(Sports) Editor's Note

Playoff coming?

Posted by: Jim Rossow

Tuesday, January 8, 2008 8:58 AM

Thoughts from our college football writer, Bob Asmussen (he'd blog it himself but he's holed up in his basement trying to rest up from the Rose Bowl)

– Illinois didn't move into the Top 10 like it would have with a win against Southern Cal, but it did finish in the final Top 20 for first time since after the 2001 season. No. 18 and ahead of Michigan in the coaches' poll has to thrill the fans, who were hoping for a bowl game going into 2007. Ron Zook's guys far exceeded expectations. And unlike that season, Illinois returns its starting quarterback. Our earlier guess of No. 15 going into the season feels just about right. Maybe a notch or two higher, actually.

– Good thing for Les Miles he didn't take the Michigan job. Instead, he is on top of the world with a program that doesn't look to slip very much in the near future. After spotting Ohio State a 10-0 lead Monday, the Tigers toyed with the Buckeyes the rest of the game. Poor Ohio State ought to just say "No" when it gets a bid to play an SEC school in a bowl game. And Ohio State was its own worst enemy, getting called for stupid penalties. The lack of poise was glaring. Sorry Buckeyes, but we don't want to see you in the title game next season.

– Playoff proponents have a newest, bestest buddy in Georgia president Michael Adams. According to the Atlanta Journal-Constitution, Adams is ready to push an eight-team playoff and wants it done soon. Yeah. Why do we care what Adams thinks? Because he is chairman of the powerful NCAA executive committee. And you've got to think he's already got other NCAA presidents on board. The Big Ten and Pac-10 will balk. Until they see the money they'll be leaving on the table. Maybe Adams can get the games televised on the Big Ten Network.

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