Let's get this out of the way before we start.

Consider this like a prologue. Imagine the words rolling away from you like at the beginning of "Star Wars."

Hum the theme song if you must — anything to make the next few paragraphs more palatable because they have been written, spoken and pondered more times than Ben Roethlisberger has been sacked, intercepted and inevasively operated on this year.

Here it goes (insert "Star Wars" theme music here):

The BCS stinks.

College football needs a playoff system like Notre Dame coach Charlie Weis needs Slimfast.

Only figure skating and gymnastics are more corrupt.

OK. That's out of the way.

I know what you are thinking. Thanks for the news flash. What are you going to tell me next?

The Roman Empire fell? The Titanic sank? We landed on the moon? Britney Spears and K-Fed split?

You probably are wondering, "Why is this column any different than the other kabillion, zillion ones of the same ilk I have read over the past nine years since the blasted BCS was concocted?"

Well, here it is.

The BCS got it right.

People can kick, scream, complain and whine all they want about the BCS, but this year, it actually worked.

Ohio State and Florida are the two best teams in the country. They are playing for a national championship like they should.

Michigan and USC are the third and fourth best teams in the country. You can call the Rose Bowl the ConsolationBowl if you like, because that's what it is: a game to decide who is the third best team in the country.

No one is more dismayed that the BCS worked than me.

The only way to dismantle the thing is for it to fail miserably, causing such a public outcry that people with torches storm the BCS offices (does it even have offices?) and demand a playoff system.

But as long as it keeps working, the powers that be will simply say, "See, it works. So, quit your bellyaching already!"

Sure, some could argue Michigan is the second best team in the country and should get another shot at OhioState. But those people would be wrong for two compelling reasons.

Reason No. 1: Michigan didn't even win its own conference.

Reason No. 2: Florida did and had the toughest schedule in the nation.

Do not pass go. Do not collect the multi-million dollars playing in a national title game brings.

Sorry, Michigan. You had your chance and you came up short.

In a perfect world, you wouldn't have to read a column like this. You would be reading a column about an eight-team NCAA Division I playoff bracket and how great it is.

You would be reading about the intriguing first-round matchup of undefeated Boise State vs. undefeated Ohio State.

You would be reading about how it compares to March Madness.

You should be reading about December Delirium.

But you're not.

So, next year, hope the BCS fails miserably. That's the only thing that will save us.