To this I say: Ohio State is no different than the TCU, Boise State and Utah teams of the past. Teams with weak schedules trying to worm their way into the big game. And why?

Because they can only play who’s on their schedule.

How many times did we hear that over the years with all of those BCS busters of the past?

What makes Ohio State think its schedule is any better than TCU in 2010? Or Boise State 2009? Or Utah in 2008?

All three of those teams were unbeaten. All three failed to make it to the BCS National Championship Game.

TCU and Boise State lost out to two unbeaten teams in the big game; Utah lost out to two one-loss teams. And the Utes, more than anyone, had the biggest gripe of all.

“There’s no doubt in my mind,” says Utah coach Kyle Whittingham, “that we could have played with anyone that year.”

In 2008, Utah began the season with a win at Michigan, then had victories over BCS Oregon State, and No. 12 TCU and No. 14 BYU. The Utes’ schedule was ranked tied for 32nd by the NCAA.

Meanwhile, we give you Ohio State’s current schedule: wins over No. 23 Wisconsin and No. 16 Northwestern and a whole lot of nothing else. According to BCS computer guru Jeff Sagarin — the NCAA doesn’t release strength of schedule until after the season – Ohio State’s schedule is ranked 61st in the nation.

Want to complain about BCS injustice? Utah had not one but two one-loss teams — Florida and Oklahoma — ahead of it when the final BCS rankings were released.

Here’s what has to be remembered in this entire process: this isn’t about one team “jumping” another; it’s about finding the two best teams. The last poll has nothing to do with the incredible practice of “slotting” used by a majority of voters (Team A was here this week, they won, they stay).

The last poll is taking the entire body of work over the season — with whatever individual metrics are used by every voter, and the eye test — and ranking the two best teams in the nation at that very moment. Period.

That’s what the BCS was invented to do: find the two best teams to play in the BCS National Championship Game.

Not the two teams that survived an inane “slotting” process.

Who cares where you were ranked when the season began? That has nothing to do with the final poll. Five of 10 teams currently ranked in the AP top 11 — Auburn, Missouri, Baylor, Michigan State, Arizona State — began the season unranked.

Auburn’s resume (victories over four ranked teams) puts Ohio State’s to shame. Heck, Missouri’s resume (victories over four ranked teams) does, too — and one of those teams will have victories over five ranked teams by Saturday night.

If you’re a poll voter and you’re going to let a 14-point loss to LSU or a three-point loss at home to South Carolina overshadow an entire resume — and instead choose Boise State or TCU or Utah — then by all means, do it.

Vote for Ohio State to play in the BCS National Championship Game.

Because, after all, they can only play who’s on their schedule.


2. It’s all about the quarterback


Florida coach Will Muschamp’s record with an (mostly) injury-free season (2012) at the most important position in the game: 11-2.

Will Muschamp’s record with injury-riddled seasons (2011, 2013) at the most important position in the game: 11-14.

Simple math.


3. Hop on the train


In one crazy, unthinkable ending of a game, we went from a clear leader for the Heisman Trophy to what in the world happens next?

So while yet another potential winner fell away (AJ McCarron), and another potential leader is in limbo (Jameis Winston), we give you the one player who should have been near the top all along.

Ladies and gentlemen, let me introduce Mr. 2,000-2,000, Northern Illinois quarterback Jordan Lynch.

Forget about the level of play; focus on the results on the field: Lynch is 245 rushing yards away from 2,000 yards for the season – and becoming the first player in major college history to pass for 2,000 yards and rush for 2,000 yards in the same season.

Think about that concept, and then remember this: Lynch is one win from leading the Huskies to their second straight BCS bowl – something only TCU accomplished (2009-2010).

Lynch has 42 touchdowns (20 rushing) and is averaging 7.3 yards every time he takes a snap to throw or run: 4,212 total yards, 577 touches (329 pass attempts, 248 carries). 

In a Heisman race of uncertainty, maybe it’s time to look at Lynch as a real alternative.


4. Perfect hire, or a Trojan Horse?


Let’s assess where we are at USC, in the wake of athletic director Pat Haden taking less than three days after the end of the non-championship regular season  to hire Steve Sarkisian  — who would have been there all along – to replace Lane Kiffin.

— Sarkisian will not recruit better than Kiffin. Very few coaches can.

— Sarkisian was 24-21 (.533 winning percentage) in Pac-12 play in five seasons at Washington. Kiffin was 17-13 (.566) in Pac-12 play in three seasons and one month at USC.

— Sarkisian was 1-3 at Washington vs. Notre Dame and UCLA, USC’s biggest rivals. Kiffin was 3-3. Sarkisian was also 4-6 vs. Washington’s rivals (Washington State, Oregon).

I’m just not seeing it. Especially considering Haden had eight weeks to perform due diligence.


5. The Weekly Five


Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany gave a “public reprimand” to Ohio State guard Marcus Hall for his two-finger salute (and helmet-throwing, bench-kicking tantrum) to Michigan fans after being ejected from last week’s game. Five other punishments that would have been more severe:

1. 50-yard line seats to next year’s Purdue-Illinois game.

2. A tattoo of the commissioner himself. Free, of course.

3. Sensitivity training from Ohio State legend Robert Montgomery Knight.

4. An E. Gordon Gee makeover.

5. Lost privileges — for one whole week — in the Circle of Trust .


6. Rules of engagement


We’re not even a week into the silly season, and we’ve already seen a curious hire (hello, Sark) right out of the box. A Do and Don’t checklist, if you will, for administrators searching for the next guy who can change everything:

— Do have an idea of who will take your job, not just a random thought about going after employed coaches. Flirting with coaches who are comfortable does two things: gets them raises, and diminishes your brand (see: Mike Gundy, Tennessee). It also leads to the overwhelming feeling that you’re not going to get what you need – which leads to a panic hire.

— Don’t assume money doesn’t matter. In the end, money means everything — especially if it includes money for assistant coaches, and for promised facility improvements. The latest money factor: buyouts. If you’re not willing to buy out the contract of the coach you want, forget about landing him.

— Do make sure the guy you’re hiring is better than the guy you’re firing. If you’re Texas right now, and you’ve watched USC — a top three program — choosing between Sarkisian or Ed Orgeron, you better think twice about what’s out there. And who really wants your job.

— Don’t think the NFL won’t come calling to take a run at your coach. This means you, Notre Dame, UCLA, Baylor and Texas A&M. It’s just a contract — and it can be broken. 


7. China syndrome


I don’t want to alarm anyone, but if Michigan State beats Ohio State and Duke beats Florida State (hey, ask West Virginia about Championship Saturday crazy), You Know Who is back in the big game with a chance to win three in a row.

The entire state of Alabama will never be the same. 


8. The Playoff answer


So next year is this year and your College Football Playoff is around. Let me float this potential scenario:

Top four going into final weekend: FSU, Ohio State, Auburn, Alabama. That means Alabama, sitting at No. 4 and not playing on championship weekend, is a lock for the playoff.

Now let’s say Missouri beats Auburn in the SEC Championship Game, and Missouri gets into the playoff and Auburn is out. This, of course, means Auburn is penalized for playing an extra game.

And the best game in the history of the Iron Bowl means absolutely bupkus.

Yeah, this is a fabulous system.


9. Apples to Oranges


There’s a certain narrative circulating in the final weeks of the BCS poll that goes something like this:

If we’re questioning Ohio State’s resume, why not question Florida State’s.

OK, let’s question.

The ACC has four teams with at least nine wins. The Seminoles have beaten two of them (Clemson, 51-14; Miami, 41-14), and will play the third (Duke) in the ACC Championship Game.

The Big Ten has three with nine wins, and the Buckeyes have beaten one (Wisconsin, 31-24) and will play the other (Michigan State) in the Big Ten Championship Game.

The ACC has five teams with eight wins, and FSU will have played four. The Big Ten has six teams with eight wins, and Ohio State will have played three.

Any other questions?


10. The Big Dead


I’ve seen it all. Call out your boss, keep your job.

Congratulations, Nebraska. Your apathy has hit an all-time low: $3 million a year for four losses a year.

Sounds about right.