It was a little tough to see at times -- what with all the Tostitos, Geico and Charles Schwab commercials -- but they played a football game Monday night in Glendale, Ariz.
Unheralded underdog Florida pounded top-ranked Ohio State, 41-14, in a game that was not as close as the score indicated.
The Gators, who turned off a lot of fans nationally by lobbying and practically politicking for their berth in the BCS Championship Game, dominated the Buckeyes in every facet of the game. Ohio State gained 82 total yards on offense and was generally overwhelmed on defense.
After giving up a stunning 93-yard touchdown to Ted Ginn, Jr., on the opening kickoff, Florida recovered quickly, took control of the game and cruised through the second half.
At times, it looked like the Gators were playing 13 against 10. It was that bad. Florida took home the trophy, becoming the first school to hold the NCAA Division 1 football and basketball championships at the same time.
Congratulations, Gators.
Mission accomplished.
You dominated a favored opponent and took your rightful place in the record book (though Boise State fans will say the book should contain an asterisk). Your victory proved that Ohio State was not the immovable force that a lot of media members envisioned.
But, the game also showed something else.
College football needs a playoff.
Again, nothing against Florida. It's a lovely campus. The students are fun, the blue and orange colors and Gator mascot look cool and we like Gatorade and not its sister beverage - Hate-orade.
That aside, what the Buckeyes were asked to do on Monday night was beyond ridiculous.
Ohio State, which beat No. 2 team three times during its undefeated regular season, earned their berth in the national championship game by defeating Michigan on Nov. 18.
That's right - Nov. 18.
How much do you remember about that Saturday before Thanksgiving? Seems like a long time ago, doesn't it?
Can anyone explain to us why college football is the only sport on the planet that has athletes work for an entire season (or even a lifetime) to earn a spot in the championship round only to wait for nearly two months?
The Buckeyes had to be rusty. They couldn't have been as bad as they looked Monday, could they?
To borrow a phrase from every coach in pro and college, we'll have to look at the film before we make a judgment about that.
But, the notion that Ohio State waited as long as it did before getting back into the swing of playing under game conditions is simply wrong
How would things have been different if the Buckeyes had played the previous two weeks leading up to Monday? Would Florida have had a chance? What would happen if the Gators had another game left against Boise State?
We'll never know the answers to those questions. All we know now is that on the most important night of the football season, Ohio State turned in its worst performance imaginable. And that Boise State, which capped an electric season with a spine-chilling victory over Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl, has no chance to win the National Champions.
You almost have to feel sorry for them, in a stomach-turning, Tony Romo kind of way. Having a playoff series in college football won't eliminate clunky performances. But, the losers won't have to resort to using a ridiculously long layoff as a potential (and viable) excuse.
Host of “The Drew Olson Show,” which airs 1-3 p.m. weekdays on The Big 902. Sidekick on “The Mike Heller Show,” airing weekdays on The Big 920 and a statewide network including stations in Madison, Appleton and Wausau. Co-author of Bill Schroeder’s “If These Walls Could Talk: Milwaukee Brewers” on Triumph Books. Co-host of “Big 12 Sports Saturday,” which airs Saturdays during football season on WISN-12. Former senior editor at OnMilwaukee.com. Former reporter at the Milwaukee Journal Sentinel.
