LSU vs. Alabama. Not the game of the century, but once again the BCS, despite all the criticism it gets, has done its job once again by putting the best two teams against each other to determine a champion. I hate that they're 2 SEC teams, but does anyone think Oklahoma State, Stanford, Oregon, Wisconsin, or anyone else is better than either of these teams?
With the resurgence of teams like USC, Michigan, and Oklahoma State, next year we should hopefully have the possibility of a non-SEC team in the BCS championship. But this year, no one else has a case. Sorry Cowboys, losing to Iowa State disqualifies you, I'm sorry. Not only are they a horrible team, but it came at a time when you just can't lose.
Living in a college football world where other teams can challenge some SEC teams is obviously the best scenario for everyone. But next year, there are still only a number of teams who can compete with the cream of the crop of the SEC. Here they are:
Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, USC, Stanford, Oregon, Wisconsin, Michigan, Nebraska, Michigan State, and of course, Ohio State. I'm just talking about competing with their best, not necessarily being better. There are some teams who are almost there:
Virginia Tech, TCU, Clemson, Baylor, West Virginia, Florida State, Penn State, Texas (having a couple down years), and Boise State.
Unfortunately, several of these teams (Stanford, Penn State, Baylor) are on the down-swing after their star QB's or NCAA-hit sanctions finish their toll. The worst is over for USC who next year will be bowl-eligible led by possibly the best QB in the country next year. Ohio State had its down year this past year but with coach Urban Meyer running the show, the Buckeyes will have made it through this ordeal with just one down year.
Looking at the SEC rundown, there are several teams already poised for a championship next year:
LSU, Alabama, Auburn, South Carolina, and Arkansas.
Not to mention some on-the-cusp teams who are just a few players away from having a great team:
Georgia, Florida, Texas A&M, and Missouri.
As a Big Ten fan, I hate acknowledging how good the SEC is. But until teams can consistently knock them off (not just USC but multiple teams), they have bragging rights. I think the Big Ten is the closest conference to them right now. To determine the best conferences, I think you can use the eyeball test to see how far down the depth chart they go. That will be a different article.
For now, just know the best 2 teams this year are in the championship. The BCS got it right again.
