Should there be a shared BCS National Championship Game between Alabama and LSU? How about a playoff system that involved Stanford and Oklahoma State? Let the arguments begin. Alabama dominated LSU in the BCS National Championship game beating them 21-0. That will give Alabama their 14th national championship. Is Alabama deserving of the national championship or should it be split?
LSU (13-1) has a better record than Alabama (12-1) due to LSU’s win over Georgia in the SEC Championship game. LSU played the tougher schedule than Alabama by beating #4 Oregon and a ranked West Virginia team during their non conference schedule. LSU also beat Alabama 9-6 in Tuscaloosa during the regular SEC season. By giving Alabama the national championship the NCAA is encouraging teams to play weaker schedules. LSU did not gain anything by playing challenging games early in the season. Had they played cupcakes they would have still been in the BCS National Championship game. The only thing that LSU gained by beating Alabama during the season was a chance to lose in the SEC championship game versus Georgia. They also won the SEC title, but what does that mean when their conference foe Alabama has the national championship trophy?
How about Oklahoma State? They weren’t even invited to the BCS Championship party. The new trend for the AP and USA Today voters seem to be that if you are from a conference other than the SEC, then your team must go undefeated to play in the BCS Championship Game. One slip up for Stanford and Oklahoma State eliminated them both from national championship competition. Meanwhile, Alabama sat home during championship week watching LSU and Oklahoma State win their conferences from the comfort of their living rooms. Oklahoma State went on to beat Stanford in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl giving them a 12-1 record to go along with their Big 12 championship.
There should not be a 3 way split national championship with Alabama (12-1), LSU (13-1) and Oklahoma State (12-1), but you can make an argument that LSU and Oklahoma State deserve some kind of recognition for their great seasons. This season is another case where one more game between Oklahoma State and Alabama would be nice. That way we could settle it on the field. Until the NCAA finally gives its fans the playoff system that we crave, the NCAA will continue to leave the BCS Championship in the hands of the voters. It is time to finally abandon these bowls like the NCAA abandoned New Years Day and settle this argument on the field.