Alabama head coach Nick Saban apparently had his Crimson Tide (12-1) team well-prepared in his third BCS Championship win. They played almost a perfect game, winning 21-0 against an LSU (13-1) team that was practically handed the trophy before the game even began. The win avenged a 9-6 overtime loss to the Tigers on November 5.
The game wasn't as close as the score. LSU only crossed the 50-yard line once on offense. The Crimson Tide did not turn the ball over and only committed only one penalty. Oh, and they also out-gained the Tigers 384-92 and won the first down battle, 21-5.
Heisman finalist Trent Richardson carried the ball 20 times for 96 yards and finally burst into the end zone with 4:36 left in the game. Sophomore quarterback A.J. McCarron also played brilliantly, earning the game's offensive MVP award by completing 23 of 34 passes for 234 yards. And kicker Jeremy Shelley converted on five of six field goal tries.
"It was a great team win," Saban said, stating the obvious.
The win also sealed a college football season with no unbeaten teams. So if you're an AP voter, are you satisfied with Alabama's split with LSU? National Champions, all there is to it?
It seems to me that the only way to get there is to assume the SEC is the best conference in the country, which it maybe is. But should that assumption be built into the system? Remember, this year's Big 12 won seven of their nine bowl games.
To be clear, I have no illusions that an Oklahoma State (12-1) or a Boise State (12-1) or a Houston (13-1) or even an Oregon (12-2) would have had much of a prayer against Alabama the way they played against LSU, so I suppose this year's final game offered more closure than some years.
But still, wouldn't it be cool to loop all those teams together in one, end-of-the-season shebang? You're telling me that event wouldn't rival the NFL playoffs or March Madness for the most exciting sporting event of the year?