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FindArticles > Sporting News, The > Sept 20, 2004 > Article > Print friendly

It's not one and done

Let's not be foolish enough to believe one loss dooms a run at the national championship game. Florida State, after its seemingly annual loss to Miami, isn't out of it yet. Neither is Nebraska--technically, anyway.

Getting to the national title game with one loss isn't as difficult as it seems. The formula: Keep winning, get some poll love and have a schedule with some oomph. LSU did it last year after a midseason loss to Florida because it eventually won the SEC, one of the nation's best conferences, and defeated one of the nation's best teams, Georgia, twice.

These teams within the BCS conferences can afford a loss and still play in the national title game at the Orange Bowl. One disclaimer: The loss can't be from November 1 on, unless it's a Big 12 or SEC unbeaten team that loses in the league championship game.

ACC: Florida State, Miami, N.C. State.

SEC: Georgia, LSU, Florida.

Big 12" Oklahoma, Texas.

Big Ten: Ohio State, Michigan.

Pac-10: USC.

Big East: None.--M.H.

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