It’s Not Just The Game,
It Could Be The National Championship

By Paul Smith
paul.smith@collegeblitz.com

Bowl officials, usually a congenial sort, are usually somewhat tight-lipped about in-depth type bowl scenario looks.

And then there's one of the more affable members of the fraternity, Reg Shrigley, who is the Capital One Bowl's representative. He was watching the Penn State-Purdue game this past Saturday and afterward, was asked about a possibility most media dismiss as a Megamillions/Powerball-type longshot.

A possible rematch between No. 1 Ohio State and No. 2 Michigan in the desert for all the 2006 season's marbles.

Given the growing gap in Bowl Championship Series standings points between the the Buckeyes and Wolverines and their pursuers, with unbeaten No. 3 West Virginia a full four percentage points behind the Wolverines and No. 4 Florida, a controversial pick at that, about three galaxies away, 17 points behind, for example, a simple what-if scenario seemed obvious.

If the Buckeyes (or Wolverines) win The Game Nov. 18 in a classic, possibly in overtime, how much real damage would it do to their B.C.S. credibility. If the pollsters kept their objectivity and didn't penalize the losing team very much, would it strain the imagination to anticipate a rematch, which would be a first?

"We talked about it at the last (B.C.S.) meeting," Shrigley said. "There would have to be some things happen -- you need to look at all the teams (including Texas, which like Florida, has lost only once -- albeat a home rout by Ohio State), but it is a definite possibility."

It would be a first, of course, but it would probably quiet the many B.C.S. critics -- for a week or two, at least -- as it would clearly indicate the nation's best two teams were locking horns (as opposed to Horns, of course).

The impersonality of a computer-driven system can unveil some cruel, cold realities. But there would likely be a whole lot of very happy T.V. people in the Fox offices in Beverly Hills if that's what happens. The Game, Part Deux would promise to bring boffo ratings.

— Paul Smith