When OSU lost to USC, they were completely eliminated. There was absolutely nothing they could do in order to get back into it at that point. Hence the reason that they pulled the plug on the Big Ten season before it even started.
Florida DOES get a mulligan built in every year, as do all SEC teams. So I understand Fro's selfish desire to cling to that advantage. But I don't understand why anyone outside of the SEC fanbase would want it to continue.
The 2017 NC lost a late-season game to it's rival. (SEC)
The 2016 NC lost a mid-season game to an average conference foe.
The 2015 NC lost an early-season game to a good conference foe. (SEC)
The 2014 NC lost an early-season game to an average OOC foe.
The 2012 NC lost a late-season game to a good conference foe. (SEC)
The 2011 NC lost a late-season game in a 1 vs 2 matchup (SEC)
The 2008 NC lost an early-season game to an average conference foe (SEC)
The 2007 NC lost 2 games to average conference foes, both average teams (SEC)
The 2006 NC lost a mid-season game to a good conference foe (SEC)
Both 2003 NCs lost games - one mid-season to an average conference foe (SEC) and the other an early-season game to an average conference foe.
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Honestly, the SEC mulligan thing is sort of unfair here - not because it's not true, it is, but because so many of the recent NCs are SEC teams. So while I'm taking the time to do this, it shouldn't be ignored just because of all of the SEC NCs. I hope that's a fair context to keep in mind.
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Pre-SEC dominance/favoratism, back in 1996, Florida lost to FSU in a 1 vs 2 matchup. Yes, I was distraught, but I immediately sat down and listed what would have to happen for Florida to win the NC. We were ranked behind 3 teams that didn't play each other. There was still hope.
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Whether it was a late-season loss and needing a major upset to have any chance at the NC (1996) or losing at home to unranked Ole Miss (2008), there was still hope. Maybe it's just the luxury or being spoiled, but living on that razor's edge is what makes college football different and special.