Obama wants playoffs as USC has to settle for No. 2, No. 3

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President-elect Barack Obama still wants playoffs. College football playoffs.

At a news conference today to introduce his choices to lead the U.S. intelligence community, Obama went off topic for a bit when asked what he thought about Florida’s 24-14 victory last night over Oklahoma in the BCS title game.

Obama again called for a playoff system to determine the nation’s No. 1 college football team. He also congratulated the Gators and said he had sent a message to a friend whose son plays for Florida. But the BCS is imperfect in his mind.

‘If I’m Utah, or if I’m USC or if I’m Texas, I might still have some quibbles,’ he said. ‘That’s why we need a playoff.’

Yep, USC may be the one with the most reason to quibble, given the team’s strengths and speed and talent and record. Still, the Trojans finished second in the coaches’ poll and third in the AP poll.

On Thursday, The Times’ Chris Dufresne reported that ESPN would not pressure BCS officials into pursuing a playoff when the cable network takes over full control of the broadcast package in 2011.

ESPN executive Burke Magnus said Thursday at the annual meeting of the Football Writers Assn. of America that the company recently bid for BCS broadcast rights with the understanding there would be no changes through the duration of the four-year contract, which expires in 2014.

Stay tuned for more coverage on latimes.com/sports.

-- Debbie Goffa