SEARS GETS A SHOT AT NO. 1; NOTRE DAME TO REMAIN ON NBC?

          Sears, Roebuck & Co. and ABC Sports announced a multi-
     year agreement which will ensure the presentation of the
     Sears National Championship Football Trophy to the winner of
     the match-up between college football's No. 1 and No. 2
     ranked teams.  The winner of the Bowl Championship Series
     (BCS) game also will be acknowledged as the No. 1 ranked
     team in the final USA Today/ESPN Top 25 Coaches Poll.  Under
     terms of the deal, Sears will also become the official
     retailers of the BCS.  ABC/ESPN will televise 18 of 21 bowl
     games played annually in each of the next four years, with
     ABC broadcasting each national championship game (Sears).
          NOTRE DAME HANGS TEN? While there is talk of Notre Dame
     joining the Big Ten, its TV deal with NBC runs through 2005,
     while the Big Ten's TV deal with ABC runs through 2007.  In
     Ft. Worth, Wendell Barnhouse reports, however, that an
     arrangement "could be reached that would allow Notre Dame
     and NBC to keep [their] deal in place, with ABC televising
     Notre Dame's road games" (STAR-TELEGRAM, 8/7).