Personally, I'd love to see LSU play the Trojans of Southern California. East needs to meet West more often. It would be a great opportunity for LSU to show that the SEC can dominate West Coast football teams. It would be a way to confirm what a lot of people in Eastern Standard Time already believe - that USC has benefited over the last few years from a weak schedule.

An LSU victory would be a serious statement for those who believe in strength of schedule and the strength of the Southeastern Conference.

All the Florida fans that are talking about strength of schedule right now would love to see LSU beat the Pac 10 champs in a bowl game.

Actually, they would love to see the Gators beat the Pac 10 or Big 10 champs in a bowl game.

The only problem with LSU being invited to the Rose Bowl is this: What about Florida?

If UF loses to Arkansas on Saturday, are they really not going to be the at-large SEC bid? Didn't they beat LSU? Doesn't it seem premature to be sending the Tigers to the Rose Bowl? I'm sure Gators fans would say that UF deserves a BCS Bowl bid over a team that they beat.

The SEC deserves two BCS teams. The winner of Saturday's game will be one of them. If that team is Florida, send LSU to Pasadena. If that team is Arkansas, send UF.

But regardless of which team goes, it would be great to have an SEC team in the Rose Bowl. I love tradition. I respect the Big 10 - Pac 10 history of the Rose Bowl. However, I'm ready to see East Coast football meet West Coast football.

If it ends up being an SEC team against Michigan, we've still got a heck of a game to watch. It won't be two teams from opposite sides of the nation, but it will be two teams with great history.

Part of the appeal of Bowl Games is the opportunity to have teams that don't usually get to play each other go head to head.

I hope the rumors are true.