Tennessee Saves the BCS -- For Now

TEMPE, Arizona: "I came in here and had to depend on someone," said first-year Tennessee quarterback Tee Martin of his game-winning receiver Peerless Price after his Volunteers defeated Florida State, 23-16, Monday night to lock up college fooball's national championship. Backers of the inaugural Bowl Championship Series, which has quickly gained as many detractors as fans, could say the same thing about Tennessee. It took an extraordinary turn of luck against Arkansas for the Volunteers to remain undefeated going into the final game, and an extraordinary twist of fate late-season upsets of Kansas State and UCLA to make the Fiesta Bowl an arguably legitimate matchup of the season's two best teams. Kansas State and UCLA both lost again in season-ending bowls, making things even more clear-cut.

There was still a problem, however. No one could forget that one-loss Ohio State stood in the wings hoping it might somehow get a No. 1 nod from the AP writers if Florida State, which leading up to Monday night's game also had a loss, won ugly. But it was undefeated Tennesse that won ugly, and the new system achieved its goal. For once there was no argument about the champion the morning after -- but only because the system got lucky. The doubters and the playoff-pushers, not to mention those who wish the season would end in a New Year's Day orgy like it used to, will all be back next year.