You said the magic word, Beach....CASH! That's why we'll never see a playoff system in I-A college football. If I had to say who's legitimately #2, I'd have to go with Michigan right now. But every year when I'm ready to give them their just due, they slip and fall hard. So, I wanna see them finish out. I NEVER thought Florida deserved to be #2. USC is struggling, yes, but they keep winning! Championship teams find a way to win.
Bottom line though, I'm with the rest of the gang in saying that the BCS system is BS.