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

LA Times ^ | 12/3/06 | Chris Dufresne, Times Staff Writer

[BurbankKarl]

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 from fourth to second today ahead of No. 3 Michigan in the final BCS standings.

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

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.

[staytrue]

With Ohio State's 55% graduation rate and Florida's 42% graduation rate for their football programs...pathetic

I think the only thing pathetic is your comment.

It appears the regular student graduation rate is 62.5 percent for all schools and 68 percent for OSU which means the football team rate of 55% is pretty good.

from here http://www.osu.edu/news/lvl2_news_story.php?id=1229

COLUMBUS – Ohio State University President Karen A. Holbrook today announced that the university's six-year graduation rate has risen to 68 percent; up from 55 percent just five years ago and 51 percent 10 years ago. The figure is based on the graduation rates of students who entered the university in Fall 1999.

"With the recent National Science Foundation ranking of Ohio State among the nation's Top 10 public research universities, this statistic is dramatic evidence that our strategies to improve performance and recognition in academics and research are working. They both say a lot about the quality of our students, our faculty and this institution," Holbrook said.

The average six-year graduation rate for all comparable public institutions was 62.5 percent

[aft_lizard]

This is not official yet, some teams have accepted bids but some bids are still coming out bowl bid

San Diego County Credit Union Poinsettia Bowl 
San Diego, CA
Qualcomm Stadium
December 19, 2006, ESPN2
Mountain West vs. at-large
Bowl Matchup: TCU vs. Northern Illinois

Las Vegas Bowl 
Las Vegas, NV
Sam Boyd Stadium
December 21, 2006, ESPN
Pac 10 No. 4 vs. Mountain West No. 1
Bowl Matchup: Oregon vs. BYU

New Orleans Bowl 
New Orleans, LA
Louisiana Superdome
December 22, 2006, ESPN
Sun Belt vs. Conference USA
Bowl Matchup: Troy vs. Rice

New Mexico Bowl 
Albuquerque, NM
University Stadium
December 23, 2006, ESPN
Mountain West vs. WAC
Bowl Matchup: New Mexico vs. San Jose State

Papajohns.com Bowl 
Birmingham, AL
Legion Field
December 23, 2006, ESPN2
Conference USA vs. Big East or MAC
Bowl Matchup: East Carolina vs. South Florida

Armed Forces Bowl 
Fort Worth, TX
Amon G. Carter Stadium
December 23, 2006, ESPN
Mountain West vs. Conference USA
Bowl Matchup: Utah vs. Tulsa

Hawaii Bowl 
Honolulu, HI
Aloha Stadium
December 24, 2006, ESPN
Pac 10 vs. WAC
Bowl Matchup: Arizona State vs. Hawaii

Motor City Bowl 
Detroit, MI
Ford Field
December 26, 2006, ESPN
MAC vs. Big Ten No. 7 
Bowl Matchup: Central Michigan vs. Middle Tennessee

Emerald Bowl 
San Francisco, CA
AT&T Park
December 27, 2006, ESPN
ACC No. 7 vs. Pac 10 No. 5
Bowl Matchup: Florida State vs. UCLA    

Independence Bowl 
Shreveport, LA
Independence Stadium
December 27, 2006, ESPN
Big 12 No. 7 vs. SEC No. 8
Bowl Matchup: Oklahoma State vs. Alabama

Holiday Bowl 
San Diego, CA
Qualcomm Stadium
December 28, 2006, ESPN
Pac 10 No. 2 vs. Big 12 No. 3
Bowl Matchup: California vs. Texas A&M

Texas Bowl 
Houston, TX
Reliant Stadium
December 28, 2006, NFL Network
Big 12 vs. Big East
Bowl Matchup: Kansas State vs. Rutgers

Champs Sports Bowl 
Orlando, FL
Florida Citrus Bowl
December 29, 2006, ESPN
Big Ten No. 4 or 5 vs. ACC No. 4
Bowl Matchup: Purdue vs. Maryland

Music City Bowl 
Nashville, TN
The Coliseum
December 29, 2006, ESPN
SEC vs. ACC No. 5
Bowl Matchup: South Carolina vs. Boston College

Sun Bowl 
El Paso, TX
Sun Bowl
December 29, 2006, CBS
Big 12 or Big East vs. Pac 10 No. 3
Bowl Matchup: Texas Tech vs. Oregon State  

Insight Bowl 
Phoenix, AZ
Sun Devil Stadium
December 29, 2006, ESPN
Big Ten No. 6  vs. Big 12 No. 6
Bowl Matchup: Minnesota vs. Missouri

Liberty Bowl 
Memphis, TN
Liberty Bowl 
December 29, 2006, ESPN
Conference USA No. 1 vs. SEC No. 6
Bowl Matchup: Houston vs. Kentucky

Alamo Bowl 
San Antonio, TX
Alamodome
December 30, 2006, ESPN
Big 12 No. 4 vs. Big Ten No. 4 or 5
Bowl Matchup: Texas vs. Iowa

MPC Computers Bowl 
Boise, ID
Bronco Stadium
December 30, 2006, ESPN
WAC vs. ACC No. 8
Bowl Matchup: Nevada vs. Miami

Meineke Car Care Bowl 
Charlotte, NC
Bank of America Stadium
December 30, 2006, ESPN2
ACC No. 6 vs. Big East or Navy
Bowl Matchup: Clemson vs. Navy

Chick-fil-A Bowl 
Atlanta, GA
Georgia Dome
December 30, 2006, ESPN
ACC No. 2 vs. SEC
Bowl Matchup: Virginia Tech vs. Georgia

Gator Bowl 
Jacksonville, FL
Gator Bowl
January 1, 2007, CBS
ACC No. 3 vs. Big 12 or Big East
Bowl Matchup: Georgia Tech vs. West Virginia     

Cotton Bowl 
Dallas, TX
Cotton Bowl 
January 1, 2007, Fox
Big 12 No. 2 vs. SEC
Bowl Matchup: Nebraska vs. Auburn

Outback Bowl 
Tampa, FL
Raymond James Stadium
January 1, 2007, ESPN
Big Ten No. 3 vs. SEC
Bowl Matchup: Penn State vs. Tennessee

Capital One Bowl 
Orlando, FL
Alltel Stadium
January 1, 2007, ABC
SEC No. 2 vs. Big Ten No. 2
Bowl Matchup: Arkansas vs. Wisconsin

International Bowl 
Toronto, Canada
Rogers Centre
January 6, 2007, ESPN
MAC vs. Big East No. 4 or 5
Bowl Matchup: Western Michigan vs. Cincinnati

GMAC Bowl 
Mobile, AL
Ladd Peebles Stadium
January 7, 2007, ESPN
Conference USA No. 2 vs. MAC
Bowl Matchup: Southern Miss vs. Ohio

BCS GAMES

Rose Bowl 
Pasadena, CA
Rose Bowl
January 1, 2007, ABC
BCS vs. BCS (Big 10 vs. Pac 10 if available)
Bowl Matchup: Michigan vs. USC

Fiesta Bowl 
Glendale, AZ
Glendale Stadium
January 1, 2007, Fox
BCS vs. BCS (Big 12 Champion to play here if available)
Bowl Matchup: Oklahoma vs. Boise State

Orange Bowl 
Miami, FL
Dolphins Stadium
January 2, 2007, Fox
BCS vs. BCS (ACC Champion to play here if available)
Bowl Matchup: Wake Forest vs. Louisville

Sugar Bowl 
New Orleans, LA
Louisiana Superdome
January 3, 2007, Fox
BCS vs. BCS (SEC Champion to play here if available)
Bowl Matchup: Notre Dame vs. LSU

BCS Championship Game 
Glendale, AZ
Glendale Stadium
January 8, 2007, Fox
BCS No. 1 vs. BCS No. 2
Bowl Matchup: Ohio State vs. Florida
 

[Accygirl]

Considering that they screwed all the Illini fans out of their tickets to the Sugar Bowl four years ago, I think that it's pretty amusing that LSU got a bit of payback. :)

[staytrue]

Michigan's late hit on the QB kept alive OSU late drive or Michigan would have had a chance to win the game.

I guess you missed the "roughing the center" call that kept UM in the game or the phantom pass intererence call on OSU.

[dfwgator]

I'm happy to see Kentucky making a bowl game.

[Always Right]

Well at least when OSU, Michigan and Wisconsin win handily, that should shut up the SEC folks. Penn State, Purdue and Iowa will probably lose.

[catholicfreeper]

I am still hoping against hope some Deal will be made between the Rose and the Sugar lol even at this late hour.

[catholicfreeper]

I am still hoping against hope some Deal will be made between the Rose and the Sugar lol even at this late hour.

[scrabblehack]

A few years ago, every team that was bowl-eligible went to a bowl. Since then they've added one or two more. What would happen if there weren't enough teams to go around?

Would some teams get more than one bid?

Would a team with a losing record get to go?

Would a I-AA team get to go?

[CFC__VRWC]

I don't think Notre Dame's going to get a bid. They didn't even make it into the Top 10 in the coaches poll, and with their weak overall schedule, they won't get any help from the computers. If Harris ranks them high enough to overcome all that, the shrieks of favoritism will outdo even the screams of anguish from Ann Arbor.

[aft_lizard]

I just dont think Wiscy has it in them to beat Arkansas, the other two are very winnable.

Iowa got the worst deal of the bunch. Actually from a Big 12 perspective Texas got the worst deal, they are technically the league number 2 but are now in the 4th pick bowl.

[aft_lizard]

I think one year a 5-7 North Texas team went because they were a league champion.

[nickcarraway]

Losing late in the season is not a help. Michigan has been treated no differently than teams in the past.

[nickcarraway]

Except Florida State. They get a pass.

[aft_lizard]

Never underestimate the BS err BCS contract with Notre Lame and the media warriors who think they can make a big penny by having Notre Lame in a BCS bowl.

[commish]

YOur argument seems to have merit on the surface, UNTIL you look at the NCAA graduation rate report for Football teams and see that the AVERAGE GSR for Div 1 Football Teams was 66%.

OHIO STATE was #157 out of 229 DIV 1 Programs.

Also the poster was wrong about Florida - FLORIDA graduation rate in Football is 80% (#46)

The 42% was CENTRAL FLORIDA.

NOw for Comparison -- NOTRE DAME GR 95%, NEbraska GR 88%, Penn ST GR 80%.

SO yes, OSU should be ashamed, and you need to rethink your Oh SO Much Better attitude.

BTW my School Sucked -- Georgia 41% (214 out of 229) -- NOW THAT IS EMBARRASSING!

[scrabblehack]

That International Bowl is one of the new games. It brings to mind a Can-Am bowl they had a long time ago. As I recall it was US players vs. Canadian players. I didn't actually watch the game (it was probably on some cable outlet I didn't get). So maybe a Canadian team might go?

I see this scenario as less likely than the ones I listed above.

[big'ol_freeper]

As I said. Pathetic. Your emotional reaction and feigning outrage at my comment is right out of the leftist play book. It is used to hide inconvenient truths. But in reality it simply highlights them.

[Always Right]

Losing late hurt Michigan. But Michigan lost ground the last two weeks and did not even play. Florida has not been all that impressive. I guess it is better to be lucky than good.

[CFC__VRWC]

I thought that a team had to win six games to be eligible for any bowl game.