The Game really was THE GAME

It's amazing, isn't it, how few games that are so hyped up actually live up to the hype and deliver a game with high energy, good drama, and an amazing outcome. Three times in the past 16 months we've seen college football games deliver. Texas @ Ohio State, Texas vs. USC in the Rose Bowl, and now, Michigan at Ohio State. For everything leading up to the game, the rivalry, the history, Bo's death, the rankings ... the game still met expectations and delivered.

Of course, it delivered more than just a great game. It delivered proof that these really are the two best teams in the country. There is no doubt in my mind that Ohio State is number 1 and Michigan is number 2. I simply hope that, for political reasons, voters in the Coaches and Harris polls don't vote them that way.

And I say that for a simple reason:

There shouldn't be a rematch.

Otherwise, all the hype, all the tears, all the emotion for yesterday's game ... was for nothing. The two teams should have just played their backups if the real game was going to be played 50 days later. The winners should walk out with their prize, the losers should leave heading to a different Bowl Game, and Mike Hart should just shut up.

That leaves four basic contenders for the spot against Ohio State. USC, Florida, Notre Dame, and Arkansas. I rank them in the following way:

1. USC. If they win out, they deserve to go to the Title game, no argument about it. In doing so, they will have beaten two teams on the list of contenders above (Notre Dame and Arkansas), and will have their only loss coming on an incomplete pass on a two-point conversion attempt.

2. Arkansas. If they win out, and USC loses a single game left, they're the next-best choice. They'll have gone through the SEC unbeaten, which is a huge accomplishment, regardless of if you believe the SEC is overrated or not.

3. Notre Dame. If they win out, and Arkansas loses to either LSU or Florida, they're in, at least in my book. The pressure to win at Notre Dame is amazing, and to win with that kind of pressure is what championship games are all about.

4. Florida. They don't have a signature win. They didn't get through conference play undefeated. They're the lowest on the totem poll. They're only hope, in my opinion. to play for the title, is to win out, have USC beat Notre Dame, and then have UCLA beat USC. Very unlikely.

If, somehow, all four of those teams lose along the way (which is possible: LSU over Arkansas, USC over ND, UCLA over USC, Arkansas over Florida), give me anything but a rematch. Give me Boise State, give me Wisconsin, ... anyone but Michigan. They already lost their Title Game.

Saturday's biggest loser

Lost in the Michigan-Ohio State game was the biggest loser Saturday: West Virginia. Had WVU gotten the chance to play an undefeated Rutgers, then a win would have given them the Big East Title, and a trip to a BCS bowl. Now, that chance has been taken away from them. If they beat Rutgers, that will be Rutgers' second Big East loss, leaving the first place tie to be only Louisville and WVU, which would be decided strictly on head-to-head. And there's about 0% chance they'd get an at-large bid, not with three locked up with Boise, ND, and Michigan, and only one more to give out.