The Sugar had dibs on Georgia, since it lost the SEC champion LSU to the National Championship. The Rose was not eligible to pick Georgia. They could have picked Missouri the day after it got drubbed by Oklahoma. Would USC’s giving it another drubbing have impressed you?
Well, I would have been impressed with a USC blowout regardless of who they played in the Rose Bowl. But I will concede that the current system sort of forced them into taking Illinois. Unless the BCS and the Rose Bowl really wanted to go out on a limb, piss everyboyd off and select Michigan.