by Omaha World-Herald

His entourage was taking him to the men's room.

No word yet if a University of Utah official was there to open the door.

The folks who run the Bowl Championship Series are trying to make this college football's Super Bowl. There are security types everywhere. You have to show your badge.

Can somebody get the Utah Utes a credential?

Does Utah belong in this big-boy football atmosphere? You betcha. And the Utes don't need any stinking badges.

Oklahoma and Florida line up tonight to see who is the biggest, baddest and fastest college team on the planet. One problem: There are at least three other teams on the sideline who think that they are every bit as big, bad and fleet.

Including the mountain men.

Nearly 25 years ago, I voted BYU No. 1 after the 1984 season. The Cougars of the Western Athletic Conference had gone undefeated. Their resume wasn't strong. They beat a 6-5 Michigan team in the Holiday Bowl. But the field -- OU, Florida, Washington -- was particularly weak that year.

If I had a vote this year, and I'm glad I don't, I would have no problem voting Utah No. 1.

The competition at the top is stronger than it was in 1984. But so is the Utes' undefeated resume. They went 13-0 in a good league and beat Oregon State, which, ahem, beat USC. Utah also whipped Alabama down South in the Sugar Bowl.

It was no fluke. Utah went out to a 21-0 lead and controlled the game. When it looked like the Tide was making a move in the third quarter, the Utes punched right back.

Would Utah do that week in, week out in a BCS league? Who knows? Doubtful. But could Utah do that to USC, Florida and Oklahoma on a given night? You bet your BCS badge, it could.

The old days are gone. You can no longer draw a line between the "majors'' and the "mid-majors.'' There's talent everywhere. And coaching.

Just ask the Utah attorney general (with apparently nothing better to do), who wants to try an antitrust suit against the BCS? By all means, as soon as Utah sends back the BCS check it got from playing in the Sugar Bowl.

Injustice in Salt Lake City isn't going to force change in college football. But here's a chance for the BCS to get proactive: put the "new'' Cotton Bowl in the BCS rotation next year and give the Mountain West a guaranteed spot.

It's either that, or a playoff.

Playoff? Fine. But plan on doing it without the Rose Bowl, Big Ten or PAC-10. Those three will never change their relationship to be part of a playoff. How's that plan working so far?

Could you do it after the bowls? Yes. ESPN takes over the BCS next year. How about an ESPN Bowl -- "ESPY's at halftime -- one game after all of the bowls?

But if it's a "plus one,'' then you would have USC, Texas, OU and Florida playing off for one extra game. Utah would still be holding the bathroom door.

They all have a case. But let's face it: USC usually romps in the home game Rose Bowl; but the Trojans didn't dominate that way all season. Texas didn't look national title good against Ohio State. There are flaws everywhere.

I like the Pelini Plan. Last fall, Nebraska's Bo Pelini said if we're going to have all of this debate, go back to the olden days, when bowls and conferences had tie-ins and No. 1 and No. 2 were often on opposite coasts. Bo's point: If you're going to have controversy, do it the old way. At least we'd be spared having to watch Cincinnati vs. Virginia Tech.

Wise man, that Pelini. Both OU and Florida think so. Sooner defensive coordinator Brent Venables traveled to Lincoln one weekend last month to get Pelini's take on stopping Florida's spread. Gator offensive coordinator Dan Mullen, the new Mississippi State coach, called Pelini to ask about multi-tasking in a national title game.

Last week at the Gator Bowl, Pelini was asked about the OUFlorida matchup. He said, "It should be a great game. I wouldn't be surprised if either team won and I wouldn't be surprised if either team won in a blowout. They are both that good.

"Got a ticket?''

Exactly. We fuss and feud about the BCS. But in the end, we'll sit back and enjoy the game. It should be a doozie.

Too much is being made out of the SEC vs. Big 12 angle. A Sooner said Florida quarterback Tim Tebow would be the fourth-best quarterback in the Big 12. A Gator said the Big 12 defenses are a "joke.''

The thing is, they might both be right.

This won't be about league strength tonight. It will be about the wills between two classy young quarterbacks, possibly leaving one last mark on the college game. Whoever has the best game -- and the best protection up front -- wins.

More than likely, it will come down to who has the best special teams. Advantage, Florida.

I predict a classic, back and forth, big plays by big-time players.

Florida 35, Oklahoma 31.

Afterward, Utah will scream to its former coach that it wants a showdown, anyplace, anytime. But Meyer and his entourage will just go rushing past.

Contact the writer

444-1025, tom.shatel@owh.com

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