Only one answer - still - to BCS mess

Michigan's only loss by three points to Ohio (IN OHIO) got to think the team's fortunes would have been reversed in Michigan. A neutral field would be a true test.
PS A good argument could be made for the Big 10 being the STRONGest conference

Yet another case for the implementation of a playoff system. I cannot think of a single reason to declare Florida any better than Michigan (and vice versa).

Florida lost to two-loss Auburn. 'Nuff said.

Those BCS voters are voting for the "matchup" by putting Florida through. They're not being fair to Michigan who they all had ranked ahead of Florida last week by a significant margin.

Urban Meyer needs to shape up too.

Let's not also forget that, while Florida beat some big teams, they also barely beat some big teams... Tennessee by 1... South Carolina by 1? Basically, it comes down to, whenever Florida plays they don't look impressive (ie. versus Fl State). Michigan's closest game was due to Ball St. comeback after Mich had put there reserves in after a 3 td lead. Basically, Michigan's 1 loss was to the #1 team in the country... by 3. Florida lost to number 11 Auburn by 10... They really don't deserve this.

Please. The big team might as well be the WAC. Send some of those weak defenses down to the SEC. Mee-Chicken would lose to at least 4 SEC teams by double figures. Florida will get robbed and then I will avhe to stiff arm the entire Lil Ten

It seems pretty obvious that Michigan is no worse than the 2nd best team in the country (probably #1 if OSU match-up was played at Michigan). The only reason Florida may get the nod is resistance to the idea of a rematch.

Florida is a good team I will not argue that but to give them a chance at the national title is unfair to Michigan. Michigan is the better team everyone thinks so they just don't want to see michigan beat o.s.u. It would be in the best interest of the bcs to not play michigan and ohio. I hope that division one goes to playoffs like division II

Had Michigan's final game been played on Saturday, the Wolverines would be playing in the National Championship. Because no one has seen Michigan in two weeks, its out-of-sight, out-of-mind with the voters. Lets just say Ohio State is extremely happy they play unimpressive Florida then to face the prospect of playing Michigan again on neutral ground.

Michigan Was Screwed...The Big Ten Got Screwed. Florida doesn't deserve to be in the championship game and when Ohio State kicks the crap out of Florida lets see all the excuses that Florida coach has. When the BCS is this close the only voting should be the computer and not the coaches. ESPN Annalist said it best. The people who get to vote should not look at it as a rematch but as to look as it as WHO ARE THE 2 BEST TEAMS!!! Ohio State is #1 but Michigan by far is better then Florida. It just comes down to the FCC cry babies ....cry if they don't get their way. As much as I do not like Ohio State cause I am a Wolverine Fan I will be rooting for Ohio cause I hate what Florida's President and Coach said and did to screw Michigan and the Big Ten out of a National Title. Bottom Line when it came to voting is $. This ploy will haunt Florida and you can take that to the bank !! Or Vegas

I don't think any 1-loss team has the right to whine about not playing for the championship. When you lose a game, you lose that right. Florida should be feeling lucky and Michigan should be getting ready for a good USC team.

Twig--Bad comparison with the Mich loss to Oh State. Granted, they lost by just 3 points, but Oh State wiped the field with them statistically. Big 10 is a shallow conference--Florida played a tougher schedule and won their conference, inarguably the toughest aggregate schedule in the NCAA. Thus they "earned" the right to play Oh State.

I don't know where you people come up with the idea that the SEC is the toughest conference. That's like saying Notre Dame is a team worthy of a bowl game. The Big-12 is a much more rivalry driven conference, where schools with crap teams will play like champions just to beat their rival. And it's not like the Big-10, which has OhioSU vs. MU, supposedly the "biggest rivalry in football." There is OU vs. OklahomaSU, OU vs. TU, KSU vs. KU, TU vs. TA&M. I think Ohio Sate vs. Florida will be a great game, and I think they are the best two teams out there this year, but I'm sick of people trying to say the SEC is such a tough conference after years of it declining from it's former glory.

Face it people....Michigan had their chance with OSU and they blew it....big time!!!!! Michigan played rinky dink teams with the exception of ND. They had a cupcake schedule. On the other hand, Florida had a much tougher schedule and in the end would up winning their conference. As the winner of their conference, they are entitled to be in the championship game. Michigan did not win their conference, ergo, no championship game. Until there is a playoff system set up in college football we have to live with this system. So Michigan fans, quit your whining and move on.

USC will be Destroyed by Michigan basically @ home in the Rose Bowl. The buckeyes will have the second string in by the 3rd quarter in a BLOWOUT in the National Championship and everyone will lose like always because the BSC is a JOKE.

Roman responds: My money's on USC.

While I am no fan of FL, I cannot believe the UM fans complaints. Mich. lost to OSU late in the year. The way college football works is a loss late in the year counts for more than an early loss. It may not be right, but that's the way it is. But b/c it's UM, history should be thrown out the window? FL may not be better (we wont know till Jan. 8), but Mich. does not deserve a second shot, especially considering the Big Ten this year, which was abysmal.

The BCS is a waste of time but this time I think they picked the best teams to play in the title game. You cannot say that Florida is not more deserving...they play in the SEC, the BEST CONFERENCE in college football from top to bottom the Big Ten teams do not get beat up on a weekly basis like those teams. There is not an off week in the SEC just sit down and watch some of those games. They need a playoff so they can stop picking teams they like because if they could they would have put NOTRE DAME in the title game. Speaking of the MOST OVERHYPED TEAM IN HISTORY...how did Notre Dame get to play in a BCS bowl? What a joke.

B/c ND went 10-2 with loses to Mich. and USC. Who should have gone before ND? Ten teams go to a BCS game, ND is 11th in BCS rankings, leaving Auburn out and no one argues Auburn should have gone. You may be right about ND being overhyped, but that's b/c the sports writers ranked them 2 to start the season--they should not rank until after 6 games.

And why is it that we HAVE to know who is truly #1? We argued when it was only the bowls and now we argue because of a flawed BCS. Division I will probably never go to a playoff because of the long established bowl games that serve to help many worthy causes. That point seems to get lost in the accusations that someone is getting rich keeping the bowl systems alive. What this really shows is that once again an amateur sport has gotten way too much attention and we have totally lost sight of the student-athlete in all of this. Just because sports fans MUST know who is #1.

Walt, your thinking is flawed. Why play any games at all if it doesn't matter who the best is? As it is now only one game a year holds the Championship match-up(Fiesta Bowl this year) all early round playoff games can still be called whatever bowl is not entitled to the championship, it really doesn't matter. They are just sponsoring games. I think they would make way more money than they do now because the games mean more when the winner can advance. They just don't want to have to divy up the money anymore. They screw the players who should get paid and the fans who want to see a real championship. The NCAA is a monopoly that needs to be investigated.

There are two key issues here: If USC goes and beats UCLA, Florida never bumps ahead of Michigan. This means that the coaches voted to stage a game they wanted to see rather than pick the best two teams. Secondly, ESPN went to the bookies in Vegas and reported that on a neutral field, Michigan would have been giving FLA six. These are the guys who really know the strength of teams. Michigan is a touchdown better than FLA. FLA and the Urban Cryer better never hope they get on the same field with Michigan. The Maize and Blue will NEVER forget this low-class excuse for a college coach.

I can't understand why all the crying? This goes on every year, The BSC is a scam. While we continue to speculate each year, they continue to line their pockets.Why no play-off? Because although they would easily generate more revenue, it wouldn't line the same pockets anymore(greed). The BSC is the biggest joke and scam of all-times. College football will never be as good as it could be, until a playoff system is established. It's just that simple!

Unfortunately, there is NO system OF ANY KIND that will work year in and year out to determine the national champion. Remember, the BCS came about because the fans complained about no game to determine the national champion. The computers had Florida and Michigan in a dead heat, but the human polls gave Florida the second spot on account of their win against Arkansas. Michigan's only crime, besides being in a slightly weaker conference (after OSU, UM, WISC, and maybe Penn State, it drops dramatically), is not being in a conference that has a playoff game. Ironically, didn't Nebraska get into the BCS championship many years back IN SPITE OF losing their conference championship? So now the fans have complained in both directions. Gee, I can't imagine why the NCAA presidents don't listen to them.

For those of you advocating a playoff this year: if it's 4 teams, who's the fourth? If it's eight teams, which two-loss teams get in and which don't? If it's 16, will anybody care for the first three rounds? The reason why a playoff system won't work either is because people assume it gets rid of the controversy. It won't. You get controversy in the NCAA Basketball tournament, and that goes all the way out to 65. (Let's not even mention all the money given up by the conferences if we scrap the bowl system.)

The BCS system doesn't work perfectly and probably never will. But most years, it shafts the fewest teams of any system we can design.

Here are the main points that I think everyone is missing:

1)The BCS is set up to determine the two best teams. Those two teams are Michigan and Ohio. It has been that way all year, and it still would be that way if Florida didn't play crybaby.

2)A playoff would elievate 95% of all the garbage time for arguing right now. Right now we are talking about who is the better 1-loss team. In past years it's been about who is the better UNDEFEATED team. In a 4 team playoff (USC would be the 4th team, easily Murphy), we are being argumenitive about teams that you can pick with a dartboard.

But back to point #1, the two best teams are not playing in the title game. That's all that matters.

Florida sucks there gonna get killed in the BCS Game..i can bet u my life...Michigan deserves to be in the BCS game because they only lost to the number 1 team...come on man..that game was close

The fact that is continually lost in this whole debate is Michigan's strength of schedule. It ranked 2nd behind Florida's. Your opinion is that Michigan played "cupcakes"; however, the facts do not support your opinion. Common opponents? Michigan beat Vanderbilt by 20 in Ann Arbor, while Florida struggled to a 6 point win at Vandy. According to yahoo.com, the SEC has just three non-conference wins over BCS top-25 teams. Florida has zero. The Big Ten has two. Michigan has one.

Michigan already had one chance. Florida won their conference, Michigan didn't. Why is everyone complaining.

Why are we having this discussion? Oh, wait. I forgot. It's because this is GREAT! I feel so sorry for MLB, NBA, and NFL fans. Think of all the joy they would have if they just got rid of that whole playoff system>>World Series, Super Bowl, and NBA Championship thingy!
But, seriously, the idea of ANY sport determining a champion off the field of play is LUDICROUS. Even in sports that are determined by judging (gymnastics, diving, figure skating, etc.) they still have most everyone get a shot at the crown (not just the top two) and, further, they actually PLAY OUT/COMPETE before judging the winner.

Yes Florida won their conference, but they had just as many conference losses as Michigan did, and it was to a weaker opponent. Michigan is the better team, they should be in the nationaly championship

FLORIDA SUCKS Michigan should definetely play ohio state urban meyer is stupid

Michigan's 3-point loss in Columbus was nothing more than one of MANY considerations in determining who the two best teams are and who deserve to play in a National Championship game. Also worth considering was Florida's 27-17 loss to Auburn which lost two home games by 17 to Arkansas and 22 to Georgia. Let's see, Michigan lost to undefeated OSU; Florida lost to twice-beaten Auburn. What a scam, leaping FL or MI.

Who cares who the most popular teams are (it is afterall just popularity). It is quite impossible to accurately rate who should be playing whom by comparing different conferences because they don't play each other enough to get an accurate read. Personally, I don't think any conference was that strong this year. ACC sucked, SEC everybody had at least 1 really stupid game, BIG 10 only had 2 good teams. And why is a loss earlier in the year more beneficial than later? Would we even be having this conversation if OSU and MICH played in october?
The Jets would never have played the Colts, the polls would have had the Raiders or Chiefs there. The Mets wouldn't have been in the 69 series (sorry to bring that up) (and they beat my Orioles) who were heavy favorites. My point is, the NCAA doesn't want to lose their antiquated bowl system. Fine, use the same bowls as rounds of the playoffs. The bowls start in late December, why not have 3 weeks of playoffs.
Take the top 8 teams, thats 4 games-4 bowls. 4 teams 2 games the 2nd week (Sugar,Orange). THE game Jan. 18th Title game (Rose). Rotate the top bowl each year just as they do now and you even generate more revenue and excitement.!
But that doesn't make sense to dinosaurs. Scientist say several peripheral forms of man didn't evolve as well as Homo Sapiens, and thus died off. I disagree, they aren't extinct, they just run the NCAA.

IF all the cards fall into place... Ohio State, Michigan, and Wisconsin wins combined with LSU (vs. Notre Dame) and Louisville (vs. Wake Forest) losses... we could possibly see 1. Ohio State 2. Michigan 3. Wisconsin in the final BCS rankings and that is something the SEC cannot boast about, plus the Big Ten is also gonna bring home the Heisman trophy this year.

Give Grossman one more chance, and by that I mean to let him start against the Rams. Let's see if he Can do it. Well isn't that the ? now? If not take him out of the game after the first half or if he's playing negatively by the second quarter. If not that's why our paying fans have also paid for a second string QB Griese. well he has a proven postseason QB with decent stat rates. He should be at least given a chance, How else do we know if he can do it or not if we don't give him that 1 chance. The reason being is look at Rex's last four games and how many missed pass attempts that was lost. T mean if it wasn't for the defense against the vikings he would have never won that game PLAIN & SIMPLE!!! URLACHER

Both had one loss. Florida won their conference, Michigan finished second in their conference. If you are not a conference champion you shouldn't be a national champion. Yeah, the big dance in March gets it WRONG!

We are the boys from old Florida, F-L-O-R-I-D-A!

We're going to the BCS Championship Game and Michigan isn't. Deal with it.

Michigan was screwed by not getting another shot at Ohio State. True Florida won the SEC but Michigan was ranked #2, handly beat Vanderbelt while Florida struggled against Vandy, a common opponent. Florida lucked out when playing South Carolina after S. Carolina missed a field goal that would of gave UF its second lost. The only reason Michigan is not in the title game is because most voters didn't want a rematch, which shouldn't be the reason. Michigan went into Ohio St. and lost a close game to the #1 team in the nation and deserve another shot! The whole BCS system sucks. Now have a playoff of the top 8 team and we wouldn't be having this blog.

the bottom line is money, and corporate america has taking over college football. its to bad at the college level you have some bs system to determine the national champion. whats wrong with having a 4 team playoff and settle it fair and square. as far as the bears are concerned, bench Rex Grossman and let Griese have a couple games to see what he can do. who knows after sitting him he might turn around and get hot like the first 4 games of the season and lead them right to the Super Bowl.

I agree with lisa.

Urban Meyer cried his way into the title game. There needs to be a playoff. Take the top 12 teams. Give the top four teams a bye. Team 5 vs. 12, #6 vs. 11 and so on down the line for the first week. Then #1 plays the winner of teams #8 and 9.

Using this system will produce a real champion on the field.

In one month we will not see the true teams of Florida and Ohio State. We will see two good teams that have not played in a month. With a playoff, teams will not have a one month layoff. They will play with momentum through the Christmas break to determine a real national champ.

As my moniker suggests, I am a Gator fan, and having established that fact, I'd like to say how very entertaining is is to read the comments on this blog. One central thread of truth runs through them all: How in the hell can a bunch of old farts decide who should play for a national championship? Anyone that can't see the merit of a national playoff system, and more to the point see how one could be setup without loss of revenue and game viewing time certainly shouldn't be deciding who will play for the national championship. As a former player at UF, my true love is for the game, and even if the Gators were not going to the Big Show, you'd find me in front of the tube watching UF and whomever and then watching OSU and whomever, just like I was last week for the UF-UA SEC title game. Should the Gators be in the Big Show? or the Wolverines. What would be a really be fun to watch would be a little "warm-up" between UF & UM, say about New Years Day, and whichever prevailed would play OSU the following week. Remember, rules are made by people, and they can be altered to suit changing circumstances with a stroke of a pen. Hopefully the "big machers" at the NCAA will read some of the comments in this blog and take away a message. Meanwhile, I'm just glad the Good Lord is letting me watch a whole bunch of great football over the next few weeks. Its gonna be an "orgy" of football and I hope each of you enjoy it as much as I will!

if you have a playoff system
you water down the importance of the regular season.
only in college football does the regular season mean ANYTHING!!!
an 89 win st.louie cardinals team just won the world series
they are not the best team in baseball
maybe not even the 8th best team
in college football....the champion is usually the best team!!!
is there something wrong with that????

i want the regular season to mean SOMETHING
and i want my champion to be the BEST TEAM
not the team that gets "hot" at the right time
that's why COLLEGE FOOTBALL is the only sport i care about
thank goodness...the men that run this sport understand the importance of tradition

Roman responds: So what happens if there is one unbeaten and several one-loss teams? Then it's not necessarily THE BEST TEAM that gets the title shot. It's the team that's perceived as THE BEST TEAM. And that's stupid.