What I want to do is nip in the bud this idea that Boise State deserves a shot in the title game not because the top handful of teams should get a chance to play each other, but because of this sequence of events, which I've seen spelled out in various places, including the aforementioned USA Today article, which I'll just quote:
"The Broncos beat Oregon State, which beat Southern California, which beat Michigan, which narrowly lost at Ohio State, which is a favorite against Florida." Ergo, I guess, Boise State deserves to play Ohio State. Or Florida, I'm not sure. This argument would have been better if Michigan had beaten Ohio State. Of course, then USC wouldn't have beaten Michigan.
Doesn't matter, though. The real champion, by this way of argument, is Central Washington.
The Wildcats finished tied for fifth with Western Washington and Augustana in the Division II North Central Conference. They were 3-5 in the league, 6-5 overall. They missed the Division II playoffs, and football is so important on campus that the
official Web site hasn't been updated since before the last game of the season.
In case you're wondering, Central Washington lost that Nov. 11 finale to Nebraska-Omaha, 48-14.
But Central Washington did beat Eastern Washington, which beat Montana State, which beat Colorado. And Colorado beat Iowa State, which beat Missouri, which beat Mississippi, which beat Vanderbilt. And Vanderbilt beat Georgia, which beat Auburn. And Auburn beat Florida, which gets to play Ohio State for the championship.
Since Ohio State's too chicken to play Central Washington, we should declare the Wildcats your 2006 national champions.
OK, I'm kidding.
Really, the champion is Grand Valley State.
You see, Nebraska-Omaha did make the Division II playoffs after its season-ending win over Central Washington. The Mavericks got a bye in the first round but lost a humdinger in the second to North Dakota, 38-35. North Dakota in turn lost in the next round to Grand Valley State, which then beat Delta State in the semifinals and Northwest Missouri State in the title game for the Division II championship.
See? A tournament would work. Division II's tournament crowned a champion that, using the Boise State argument, beat Florida. Go Lakers!