WASHINGTON, Jan. 9 (UPI) -- President-elect Barack Obama has one word on how he thinks a U.S. college football champion should be crowned -- playoff.
Obama, during a news conference Friday in which he named members of his national security team, congratulated No. 1 Florida for its 24-14 win over No. 2 Oklahoma Thursday night, giving the Gators their second BCS championship in three years.
Obama said a member of one of his former Secret Service details had a son who played for Florida, which finished 13-1, and he sent him an congratulatory e-mail.
For years, football fans and pundits have argued for a playoff system to name a national college football champ instead of the Bowl Championship Series in place now. Obama has said he prefers a playoff format.
"I have to point out -- if I'm Utah, if I'm USC, or if I'm Texas, I may still have some quibbles," Obama said of teams that could have laid claim to the top spot.
"That's why," he said, "we need a playoff."
