It's Official: Florida vs Ohio State

[Jim Johnson]

Florida vaults to No. 2 in BCS, will play Ohio State for national title

USC likely to face Michigan in the Rose Bowl.

By Chris Dufresne, Times Staff Writer

There isn't going to be a rematch.

No. 1 Ohio State will play No. 2 Florida, not Michigan, for the Bowl Championship Series national title on Jan. 8 in Glendale, Ariz.

According to a BCS source, Florida moved ahead of Michigan today in the final BCS standings.

An official announcement will come this evening in a televised unveiling on Fox.

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The news means that USC will play Michigan, not Louisiana State, in the Rose Bowl on Jan. 1.

LSU had pre-sold more than 42,000 tickets in advance of making its first-ever Rose Bowl appearance, but UCLA's upset win over previously No. 2 USC on Saturday, coupled with Florida's win over Arkansas in the Southeastern Conference championship game, changed the final pairings.

The BCS bowl lineup is now expected to be:

Rose: USC vs. Michigan.

Sugar: Notre Dame vs. LSU.

Orange: Louisville vs. Wake Forest.

Fiesta: Oklahoma vs. Boise State.

Florida's jump over No. 3 Michigan, which was idle Saturday and has not played since a three-point loss to No. 1 Ohio State on Nov. 18, likely will cause more uproar in BCS circles.

This will mark the fifth time in the nine-year history of the BCS that there has been controversy involving the title-game participants.

In the end, enough voters in the Harris Interactive and USA Today coaches' polls moved Florida to No. 2, ahead of Michigan, on their final ballots.

Ohio State Coach Jim Tressel released a statement today saying he did not vote in the final coaches' poll to avoid the perception of a conflict of interest.

"After consultation with my director of athletics, Gene Smith, and based on our unique position in the BCS standings, I believe it is only fair that we not participate (in) the final poll," Tressel said in a statement.

Michigan and Florida each finished the regular season with one loss, on the road. Michigan was 11-1 with its defeat at Ohio State, while 12-1 Florida lost at Auburn.

Florida picked up 66 points on Michigan in the coaches' poll and finished with a 26-point advantage.

http://www.latimes.com/sports/college/football/la-sp-bcs4dec04,0,6645854.story?coll=la-home-headlines

[aly20xx]

go OSU

[South_Florida_Flip]

There shouldn't be any controversy about this. Florida earned the right to go based on winning their conference, while Michigan didn't. Michigan also did not play as difficult a schedule.

[Kyle]

I'm looking forward to the Louisville/Wake Forest matchup.

[Matt]

yea not having a conference title but playing for the national title is  [smiley=thumbdown.gif]

[USF_Grouper]

There shouldn't be any controversy about this. Florida earned the right to go based on winning their conference, while Michigan didn't. Michigan also did not play as difficult a schedule.

I think there is plenty of controversy.  Florida may have played a tougher schedule, but only slightly.  Haven't seen the SOS rankings since Florida played Arkansas, but the regular season SOS was very close.  

Florida made it because their coach spent more time crying about how tough a schedule they played than Michigan's coach.  I really hope this doesn't become the norm.  From watching both teams play all year it seemed clear to me who the better team was between Florida and Michigan.  I really respect Michigan's coach for just sitting back and letting the voters make a decision, even if it may have cost him a national title spot.

I think the real loosers in this are sports fans.  What should be the greatest game of the year, will now be a lopsided blow out by Ohio State.  Short of major injury or distraction, I would be suprised if Florida is within two TDs of OSU.  

[sdgukhsdgl]

any news on the other SEC bowls yet? I can't find anything yet and it is killing me...

[South_Florida_Flip]

As much as Meyer and Machen cried, they did earn the right to play Ohio State. Michigan already had their shot against Ohio State and lost. Why should they be given another chance? Ohio State would have to beat them twice to be National Champions and Michigan would onlt have to beat them once. Very unfair toward Ohio State.

Michigan's big wins were against Wisconsin, ND and Penn State

Florida's big wins were against LSU, Arkansas, Tennessee

I'd take Florida's wins over Michigan's.

[Eric_Soncrant]

There shouldn't be any controversy about this. Florida earned the right to go based on winning their conference, while Michigan didn't. Michigan also did not play as difficult a schedule.

Based on that argument, what about Louisville.  They won their conference as well.  It's about putting the two best teams in the national championship game, not the two best conference champions.  I think you can argue for both Florida and Michigan and you can argue against both as well.

As I said in another thread, I hope both OSU and Florida lose.

[fishinBULL]

hopefully Lousiville will blow out wake forrest and further prove that the Big East > ACC