Great game, eh! As Florida Gator alum, I was hoping for a blowout one-way or the other. But tough to be disappointed in the classic contest the Buckeyes and Wolverines staged Saturday afternoon.
Florida Coach Urban Meyer has now stated that if OSU and Michigan are permitted to play again for the national championship then a playoff system should absolutely be implemented next year. Of course, like any other thinking fan I feel like a playoff is long overdue but I fail to see why this situation is any more compelling than every other controversy that has come down the pike.
Myer states that he won’t mind if USC is pitted against OSU instead of Florida. He just doesn’t see the fairness of a rematch between the Big Ten rivals. That is an argument that has some merit. However, I don’t think Fla really deserves a shot over Michigan in the championship game. My Alma Mater never dominated a single game this season against a Division One opponent and we failed to beat Auburn despite every opportunity to do so. And lurking like a childhood molestation is a game we played versus Nebraska a number of years ago. Florida was simply not yet ready for a championship game. It resulted in an embarrassing 40-plus point loss. I’m afraid that would again be the outcome were my Gators to meet OSU. ( I’m actually fearful of a big loss against either Michigan or USC, as well.) Let’s get real. UF just hasn’t done enough to merit selection over either Michigan or USC.
Personally, I’d like to see an OSU vs. USC match up. Let’s see East vs. West. No matter who were to win another Michigan–Ohio State game we have a good idea now that the two teams are incapable of stopping each other so most compelling curiosity factors are gone. However, lets see if USC can’t do a better job on defense than Michigan did while sustaining a solid offensive game plan. Of course, if Notre Dame beats USC –never gonna happen — then I think a Big Ten re-match would be both the most logical and fairest match-up. Because the winner of the Ark vs. Fla match up is not going to be able to hang in there with any of the top three contenders.
Simeon Smith is retired sportscaster living in Atlanta