One Problem Could Be Two Champs

Pay close attention to the USA TODAY/ESPN coaches’ poll in the coming weeks.

Why?

Because the coaches have a problem.

They have Miami ranked No. 2 ahead of No. 3 Florida State, which is fine except that, two years ago, the coaches made the dubious decision to automatically award their national championship trophy to the winner of the BCS title game.

Yet the Orange Bowl, if held today, would pit Oklahoma against Florida State, currently No. 1 and No. 2 in the BCS standings.

Say Florida State beats Oklahoma and Miami defeats Notre Dame in the Fiesta Bowl.

Miami, by all rights, should move from No. 2 to No. 1 in the final coaches’ poll, yet won’t they look silly when they hand Miami’s trophy to Florida State?

The voting coaches can only avoid this potential embarrassment if they maneuver Florida State ahead of Miami before their final poll Dec. 3.

Florida State has completed its regular-season schedule, leaving all eyes on the Boston College-Miami game this week.

If the game is remotely close, don’t be surprised if Miami slips below Florida State in Sunday’s coaches’ poll.

One coach this week has already pulled his No. 1 vote for Miami and given it to Florida State.

But what if Miami whips Boston College convincingly?

The coaches escaped a similar dilemma two years ago when they had Kansas State No. 1 entering the final weekend with the real prospect of Tennessee and UCLA finishing 1-2 in the first BCS standings and playing for the national title in the Fiesta Bowl.

The coaches were saved when UCLA lost to Miami and Texas A&M; beat Kansas State in the Big 12 title game, a domino fall that left Tennessee and Florida State playing for the national title.

You ask: Doesn’t the Associated Press poll, which also has Miami at No. 2 this week, face a similar problem?

No. The writers’ poll is used by the BCS in its formula but operates independently.

Should Florida State defeat Oklahoma in the Orange Bowl and Miami win the Fiesta, the AP will likely crown Miami as its champion and we will have what the BCS was supposed to prevent:

Two national champions.