Menu
Wesley Cheng Home
  • Home
    • Environment
    • Literature
    • Movie Review
    • Philosophy
    • Politics
    • Racism
    • Sports
    • Technology
    • Television
    • Theater
  • About Me
  • Resume
  • Contact
Wesley Cheng Home

Michigan deserves rematch

Posted on November 20, 2006 by Wesley

Correct me if I’m wrong, but the National Championship should feature the two best teams in college football playing against each other.

And after yesterday afternoon’s 43-39 Ohio State victory, everyone should’ve come to the same conclusion — Ohio State and Michigan are the two best teams in the nation.

In 103 years since “The Game” as been played, there has not been a more hyped game that has lived up to expectations. More than 900 yards of offense and a spirited second half rally from Michigan showed you that they belong in the title game because they are the second best team in the country.

Michigan showed incredible poise and heart, rallying from a two-touchdown deficit, on top of kicking to Ohio State to start the second half. A final charge down the field, a gutsy two-point conversion, and the Buckeyes were rattled enough before a failed onside kick effectively ended the game.

This Buckeye team is the real deal. Quarterback Troy Smith secured his Heisman yesterday with a 316-yard day and tailback Antonio Pittman rumbled for 139 yards against a Michigan front line which could have as many as three-first round draft picks, and had given up just 29 yards per game coming into Saturday.

All this, and Michigan was arguably one non-call away from stealing one at Ohio State. With seven minutes to go and Ohio State facing a third and long, Smith fired incomplete from the Michigan 38, seemingly setting up a punt, and giving the Wolverines hope that they could drive down to the field to erase a 35-31 deficit.

But Smith was given a reprieve when Michigan linebacker Shawn Crable was called for a personal foul. It extended the drive, and Smith connected on a touchdown with 5:38 left, and put the Buckeyes up 42-31.

It’s purely academic to think what would’ve happened next, but you’d have to think that Michigan would’ve scored considering how quickly they moved down the field on their ensuing possession. Either way, this was championship-caliber football. If this was the national championship, it would’ve gone down as one of the most memorable in history.

So, why not make this the national championship? Why not pit these two teams against each other in January?

Who cares if the Big 10 doesn’t have a conference championship game? The SEC and ACC have a championship game. The Big 10 doesn’t. In the end, that doesn’t factor into the computers. The NCAA doesn’t have anything to do with who appears in the national championship. They just collect the check at the end.

Of course, it’s not fair to Ohio State to have to face a team it’s already beat once, but that’s the way the BCS standings work. Even with the loss, the AP poll and the BCS still have Michigan and No. 2, slightly edging USC. Most likely, a USC win this upcoming weekend would put the Trojans at No. 2 and bump Michigan out of the picture, but is USC really the second best team?

USC and Michigan are both one-loss teams. But while Michigan’s loss was a near upset of No. 1 Ohio State at the Horseshoe, Southern California’s loss came at the hands of — gasp — Oregon State.

And, as for the team the Trojans will play next weekend – Notre Dame – there should be no doubt that the Irish have no business thinking about playing in Glendale, Ariz for the title.

After all, Notre Dame? The same Fighting Irish team that got whooped by Michigan 47-21? Or perhaps you didn’t see Brady Quinn struggle against the mighty, tough and impenetrable defenses of powerhouses Michigan State and UCLA.

And Florida? Whose idea was it to schedule the Gators to play West Carolina while Michigan and OSU were slugging it out? The Gators already have a loss to two-loss Auburn (one of those losses at the hands of Georgia). The SEC could legitimately send the Arkansas Razorbacks to the title game, but Arkansas lost to Southern California opening weekend.

In the end, college football’s championship is decided by the computers, because that’s the system that’s been agreed upon. Right now, even after a loss, Michigan is still No. 2. Michigan is the second-best team in the nation, and the No. 2 ranked team plays in the national championship at the conclusion of the season, whether the two teams played each other earlier in the year, or not.

  • Football
  • Michigan
  • Ohio State
  • Leave a Reply Cancel reply

    Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

    • December 2022
    • October 2022
    • September 2022
    • August 2022
    • February 2022
    • November 2021
    • July 2021
    • May 2021
    • November 2020
    • September 2020
    • December 2019
    • September 2019
    • August 2019
    • April 2019
    • November 2015
    • July 2015
    • September 2014
    • March 2014
    • February 2014
    • January 2014
    • December 2013
    • October 2013
    • May 2013
    • July 2012
    • June 2012
    • May 2012
    • April 2012
    • February 2012
    • December 2011
    • November 2011
    • October 2011
    • September 2011
    • February 2011
    • August 2010
    • May 2010
    • March 2010
    • January 2010
    • December 2009
    • November 2009
    • October 2009
    • March 2009
    • January 2009
    • November 2008
    • October 2008
    • August 2008
    • July 2008
    • June 2008
    • April 2008
    • February 2008
    • December 2007
    • November 2007
    • October 2007
    • August 2007
    • July 2007
    • June 2007
    • May 2007
    • April 2007
    • March 2007
    • December 2006
    • November 2006
    • September 2006
    • July 2006
    • June 2006
    • May 2005
    • April 2005
    • March 2005
    • February 2005
    • January 2005
    • December 2004
    • September 2004
    • August 2004
    • May 2004
    • April 2004
    • December 2003
    • November 2003
    • October 2003
    • September 2003
    • August 2003
    • April 2003
    • March 2003
    • February 2003
    • January 2003
    • December 2002
    • November 2002
    • October 2002
    • September 2002
    • July 2002
    • May 2002
    • April 2002
    ©2023 Wesley Cheng Home | Powered by WordPress & Superb Themes