#1 UCLA Gets Poll Position

Need an updated adage?

Try this one: Who you play is more important than how you play.

Despite Ohio State’s commanding lead in both the Associated Press writers’ and USA Today/ESPN coaches’ polls, and USC Coach Paul Hackett’s assurances that Oregon is the best team in the Pacific 10 Conference, the first bowl championship series computer did a gutty little thing Monday when it spit out, no offense Cade McNown, a new No. 1 in college football . . .

. . . UCLA.

The same Bruins who waffled over making up a game against Miami, struggled to upend Houston, had to rally like all get-out to beat Arizona and Oregon in consecutive weeks, then last weekend made the California defense look like the “Steel Curtain,” are nevertheless the first darlings of football’s computer age.

In the Bowl Championship Series poll, which will determine which two schools will play for the national title in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 4, UCLA checks in with a rating of 3.04. Ohio State is second at 4.31, followed by Tennessee, 6.50; Kansas State, 8.79; and Florida State, 13.39.

The BCS poll was implemented this year, in conjunction with the Rose Bowl’s joining the alliance, to account for differences in national polls and conference tie-ins that have denied No. 1 and No. 2 meeting for the “national title,” most recently in 1997, 1996 and 1994.

The four-part computer ranking gives equal weight to the polls, computer rankings, strength of schedule and losses.

UCLA made up ground on Ohio State by finishing first in all three computer rankings--Jeff Sagarin, New York Times, Seattle Times--and holding the top position in strength of schedule.

Strength of schedule weighs two-thirds for a school’s opponents’ records, and one-third for the records of the teams the opponents played.

Among the top 10 schools in the computer standings, UCLA’s opponents have a winning percentage of 62.7%, followed by Tennessee’s, 60%; Texas A&M;’s, 56.4%; Florida State’s, 55.9%; Nebraska’s, 55%, and Ohio State’s, 54.9%.

UCLA might have lost some national luster in its 28-16 victory over California last weekend but the Bruins actually got a computer boost because five of their opponents were victorious: Oregon, Arizona, Texas, Miami and Houston.

Meanwhile, as No. 1 Ohio State clobbered lowly Northwestern, 36-10, two key Buckeye opponents, West Virginia and Missouri, lost.

And hold onto your hats, Buckeye fans.

For while Ohio State’s computer lead over No. 3 Tennessee may seem comfortable, there is the daunting prospect that Ohio State could finish the season undefeated, ranked No. 1 in both polls, yet end up No. 3 behind UCLA and Tennessee in the final BCS poll on Dec. 6.

How?

The Southeastern Conference has a title game, so Tennessee could finish the regular season at 12-0, with an extra victory over a ranked opponent.

Tennessee also plays No. 14 Arkansas on Nov. 14.

The best Ohio State can finish is 11-0, and the Buckeyes’ only remaining game against a ranked opponent is a Nov. 21 showdown against No. 22 Michigan.

The first poll also exposed Kansas State’s weak nonconference schedule.

With a schedule rank of 49, the Wildcats cannot possibly get to the national title game if two of the three schools ahead of them finish unbeaten.

The first BCS poll also confirms the fear that the Rose Bowl is in jeopardy of losing No. 1 and/or No. 2 to the Fiesta Bowl.

The Rose Bowl will be compensated if such occurs but tournament officials were sifting through myriad possibilities Monday.

If Ohio State and UCLA are lost to the Fiesta Bowl, the Rose Bowl will get the top two remaining picks in the BCS pool. If the Rose Bowl loses one team, it will get one pick.

The pick or picks could include an at-large Notre Dame, possibly Nebraska or Kansas State from the Big 12 or any qualifying runner-up from the Big Ten or Pac-10.

There is, however, a potentially prickly scenario involving Wisconsin.

Because they do not play Ohio State this season, the Badgers could end up 11-0 and technically tie for the Big Ten title.

Under the conditions of the new BCS agreement, any Pac-10 or Big Ten champion not ranked No. 1 or No. 2 would still play in the Rose Bowl.

But could the Rose Bowl take Notre Dame instead of Wisconsin if it so chose? Or is the Rose Bowl contractually obligated to take Wisconsin as the Big Ten co-champions?

“I had to ask the same question, because it is something we have not discussed prior to this time,” Rose Bowl CEO Jack French said Monday.

Roy Kramer, SEC commissioner who heads the BCS, has told French that the Big Ten has only one guaranteed spot in the BCS, meaning the Rose Bowl would not be required to take an 11-0 Wisconsin team.

But there may be a moral obligation.

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A Whole New Bowl Game

Comparing the top 10 teams in each of the 3 major polls:

Bowl Series

Team: Pts.

1. UCLA: 3.04

2. Ohio State: 4.31

3. Tennessee: 6.50

4. Kansas St.: 8.79

5. Florida St.: 13.39

6. Nebraska: 14.27

7. Florida: 16.05

8. Texas A&M;: 16.82

9. Wisconsin: 21.14

10. Penn State: 22.52

AP

Team: Pts.

1. Ohio State: 1,744

2. UCLA: 1,641

3. Tennessee: 1,617

4. Kansas St.: 1,564

5. Florida St.: 1,438

6. Florida: 1,437

7. Nebraska: 1,250

8. Texas A&M;: 1,240

9. Wisconsin: 1,209

10. Penn State: 1,118

ESPN / USA TODAY

Team: Pts.

1. Ohio State: 1,543

2. UCLA: 1,453

3. Kansas St.: 1,412

4. Tennessee: 1,402

5. Florida: 1,274

6. Florida St.: 1,233

7. Nebraska: 1,134

8. Wisconsin: 1,130

9. Texas A&M;: 1,018

10. Penn State: 1,008