"Unlikely rematch should happen"

It's sad that it's not likely going to happen. Although the new BCS rankings haven't come out, it is very unlikely that Michigan will meet Ohio State again on Jan. 8 in the Fiesta Bowl.

The Buckeyes will probably face off against USC, Notre Dame, Florida or Arkansas instead. These are all good teams, but none of them is the No. 2 team in the country. Most experts won't debate this.

Michigan is No. 2. All you had to do was watch the Buckeyes' 42-39 victory Saturday evening to know this. Yesterday's contest reminded me of a thrilling game that was played last January. Yep, the USC-Texas national title game.

It was back and forth. Michigan took the early lead (as did Texas); the Buckeyes came back to snatch a two-possession advantage (as did USC); Michigan made a late charge (as did Texas); but then the Wolverines ran out of time (if only they had held on to just one timeout, they could have gotten the ball back at the end).

I bet if Michigan had five additional minutes it would have gotten the ball back and scored the go-ahead touchdown (just like Texas did).

This was a national title game. Simple as that. No Ohio State-USC matchup will live up to yesterday's barnburner. There were great plays on both sides as well as great coaching. Jim Tressel came out with an excellent game plan offensively, spreading out Michigan's suspect secondary with four- and five-wide-receiver sets. This resulted in a 28-14 halftime lead for the Buckeyes.

But Michigan's D didn't lie down, coming out in the second half and forcing an interception and recovering two botched snaps by the Buckeyes. If not for a long Antonio Pittman touchdown scamper in the third quarter and Shawn Crable's helmet-to-helmet hit on Troy Smith on a third down late in the fourth quarter - which resulted in an automatic first down and, a few plays later, the clinching touchdown - the Wolverines shut down the Buckeyes in the second half.

Defensive coordinator Ron English - whom Michigan MUST hold onto for years to come - made some adjustments at the half, as his boys got more pressure on Smith during the final 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, the Michigan offense was able to move the ball on almost every drive. Only a couple of missed opportunities stalled Michigan drives. In the first half Chad Henne overthrew a wide-open Mario Manningham, who was on an island by himself after deking the entire Buckeyes' secondary with one of his amazing double moves. Then in the second half the Wolverines called a deep pass on a third-and-one when Hart was having no trouble picking up yards.

Michigan was as good as the Buckeyes on Saturday - except for a few plays. Three of Ohio State's touchdowns were 39 yards or longer.

Yes, the Buckeyes exposed flaws in Michigan's stalwart defense, which entered the game leading the nation in rushing yards allowed. Yes, you have to give the Buckeyes credit for making the plays when they mattered most.

But this game was just as close as that USC-Texas matchup last Jan. 4. And this game should be played again. Because, like I said coming into yesterday's contest, I (and every other analyst or fan) wouldn't know what to expect on Jan. 8. Would the Buckeyes come back with the spread offense? How would Michigan adjust its defensive strategy? Given more than six weeks, the coaches on both staffs would undoubtedly come up with excellent game plans.

And on Jan. 8 we would get to experience this again. Another epic classic.

Something the Trojans, Fighting Irish, Gators or Razorbacks simply wouldn't be able to provide.