The Atrocity in Arizona

Florida won tonight's game (though, we may have to adopt the Bill Simmons-esque idea that this game just didn't actually take place) for a few specific reasons:

1) Ted Ginn, Jr.

The explosive deep threat was nowhere to be found after spraining his foot on literally the first play from scrimmage that did not involve him racing 93 yards to paydirt. Troy Smith looked absolutely lost after that.

2) Troy Smith

The Heisman Trophy winner's final line tells the whole story - 4/14, 35 yards passing; 10 rushes, -29 yards on the ground. That's NEGATIVE 29 yards. Again, these people expected to be national champions at the end of the night.

3) Urban Meyer

I hate to say it but Jim Tressel, possibly for the first time in his career, was outcoached. It's that simple. Meyer prepared his guys better, understood the plan of attack better and went for the jugular better than Tressel did. For that, Meyer deserves all the praise the media will be lobbing at him for the next few weeks. Tressel had a bad night. We all do. His just came at the worst possible time.

4) The 51-Day Layoff

The last time the Buckeyes suited up, they were playing Michigan at The Horseshoe in the biggest game of the college football year. That was almost an eternity ago. The layoff left them rusty and ill-prepared for the Florida onslaught.

5) The Lack of a Playoff System

Because USC, Boise State, Michigan, LSU, Notre Dame or Wisconsin would have whipped these Gators given the chance. There. I said it.