ATLANTA — Florida Coach Urban Meyer turned down a chance to participate in the USA Today coaches poll but probably wishes he had that vote now.

A chance to play in the Bowl Championship Series title game hinges on how the two polls and the computer rankings used to formulate the standings turns out this afternoon.

Florida has a chance to play No. 1 Ohio State for the national title because UCLA upset previous No. 2 Southern California and the Gators beat Arkansas 38-28 on Saturday night in the SEC Championship Game.

One hitch, though: Michigan was No. 3 in last week’s standings and Florida was No. 4, and they were ranked the same in the USA Today and Harris Interactive polls and in the collective computer ranking. The question is whether voters will move the Gators ahead of the Wolverines and whether the computers might give them a bump based on the quality victory on a day when Michigan did not play.

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Michigan lost to Ohio State last month.

“Florida belongs. We deserve a shot,” said Meyer, who passed last year on a chance to vote in the coaches poll and is not on the panel this year either. “The other team had a shot. We went 12-1.

“ I think the country wants to see the Southeastern Conference champion against the Big Ten champion. I think that’s what this is all about.”

SEC Commissioner Mike Slive also is the BCS chairman and has to balance his roles, but he clearly wants to see his league represented Jan. 8 in Glendale, Ariz.

If Florida is passed over, Slive said, “as the SEC commissioner, I would be disappointed.”

Word that the primary obstacle between Florida and the BCS title game had been removed started “firing through the locker room” at halftime, Meyer said. But he said he didn’t know the USC outcome for sure until he came out for the third quarter and saw the score on the scoreboard.

Hearing the news lifted several of the Florida players.

“I don’t know how you could get any more motivated than to win the SEC,” backup quarterback Tim Tebow said, “but if you could, then [knowing that USC lost ] helped.”

Florida’s fans, following the USC game on their cell phones and miniature TVs, erupted immediately when that game ended, which came late into halftime of the SEC game. They chanted “Arizona ! Arizona !” as Gators players left the field after the game.

“How can they keep us out now ?” said Florida co-defensive coordinator Charlie Strong, a Batesville native.

Everyone wearing orange and blue was quick to offer reasons why the Gators deserve to play Ohio State, pointing first to a schedule that many consider the nation’s toughest.

“We had little bumps along the way, but every team in the country has,” cornerback Ryan Smith said.

“I think we did enough the whole season,” receiver Andre Caldwell said. “We’re 12-1 in the SEC. That says enough right there.”

The BCS bowl assignments will be announced at 7 tonight on Fox.