Barring an extreme turn of events, Oklahoma and Florida, both 12-1, will finish Nos. 1 and 2 in the final B.C.S. rankings and play for the national title.

Sooners and Gators End the Debate on the Field

Congressional Democrats were drafting legislation for government control of the auto industry, including the possible creation of an oversight board.

Detroit Bailout Is Set to Bring on More U.S. Oversight

Brian Westbrook scored two touchdowns for the Eagles who ended the Giants’ seven-game winning streak, but New York still earned a playoff spot.

Giants Discover a New Distraction: Losing

The Museum of Contemporary Art in Los Angeles needs to raise roughly $25 million and embrace a new strategy to stabilize itself. And it can do it.

Here’s How to Rescue a Museum at the Brink

The possible sale of a painting by Titian has stirred up unexpected passion in Britain.

Britons Rally to Keep Prized Work by Titian

“Mrs. Astor Regrets” is a book-length sojourn inside the miseries and indignities of the Astor family.

Tales of High Society Getting Downright Nasty

The stars of “Go in Grace” — a new dance piece created for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater — are its musicians, the six female singers of the a cappella group Sweet Honey in the Rock.

A Simple Story With a Complicated Greek Chorus

The Kremlin is exploiting the economic crisis to establish more control over industries that it has long coveted.

In Hard Times, Russia Tries to Reclaim Industries

Wherever you turn these days, the flood of bad news serves to persuade that you’ll soon be unemployed.

Stoking Fear Everywhere You Look

After missing four games with a groin injury, Nate Robinson felt a twinge during Friday’s game against the Hawks, and sat out for the second half.

Robinson’s Return to Knicks Cut Short

A new restaurant in Aspen, anniversary packages in Stowe and the Sundance Film Festival in Park City.

Datebook: Colorado, Vermont and Utah

The Modern Love column last Sunday incorrectly described a piece of granite, which the author said she planned to carve. It is an igneous rock, not sedimentary.

Correction: Deeply, Truly (but Not Physically) in Love

After winning two consecutive penalty-kick shootouts to advance to the N.C.A.A. Division III national semifinals, Stevens Tech of Hoboken, N.J., found itself on the opposite end — losing by 3-0 in the tie breaker to Messiah College of Grantham, Pa., in the championship game.

Stevens Tech Falls in Final

The Orpheus Chamber Orchestra devoted the second half of its program to works by the iconoclastic Charles Ives and a younger composer whom Ives had encouraged, Elliott Carter.

Chamber Group Expresses Elliott Carter’s Sprightly Side

Reviews of performances by Misnomer Dance, Streb and LeeSaar the Company.

Dance in Review

Patrick McDonnell, creator of the comic strip “Mutts,” devised six strips supporting shelter adoptions after President-elect Barack Obama spoke about getting his daughters a pet from an animal shelter.

Support for First Dog

The New York City Gay Men’s Chorus will present its annual holiday concert at Carnegie Hall on Tuesday at 8 p.m.

Footnote

On Monday night visitors to the Museum of Modern Art may find people jumping for joy in front of works of art.

Jumping for Art

The Italian film “Gomorrah” won best film at the European Film Awards.

Awards for ‘Gomorrah’ and Heath Ledger

Origin Theater Company and Stiff Upper Lip will team up to present the American premiere of “Leaves of Glass,” by Philip Ridley.

In the Wings

Sony Masterworks Broadway will release the first complete recording of the musical “Allegro.”

New Life for Old Show

Last week’s Top 5 movies at the box office all remained on top.

Staying on Top at the Box Office

A Las Vegas judge has dismissed drug and battery charges against Marion Knight, known as Suge, the hip-hop mogul and founder of Death Row Records.

Judge Drops Charges Against Suge Knight

Devin Harris trudged onto the court carrying a bit of a head cold and some chills. Four quarters later, he left with 27 points and thrills in his wake.

Harris (Who Else?) Lifts the Nets to a Victory

A reader is looking for suggestions on what to see and do in the small town of Brandon.

A Big-Family Christmas in Rural Vermont

Herbert Loeb Hutner was an American private investment banker, attorney and philanthropist.

December 7, 2008

Headlines from December 7, 2008

Sooners and Gators End the Debate on the Field

Detroit Bailout Is Set to Bring on More U.S. Oversight

Giants Discover a New Distraction: Losing

Here’s How to Rescue a Museum at the Brink

Britons Rally to Keep Prized Work by Titian

Billboard 200

I Am...Sasha Fierce

Dark Horse

David Cook

Fearless

The Promise

Notable Deaths

Historical Context for December 7, 2008