Gators, Buckeyes will play for title

Florida beat Michigan on Sunday in the only game that mattered.\nThe Gators, who lobbied hard for this victory, were picked to play No. 1 Ohio State for college football's national championship, ending any chance for the Wolverines to get the rematch they so desired and thought they deserved.\nThe close selection was sure to set off renewed calls to scrap the Bowl Championship Series and go to a playoff.\nSouthern California was a step away from the title game before facing UCLA on Saturday. But the second-ranked Trojans were upset 13-9, dropping in the standings and clearing the way for Florida (12-1) or Michigan (11-1).\nThe Gators leapfrogged idle Michigan by winning the Southeastern Conference championship game, 38-28, against Arkansas.\n"It's well-deserved, and I'm proud of it," said Florida coach Urban Meyer on the Gators' selection.\nThe championship game is Jan. 8 in Glendale, Ariz.\nMichigan's consolation prize is a Rose Bowl bid to play USC, a classic Big Ten vs. Pac-10 matchup of teams left to wonder what could have been.\nIn other bowls:\n• Big 12 champion Oklahoma will meet unbeaten Boise State in the Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 1.\n• Big East champion Louisville will play ACC champion Wake Forest in the Orange Bowl on Jan. 2.\n• LSU will take Florida's spot in the Sugar Bowl and play Notre Dame on Jan. 3.\nFor the first time in the BCS's eight-year history, the championship matchup was a mystery heading into selection Sunday.\nAfter the numbers were crunched, the margin between Florida and Michigan couldn't have been much closer. The Gators and Wolverines were tied in the computer ratings, and Florida had a edge in both the coaches' and Harris poll.