If Kansas University’s football team indeed ends up playing in the Fort Worth Bowl as expected Dec. 23, the opponent likely will be Tulsa or Houston.

Today’s championship games have huge implications on where KU ends up and whom KU plays.

Step one? The Big 12 Conference championship game pitting Texas and Colorado. The Longhorns are a four-touchdown favorite, and if oddsmakers are even close to accurate, Texas will stay undefeated and play in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 4.

That will eliminate Colorado from any chance at a BCS berth. But if Colorado wins — and stranger things have happened — it’s possible (though not certain) both the Buffaloes and Longhorns could secure a BCS bid. In that scenario, KU would play the Champs Sports Bowl on Dec. 27 in Orlando, Fla.

It’s widely believed, though, that the Longhorns will take care of the reeling Buffaloes, meaning it’s likely KU is bound for Fort Worth. An official announcement tentatively is scheduled to be made Sunday.

As for KU’s potential opponent, today’s Conference USA title game is key. If Central Florida beats Tulsa, Tulsa probably is bound for the Fort Worth Bowl. If Tulsa beats UCF, the Golden Hurricanes are heading to the Liberty Bowl, and Houston is the likely candidate to go to Fort Worth.

As of Friday, Vegas lists Central Florida as a one-point favorite, meaning the game essentially is a toss-up.

Texas-El Paso was thought to be in the Fort Worth mix as well, but rumors swirling around the bowl circuit indicate UTEP is more likely to play in the GMAC Bowl.

The Conference USA title game at 11 a.m. today will be televised on ESPN (Sunflower Broadband Channel 33). The Big 12 game will start at noon on ABC (9, 49).