By DAVID JONES
Florida Today

Ohio State coach Jim Tressel is an expert on college football playoffs. At Division I-AA Youngstown State, he won four national championships before becoming the Buckeyes' head coach in 2001.

Tressel's teams won four playoff games each season to claim Division I-AA titles in 1991, '93, '94 and '97. He doesn't have any doubt that players would be able to survive the extra games, physically and emotionally.

That's been a major concern of NCAA presidents, some of whom fear the longer schedule would not only cause more injuries but cut into academics.

"I think when you are the type of team and program that Miami is or Ohio State is or those types of teams that have a bulls eye on your back every ballgame, every game is a playoff game," Tressel said. "They just went through 12 weeks of a playoff and we went through 13 weeks of a playoff. If we needed four more, I think both of us would be able and willing to do it.

"Kids love to compete, they love to play games. And I know this: I'm sure if there was another game this weekend, our kids would be excited about playing it."

But Tressel, who can win his first Division I-A title in the Jan. 3 Fiesta Bowl with a win over Miami, has other concerns.

"I think the fact that we have such a great bowl tradition in I-A that right now it's the best thing," Tressel said. "The only thing constant is change and it will be interesting over the years to see how it evolves."

Georgia coach Mark Richt has the No. 3 team in the BCS rankings. If anyone should be yelling for a playoff, you would think it would be the top-rated team on the outside looking in.

Not so.

"I can't imagine going through a playoff system with trying to keep the guys excited and keep them concentrating on school and so forth," Richt said. "I think it's set up pretty good right now."