Collegiate Times

Mike Platania

The odds that the top two teams in the nation are in the same division of the same conference are incredibly low, but due to a wild year in college football, Louisiana State University and Alabama have found themselves ranked No. 1 and No. 2, respectively.

If there were ever a year that tested the effectiveness of the Bowl Championship Series, it’s this year, and if they choose LSU and Alabama to meet again in the National Championship Game, it’ll show that the BCS system is flawed.

LSU has been absolutely dominant this year. They opened the year in a marquee game against Oregon and managed to slow down the Ducks high-speed offense, something very few teams can do.

Just this past weekend the Tigers steamrolled No. 3 Arkansas, 41-17, overcoming an early 14-0 deficit. Even if Georgia finds a way to steal a win against LSU in the Southeastern Conference Championship Game, LSU’s resume is strong enough that it should still warrant a berth into the National Championship.

Alabama has also had a stellar season. But the Crimson Tide lost their lone game against top-10 competition when they fell to No. 1 LSU at home, while LSU is 3-0 against top-10 teams.    

In the “Game of the Century” earlier in November, the Crimson Tide welcomed the Tigers into their stadium in a game that had major BCS implications, or so it seemed.

LSU would prove to be the better team as it won 9-6 in overtime. The Bayou Bengals played disciplined defense, contained running back Trent Richardson and silenced more than 100,000
screaming fans in Tuscaloosa, Ala. LSU beat ’Bama in its house.

There is no reason the Tigers should have to prove they are better again, especially on a bigger stage with the crystal football on the line. The BCS claims that “every game matters,” but if Alabama is chosen to go to New Orleans, then its previous game against LSU didn’t mean
anything.

The Crimson Tide missed four field goals, and making one of those would have changed the game entirely. Alabama failed to make the most of its chances against LSU, and it shouldn’t be rewarded for its mistakes with a berth to the national championship game.

If Alabama can’t beat LSU in its own backyard, what makes you think it can win in the Superdome in New Orleans, which will essentially be a home game for LSU?

There are a number of other teams more deserving than Alabama. Houston is undefeated and Boise State has one loss, but both played remarkably soft schedules. And even if they were both undefeated, it isn’t likely they’d be ranked any higher than they are now.

Stanford and Virginia Tech are very similar. Both of their losses have come at home and by a wide margin. The biggest difference between the two is that the Hokies have a chance to win their conference and beat Clemson in the Atlantic Coast Conference Championship Game.  

Oklahoma State has the best chance at passing Alabama in the rankings, as it faces off against No. 10 Oklahoma this weekend in the Bedlam game. If they can beat the Sooners convincingly, they just might hop Alabama in the rankings.

So please, BCS selection committee, save the nation from another snore fest and don’t put Alabama in the National Championship. 

Whether it’s the Cowboys, Cardinal or the Hokies, pit someone else against the Tigers. Besides, no one really wants to watch another game without any touchdowns, right?

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A version of this article appeared in the Dec 1 issue of the Collegiate Times.