On top of the world

Does undefeated and top-ranked Michigan have a legitimate shot at the national championship? It might be a bigger long shot than you think

Forty-nine years is a long time to wait. But that's just how long it's been since the Michigan Wolverines won their last national championship. Bennie Oosterbaan was in his first year as coach. Dominic Tomasi was the team captain. Harry Truman was President of the United States.

Forty-nine years isn't even that long of a draught for most schools - many would be content with just one national championship. But for a program that ranks first in college football history in all-time wins and No. 2 in the composite of Associated

Peter Warrick and the high-flying Seminoles may have the best shot at a national championship. Florida State is ranked No. 1 in the USA Today/ESPN coaches poll, one spot ahead of Michigan, but has to get by in-state rival Florida today to hold on to the top spot.

Press football polls from 1936 to the present.

Now, Michigan has a chance to win its first national title since '48 and only its third since the AP poll was established in 1936. The only problem is, though Michigan is No. 1 in the AP poll and Rose Bowl bound, at least three other teams are still in contention for the national championship.

In fact, Missouri may have been the Wolverines' best bet to win the title, if the Tigers would have upset then-No. 1 Nebraska. But a miracle touchdown that was kicked by one Cornhusker wide receiver then somehow caught by another forced overtime and, unfortunately for Michigan, led to a Nebraska victory.

The Wolverines jumped to No. 1 in the AP poll because Nebraska had so much trouble with an unranked team, but that doesn't mean they'll stay there, even if they win the Rose Bowl. If Florida State beats Florida today and Nebraska wins the Big 12 championship game next week, the two undefeated teams would meet in the Orange Bowl. The winner would likely nab at least a share of the national championship, if not the whole thing.

"We're not thinking about scenarios right now," said Michigan All-American Charles Woodson. "We're not even thinking about a national championship, all I care about is winning the Rose Bowl."

But if the Wolverines run the table, you'd have to think they would be disappointed without at least a share of the national championship. And although the Rose Bowl is their ultimate goal, the national title has to be in the back of their minds.

"It would be nice, though," admits Woodson.

Michigan coach Lloyd Carr said he won't let himself think about it, but after beating Ohio State, how can he not. Unless he's rooting for Florida to upset Florida State in the swamp. If that happens, Michigan is right back in the race.

That would mean that, even if Nebraska finishes the season undefeated, it would face a Tennessee or Florida State team with one loss. Both the Volunteers or Seminoles are capable of beating Nebraska. If Michigan wins the Rose Bowl it would be the only undefeated team in the country and the undisputed national champions.

But even if Nebraska prevails, a win over a one-loss team might not be enough to topple the Rose Bowl champion Wolverines who beat a terrific Ohio State squad and then won the Rose Bowl.

But Cornhusker fans would have something to say about that. If Nebraska goes undefeated and wins the Orange Bowl, no matter who it beats, there will be an uproar in Lincoln.

But Nebraska coach Tom Osborne is as silent as Carr is about his prospects for the national title.

"After barely beating Missouri, we should focus on winning our games, and not anything else," Osborne said. "What's out of our hands is out of our control."

Two teams - Penn State and Nebraska - finished the 1994 season with undefeated records, but the Cornhuskers were crowned national champs. The Nittany Lions - equally deserving according to some - got nothing but a No. 2 ranking and a lot of pity.

After that debacle, pollsters are likely to sympathize if two schools finish the season with unblemished records. It is possible that different teams could top the two polls as Georgia Tech and Colorado did in 1990. More likely, however, is that pollsters would split their first-place votes between teams.

Whether that would clear anything up or muddle the picture more remains to be seen, but it is perfectly clear that Michigan fans want the title for themselves. And though some Wolverines may not admit it, the players want it just as much.

"That's our highest goal," tailback Chris Howard said. "If we win it, it would be amazing."

AP PHOTO Thought to be out of the race after losing to Florida, Peyton Manning and Tennessee are right back in the national title hunt.

11-22-97