Sixteen sportswriters across America rebelled against groupthink and East Coast bias, picking pick the undefeated University of Utah Utes No. 1 in the final AP college-football poll.

It wasn't enough to unseat the team that topped the poll, the Florida Gators - who got 48 first-place votes and won Thursday night's BCS Championship Game 24-14 over the Oklahoma Sooners.

If ever there was a game that showed the deficiencies of the BCS system, it was the Florida/Oklahoma game. Both teams played sloppy on Thursday night, giving the ball away and tearing up the middle of the field. These supposed powerhouses couldn't muster more than a touchdown each in the first half. And when Florida can only eke out a 10-point win late in the fourth quarter in what is essentially a home game, who can convincingly argue they are the best team in the nation?

Watching Thursday night's game, one thing was clear: The Utes that pulverized Alabama could have taken either Florida or Oklahoma. Too bad the big bad BCS is too cowardly to put their pampered teams to the test.

Labels: football, University of Utah