College Football

Ohio State, Florida State look to capitalize on SEC ‘miracle’

The SEC has won seven straight BCS championships, and all it took was a miracle of the conference’s own doing to put that streak in jeopardy.

“To me, this one is comparable to when U.S. hockey beat the Russians,” said CBS analyst Gary Danielson of Auburn’s miraculous Iron Bowl win over Alabama last Saturday to the Miracle on Ice at the 1980 Winter Olympics in Lake Placid.

“Alabama was the machine, they didn’t make mistakes. Here was Auburn who had their nose rubbed in it and for them to go from the worst team to the champs — where the machine makes the mistake, it all sort of connected. It’s a once in a lifetime thing, I am very proud to be a part of it.”

It provided a moment that will be remembered forever, but it also will keep two-time defending champion and previously unbeaten Alabama out of the title game, and Ohio State could not be more thrilled. The loss paves the way for the Buckeyes to take on Florida State in the national championship if both teams can survive their respective conference title games on Saturday night.

That would be a little if for Florida State — 28 ¹/₂-point favorites over Duke — and a big if for Ohio State playing against 11-1 Michigan State, which sports one of the top defenses in the country.

“This defense grew up together and they carried the team while the offense found itself,” said FOX analyst Charles Davis, who will be calling the game from Indianapolis.

Ohio State also will have to deal with the pesky question about whether it deserves to get into the title game over the winner of the SEC title game between Auburn and Missouri, two one-loss teams.

“How Urban Meyer keeps his team away from that and not worried about it is the key because the bottom line is if Ohio State doesn’t win this game the conversation is moot anyway,” Davis said. “Let them fight it out, let all of us discuss it. Let us have our deal with it, you have to deal with Michigan State. That’s enough trouble in and of itself. Because they have to keep their offense going because Michigan State is going to be a bigger challenge than anyone Ohio State has faced so far.”

With Thursday’s announcement leading Heisman candidate quarterback Jameis Winston will not be charged following an investigation into cleared sexual-assault allegations, Florida State now just has to worry about the 10-2 Blue Devils. The basketball powerhouse has become one of the best college football stories of the season in winning the ACC’s Coastal Division to set up a matchup with the Seminoles, who like Ohio State are a perfect 12-0.

Duke will have to be a Florida State team that won by an average of 42.66 points per game this season.

“I played for [Duke coach] David Cutcliffe, and I am very excited for his success, but I match them up position by position they don’t measure up,” said Davis, a safety at Tennessee in the mid-80’s.

“I think Duke can play well and hard, but I don’t think they can stay close if Florida State is interested and engaged.”