from our 11 hoops titles.

So here's one:  UCLA is the top-rated school in the US News rankings of major universities to win a bowl game.

Furd lost.  Northwestern lost.  Cal (ranked slightly above us despite their more lenient athletic admission policies) lost.  That leaves UCLA at #24 as the top ranked team to win a bowl game.

Here are the rankings.  http://colleges.usnews.rankingsandreviews.com/best-colleges/national-universities-rankings

We were once as high as 13.  Let's hope the current budget crisis doesn't cost us.  The UC flagships remain tops among state universities.  I'd like to see us stay there.  And keep winning bowls.  And championships.