AUBURN, Ala. - The unbeaten Auburn Tigers had just handled eighth-ranked Georgia in convincing fashion and improved their record to 10-0 before 87,451 fans, many of whom were still camped out in the Jordan-Hare Stadium neighborhood several hours after the game.

Fans could spend Saturday evening savoring one of the greatest victories in Auburn history. The players and coaches had more serious matters to consider.

Forget Georgia. What about Southern California and Oklahoma? What about the top-25 polls that had the Tigers in third place behind the Trojans and Sooners in the race for the national championship game?

Auburn's 24-6 victory lasted all of two questions during coach Tommy Tuberville's postgame press conference. Then a questioner spelled out the Tigers' dilemma: B-C-S.

"We've still got two big games left," Tuberville said. "There will still be some things for us to do to maybe win a few more voters."

They won over just enough voters to tie Oklahoma for second place in The Associated Press top 25 poll, which was released Sunday. They also gained ground in the USA Today/ESPN coaches poll, where they now trail the Sooners by two points.

But it's still too early to celebrate. The Bowl Championship Series standings, which will include computer rankings, won't be released until tonight.

In most sports, you know how you did when you leave the field. In college football, you don't find out for two days. It's not just a game. It's a campaign.

First, you win. Then, you lobby.

"I know I'd hate to play us," Tuberville said Saturday. "I know people will be fair when they vote."

But there's nothing fair about the system. Never mind the names of the contenders. This isn't about USC, Oklahoma and Auburn. It's about a great game with an awful method of determining a national champion.

Auburn senior safety Will Herring was asked after the Georgia game what he thought about the BCS, which ultimately determines who plays for the national title.

"It's a disgrace to sports and college football," he said.

I've never heard a more concise, compelling case for a playoff. Of course, it won't have an impact on the powers that be. Network contracts must be honored, bowls filled and tradition preserved.

But the tradition of determining a champion off the field is distorting the game.

The front page of the Atlanta Journal-Constitution's Sunday college football section shows the Auburn defense swallowing a Georgia running back. The dominant headline reads: "See that, BCS?"

It's not how you play the game. It's how the game plays out in the BCS that matters.

You could argue that the publicity generated by polls and BCS rankings once had a positive impact on college football. We're past that now. The system is overshadowing the game. No matter how great the victory, it demands BCS confirmation.

A playoff would keep the game where it belongs - on the field. It could give conference champions a shot at a national title without requiring them to beat opponents by ridiculous margins.

Imagine if Al Davis were a college football today. He would coin the phrase, "Just win big, baby."

For a top-25 voter, margin of victory is a necessary evil. Other than won-loss record and strength of schedule, it's all you have to distinguish one team from another.

In fact, margin of victory is one reason for voting Auburn No. 1. Nine of its 10 victories have been decided by at least 21 points. It beat nationally ranked Tennessee by 24 and nationally ranked Georgia by 18. And in three games against nationally ranked teams, it has given up only 25 points - three fewer points than USC allowed in a 31-28 victory against 4-6 Stanford.

Nonetheless, Tuberville said Sunday he won't be influenced by the BCS in his preparation or game management.

"The games we will play (against arch-rival Alabama on Saturday and most likely against UT in the SEC championship game) will be hard-fought games," he said. "We just want to play the best we can. We talked (Sunday) about it. If it takes one point, so be it."

In the best of all college football worlds, one point would be plenty.

Top 25: My AP ballot looked like this: 1. Auburn, 2. Southern California, 3. Oklahoma, 4. California, 5. Utah, 6. Texas, 7. Michigan, 8. Louisville, 9. Wisconsin, 10. Boise State, 11. Miami, 12. Tennessee, 13. Georgia, 14. Florida State, 15. Arizona State, 16. Virginia Tech, 17. LSU, 18. Iowa, 19. Virginia, 20. Texas A&M, 21. Oklahoma State, 22. Boston College, 23. West Virginia, 24. UTEP, 25. Bowling Green.

Sports editor John Adams may be reached at 865-342-6284 or adamsj@knews.com.