The Ohio State-University of Miami game is the most intriguing of the second-tier games this weekend. These two NCAA football superpowers are egregious rules breakers, as some excellent investigative reporting proved.

Miami should replace the traditional marching band halftime show should be replaced with a dramatic reading of NCAA bylaws.

Here is what some pundits are saying about the symbolic and practical implications of this game:

Bill Reiter, FoxSports.com: “The fact is, the state of the NCAA has come to this — to the very real fact that big games between storied programs filled with fantastic athletes and proud histories represent as much about what is wrong with the game as what is right.”

Bill Livingston, Cleveland Plain Dealer: “The reductionist apocalypse is upon us. You can't tell the scamps from the scoundrels when Ohio State, missing four suspended players, with three others reinstated only Tuesday afternoon, faces Miami, missing four suspended players, in Saturday night's IneligiBowl. If you need a cheat sheet -- and what could be more appropriate for this game? -- then never let it be said that you cannot count on me. ”

Rob Oller, The Columbus Dispatch: “If the Buckeyes win, it would be only Miami’s third home loss to a northern school in 20 years. The Hurricanes are 34-2 since 1991, with the losses to Syracuse and Penn State, the only Big Ten school to play there during that time. Miami may not be the dominating program it once was — national championships in 1983, ’87, ’89, ’91 and 2001 — but it remains a bear to beat at home. An Ohio State win would be a huge momentum boost. On the flip side, if OSU loses on Saturday, then team confidence, which already is down a quart after Toledo, will be further shaken. In essence, a loss to Miami makes a loss to Michigan State more likely, which makes losing at Nebraska more likely and so on. Either way, Miami stands as the first domino, for good or bad.”

Pete Fiutak, College Football News: “Where is this coming from that people think Miami is good? The Hurricanes lost to Maryland, there’s no depth, the overall talent is average, they were totally mediocre last year, and they’re in a holding pattern until the NCAA drops a bomb. They’re favored over a team with the most talent in the Big Ten? Okay . . . And no, getting Jacory Harris back isn’t necessarily a positive.”

CONDUCT UNBECOMING

So why did the Marlins send outfielder Mike Cameron home early this season? The South Florida Sun-Sentinel explained:

According to a source familiar with the situation, Mike Cameron was released Monday because of an incident with a flight attendant on the club’s charter flight from Pittsburgh to Atlanta Sunday. The argument between the two was serious enough for the charter company to file a complaint.

The Marlins would not comment on the matter beyond acknowledging Cameron was released for conduct detrimental to the team. Attempts to reach Cameron’s agent Wednesday were unsuccessful.

JUST WONDERING

Who in their right mind would invest with Christian Laettner?

CRUMMY EFFORT OF THE NIGHT

The Mets used six relievers to allow eight runs in their 10-1 loss to the Nationals. Good luck to everybody involved in the rebuilding of the Metropolitans.

FROM THE TWEETDECK

Eric Stangel: “Loved the Bill Belichick documentary on @NFLNetwork. They made Bill look- what's the word? Human.”

Gary Parrish: “Dylan Favre should be thankful he didn't get an opportunity against LSU. Trust me, son. You didn't want any part of that.”

Mike Bianchi: “Ohio State-Miami will play Saturday for the coveted Battle of the Impermissable Benefits Trophy.”

Jeff Schultz: “Fans are fine. But Tim Tebow fans thinking of buying billboard ads to push for him to start have completely lost touch.”

Peter Schrager: “Quirky fact of the week, courtesy of the NFL: Detroit Lions have the most players under 6 feet on their roster, with 16.”

FROM THE BLOG-O-SPEAR

From Can’t Stop The Bleeding:

Either the Denver economy is in great shape or there’s a bunch of Broncos fans with more money than brains.  The Denver Post’s Lindsey Jones reports that following Kyle Orton’s underwhelming performance in Monday night’s opening loss to Oakland, there’s plans afoot for local billboards urging the club to start the saintly Tim Tebow at QB.