Only Advantage

When there was all the furor over the Indianapolis Colts eschewing a chance at a perfect season in order to rest starters for the playoffs, I thought it was misguided. Given a choice between an undefeated season or a Super Bowl championship, I think most players and fans would take the title. Just ask the 2007 New England Patriots and New York Giants.

The funny thing is this is the sort of debate which could happen if - as most people without brain damage want - the NCAA starts a playoff system in its top football division.

Imagine reading a story like this:

Associated Press

GAINESVILLE, Fla. -- Following weeks of close calls, controversy and criticism, top-ranked Florida got to play on cruise control.

But it was the team from South Florida that enjoyed every minute of it.

With Tim Tebow, Jeffrey Demps, Brandon Spikes and most of the starting skill players held out to rest for the SEC Championship game, Florida International scored three 2nd-half touchdowns to end the #1 Gators' 20-game winning streak with a 21-10 victory on Saturday.

The Gators drop to 10-1 for the season and play rival Florida State next week before meeting Alabama in the SEC Championship game. The winner of that game receives the SEC's automatic bid to the playoffs, while the loser will likely have to go the at-large route.

The Golden Panthers (4-7) have struggled for much of their existence, never winning more than 5 games in a season since moving to the FBS in 2005. The win not only was their first over a ranked opponent, but gives them a chance to match their season record if they beat cross-town rival Florida Atlantic next week.

"It was real nice," guard Mike Pouncey said. "We had a long SEC run, then to go out there and have a game like this, where we can rest starters was real good for our team. Sure an undefeated season would be nice, but our eyes are on the prize. 12-0 means nothing if you don't win the whole thing. We'll be ready to go in two weeks."

Don't misunderstand me. The BCS is evil and must be destroyed. Titles are won on the field, not in the heads of sportswriters, coaches, talking heads, and computers. But it wasn't until I saw Colt McCoy go down early in the BCS title game that I really started thinking about the benefits of resting starters, even at the collegiate level.

Would you really care what your team's regular season record was if they were crowned as champion?

I didn't think so.