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© St. Petersburg Times, published December 1, 2001
No matter the outcome of today's games, somebody is bound to be upset. Only two teams can play for the national championship, and at least one will have a loss. Yet there could be six one-loss teams. Who gets to go to the Rose Bowl?
If Florida defeats Tennessee today and wins the SEC title game, it is all but assured a spot in the national championship game against Miami, provided the Hurricanes win at Virginia Tech. The number-crunching that makes up the Bowl Championships Series standings says so.
No doubt, having computers and strength of schedule factored into the equation is far better than just human voting. How else do you differentiate between teams that don't play?
Still, some people will have a right to be upset. Why does a one-loss Texas or a one-loss Oregon or a one-loss Illinois come up short against the Gators? Florida lost to Auburn, which could suffer its fourth defeat of the season today. Texas' only crime was a defeat to defending national champion Oklahoma. Oregon's only defeat was to Stanford. Even Illinois' loss came to Michigan, which is no worse than losing to Auburn.
Playoff opponents like to argue the regular season is a playoff.
"Every week of the college football season is important," Arizona coach John Mackovic said. "There is a playoff tension and excitement every Saturday."
Well, not really. Early season losses can be overcome, while late season defeats are devastating. Ask Nebraska. And reputation can carry a team a long way. Ask Florida State, which twice has been a one-loss team in the championship game.
Timing and poll standing go a long way. When Florida lost to Auburn in October, it had time to recover. UF has climbed to No. 2 in both polls, which is a huge boost in the BCS standings.
This is not to pick on the Gators, because by all accounts they are deserving of their ranking. But no doubt, Texas or Oregon would love to have a crack at UF in a playoff. We can only dream.
LATE PUSH: Indiana has sent out mailers reminding Heisman Trophy voters that the trophy is supposed to be awarded to the "outstanding football player in the United States."
Antwaan Randle El, the only player in Division I history to pass for 6,000 yards and rush for 3,000, has had an excellent career on a bad team. He likely will get Heisman votes but has no chance of winning. He didn't make the list of semifinalists for the Davey O'Brien Award, given to the nation's top quarterback.
It didn't help when coach Cam Cameron experimented by moving Randle El to receiver. The move was disappointing and Randle El had been forgotten by the time he was moved back after two games.
RIVAL WORTHY: It annoys Colorado folks to no end that Nebraska refuses to consider the Buffaloes a rival, as it does Oklahoma. Perhaps domination of the series has something to do with it. Nebraska had won nine straight before last week's upset.
"If they can get beat by almost 30 points and say that they don't have a rival in us, then I think they are kidding themselves," CU senior safety Robbie Robinson said. "Each year they come here or we go there, they're going to have to remember this score and make it a game."
SINGING WITH PRIDE: Before the season, Ohio State players rolled their eyes when new coach Jim Tressel said the team would sing the school's fight song after each victory. After a 26-20 victory over rival Michigan, Tressel had plenty of willing participants. "Everyone was screaming it at the top of their lungs," Ohio State safety Donnie Nickey said. "It felt real good. Real good."
-- Information from other news organizations was used in this report.