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AP PhotoOklahoma quarterback Sam Bradford, right, congratulates teammate Juaquin Iglesias following a touchdown in the fourth quarter against Oklahoma State on Saturday.

Who wouldn't want to see the best of the Southeastern Conference against the best of the Big 12? Those two leagues have dominated college football this season, and it appears quite probable - for now, at least - that it will be the SEC vs. the Big 12 in the Bowl Championship Series title game.

Exactly which participants to go will be cleared up next week. But figure on either Alabama or Florida getting the nod from the SEC. From the Big 12, either Oklahoma or Texas will have the advantage, depending on which of those schools is tabbed to meet Missouri in the league's championship game.

It might take a long, long time for University of Michigan football fans to set aside the woes of 2008: The school-record nine defeats, the end of the bowl streak, the record-setting fifth consecutive loss to Ohio State, the most points allowed in Michigan history.

In the interest of brevity, let's stop recounting the troubles there, and take a look instead at 2009 - who's staying, who's going and who might help Michigan restore its winning ways:

The concrete ramp led away from the field on which the Michigan football team had just suffered a 42-7 drubbing at the hands of Ohio State.

It led toward a cadre of Buckeyes fans, whose insults rained on Wolverines as they walked toward the buses waiting to return them to Ann Arbor.

AP PhotoMichigan wide receiver Greg Mathews (13) and teammates huddle with head coach Rich Rodriguez during a time out in the third quarter. Rodriguez confirmed a report Sunday that sophomore safety Artis Chambers has left Michigan.

Three down. How many to go?

University of Michigan coach Rich Rodriguez said at a season-ending news conference Monday that he expects more attrition from his football team after saying good-bye to three players in the past eight days.

"I don't have any predictions," he said. "I wouldn't be surprised if it's a couple, but it won't be a lot, I don't think."

Rich Rodriguez talks about off-season recruiting.

University of Michigan football coach Rich Rodriguez said at his post-season news conference Monday that he expected freshman running back Sam McGuffie and junior defensive end Brandon Graham to be with the Wolverines in 2009.

Rodriguez acknowledged that McGuffie has been dealing with family issues in his home state of Texas, but said that shouldn't impact his status with the team. While Graham hasn't announced whether he'll apply early for the NFL Draft, Rodriguez said he felt Michigan's sack leader would return for his senior season.

The order of the day was second-guessing for Monday's weekly appearance on WTKA with Sam Webb and Andy Evans or - more specifically - what coach Rich Rodriguez could have done differently to avert this season's 3-9 implosion for the University of Michigan football team.

You'll have to listen to find out.

Full audio below:

Leisa Thompson | The Ann Arbor NewsThe University of Michigan's Brandon Minor bows his head at the end of the Wolverines' 42-7 loss to Ohio State on Saturday.

Ohio State's 42-7 knockout of the University of Michigan football team had barely ended Saturday when the Wolverines began setting their sights on 2009.

"We were already talking about it in the locker room," Michigan freshman defensive tackle Mike Martin said. "Me and the other younger guys we just need to step up. We need to be ready for next year. Everybody's already real excited, jacked up for next year."

With no bowl game to prepare for, the Wolverines (3-9, 2-6 Big Ten) seemed ready to quickly forget 2008, a season that included the most losses in school history among a host of other problems.

The Fort Wayne (Ind.) Journal Gazette reported Sunday that backup safety Artis Chambers has left the University of Michigan football team. A sophomore from Fort Wayne, Chambers played in nine games this season, mainly on special teams. He did not play in any of the final three games for the Wolverines (3-9, 2-6 Big Ten), and did not travel to Columbus for the season-ending loss to Ohio State.

Chambers' departure would mean three Wolverines have left the program in the past week. The others were backup wide receiver Zion Babb, who was dismissed for violating team rules, and reserve defensive tackle Jason Kates, who had not played this season.

Texas Tech's brief run atop my Associated Press top 25 ballot came to a crashing end, courtesy of a Big 12 beatdown at the hands of Oklahoma.

The 65-21 Sooners' victory made me wonder whether to elevate them to the No. 1 position this week.