This left the Sugar Bowl with #14 BCS Florida State, the winner of the Atlantic Coast Conference. Notre Dame at 10-2 and #9 in the BCS standings was invited to the 2003 Gator Bowl. Kansas State at #8 also was left out. "The Heisman Memorial Trophy Award is given to the   Most Outstanding Player of the year" Winner: Carson Palmer (Sr.), QB, USC (1,328 points)