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Gators Vs. Tide Has A 'Plus-One' Feel

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By RALPH D. RUSSO AP College Football Writer

The Tampa Tribune

Published: November 12, 2008

Remember the plus-one format Southeastern Conference commissioner Mike Slive proposed to be used by the Bowl Championship Series? The one shot down earlier this year by most of the other conference leaders?

Well, college football could get a taste of what that mini-playoff would look like this year, thanks to the SEC.

Alabama and Florida clinched their divisions and spots in the SEC championship game on Saturday, setting up what could turn out to be a national semifinal on Dec. 6 at the Georgia Dome.

Both the top-ranked Crimson Tide and No. 3 Gators have plenty of heavy lifting to do before they get to Atlanta. Florida faces South Carolina in Gainesville, takes a break with the Citadel, then plays at Florida State. The Seminoles are playing as well as they have in years.

Alabama's road looks less daunting with Mississippi State and Auburn at home. But the Bulldogs have won two straight against the Crimson Tide and the Tigers have won six straight Iron Bowls and could salvage a disappointing season by extending the streak to seven.

If the Gators and Tide survive, the SEC champ is virtually guaranteed a trip to Miami for the BCS national title game on Jan. 8.

The Big 12 championship game in Kansas City also should have a playoff feel, with the winner of the South division - either Texas Tech, Texas or Oklahoma - standing a good chance to be playing for a shot at the national title.

Iowa cleared up one potentially unpleasant situation by beating Penn State 24-23 on a last-second field goal. No unbeaten team from a BCS conference will be locked out of the national title game.

The BCS might also want to send a thank you note to Kirk Ferentz's team.

The next BCS mess comes if/when Texas Tech loses and somehow a single team must be chosen from several with one loss to play in the national championship game.

Upwardly mobile

Cincinnati coach Brian Kelly is putting together another surprising run at the Big East championship with the Bearcats.

Enjoy it while it lasts UC fans. Kelly likely will be on the short list for almost every school with a coaching vacancy.

After successful stints at Division II Grand Valley and Central Michigan, Cincinnati brought in Kelly to replace Mark Dantoni last season.

Kelly's spread offense produced a school-record 472 points and a 10-3 record in 2007. This season, with only 12 returning starters, the Bearcats were expected to take a step back.

After beating West Virginia 26-23 in overtime Saturday, Cincinnati is 7-2, tied for first in the Big East and No. 22 in the nation. All of that while juggling quarterbacks because of injuries.

Kelly's also a charismatic salesman. He called out the local press corps last year for not covering the Big East media days.

The school gave him a five-year deal last December that pays him about $1.3 million per year. Cincinnati probably can go higher, but it's doubtful the school could match wallets with the likes of Tennessee, Clemson and Washington.

If Kelly stays at Cincinnati beyond this season, he's either extremely loyal or not thrilled with the choices available.

Quick hits

- More gaudy passing stats from the Big 12. Saturday's six winning quarterbacks threw for 1,897 yards and 23 touchdowns.

- Expect Buffalo coach Turner Gill to be mentioned as a candidate for several job openings, but DO NOT expect him to replace Greg Robinson at Syracuse. Gill probably won't want to take on another program that needs an extreme makeover.

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