For What It's Worth: LSU Deserves the National Championship
When the Georgia Bulldogs pounded Hawaii in the Sugar Bowl, the last undefeated team in the Bowl Championship Subdivision lost. Or so it would seem. LSU Coach Les Miles commented that the Tigers had not lost in regulation all season long after LSU lost in triple overtime to Arkansas the day after Thanksgiving. I think a few people thought Miles was delusional. Unfortunately for everyone else in college football, he was right. And, now, his words ring more true than ever.
No one else in college football (the Bowl Subdivision) is undefeated. Not Hawaii, not the Patriots (wait, they play in the NFL), not anyone. Hawaii, who lost to Georgia (see above) and Kansas stand as the two one loss teams. Even Ohio State, who had just one loss entering the National Title game, now has two losses. Kansas and Hawaii are the closest thing to perfect records as we have. Further, their is a line of two loss teams, some who won their bowl game, who are considered top 5 teams. West Virginia, Missouri, USC, Georgia all have two losses and closed with quality wins in bowl games.
Let's consider Miles' argument that the Tigers have not lost in regulation the entire season. It is true. In days past, as he mentioned, the old system which did not include overtime would have been in place. Therefore, the Tigers or one of the two opponents which they lost to in overtime, Kentucky or Arkansas, would have had to either go for the win or the tie in those games. I do not think that this LSU team would have lost both games in that situation. At worse, I think LSU would have been 11-1-1 (remember, they won the in SEC Title Game, 13 games played) . It is possible to have been 11-0-2. That would be good enough to deserve the National Title.
But let's look at this year. No other team in the country was undefeated in regulation. No one else. LSU was. It was a remarkable feat considering the number of injuries this team endured. LSU could have said folded when the injuries hit them, but they fought on. They played, week in and week out, the best competition from the best conference in the country. They took everyone's best shot.
The National Champion in the Bowl Subdivision of college football has always been about who was the best team from the beginning to the end. It rewarded the team who played the best all year long, not just the last half of the season or whenever. But, it is also about being better than everyone else. This year, each time a team was on the verge of taking the National Title by the horns, they faltered. LSU was given another shot, and they took it. And, they beat the team who earned the right more than anyone else to be in that game on Monday night, Ohio State. Ohio State did everything that would be asked of them to make it to the game. They won their conference title and they finished with fewer losses than anyone else among the BCS conference champions.
When the dust cleared, LSU was the only team remaining. And in a year in which college football was so whacky to follow, it is fitting that the champion has two losses, even if they came in overtime.
By the way, the champions of the Championship Subdivision, Appalachian State, has two losses. They beat all comers on the field in a 16 team playoff. Their record was 13-2 compared to LSU's 12-2. I think LSU's record is good enough.
Oh yeah, some kind of play-off is going to be coming soon to the Bowl Subdivision. It would be a shame if the NCAA has to rename its subdivisions again if a playoff is developed for the Bowl Subdivision.
No one else in college football (the Bowl Subdivision) is undefeated. Not Hawaii, not the Patriots (wait, they play in the NFL), not anyone. Hawaii, who lost to Georgia (see above) and Kansas stand as the two one loss teams. Even Ohio State, who had just one loss entering the National Title game, now has two losses. Kansas and Hawaii are the closest thing to perfect records as we have. Further, their is a line of two loss teams, some who won their bowl game, who are considered top 5 teams. West Virginia, Missouri, USC, Georgia all have two losses and closed with quality wins in bowl games.
Let's consider Miles' argument that the Tigers have not lost in regulation the entire season. It is true. In days past, as he mentioned, the old system which did not include overtime would have been in place. Therefore, the Tigers or one of the two opponents which they lost to in overtime, Kentucky or Arkansas, would have had to either go for the win or the tie in those games. I do not think that this LSU team would have lost both games in that situation. At worse, I think LSU would have been 11-1-1 (remember, they won the in SEC Title Game, 13 games played) . It is possible to have been 11-0-2. That would be good enough to deserve the National Title.
But let's look at this year. No other team in the country was undefeated in regulation. No one else. LSU was. It was a remarkable feat considering the number of injuries this team endured. LSU could have said folded when the injuries hit them, but they fought on. They played, week in and week out, the best competition from the best conference in the country. They took everyone's best shot.
The National Champion in the Bowl Subdivision of college football has always been about who was the best team from the beginning to the end. It rewarded the team who played the best all year long, not just the last half of the season or whenever. But, it is also about being better than everyone else. This year, each time a team was on the verge of taking the National Title by the horns, they faltered. LSU was given another shot, and they took it. And, they beat the team who earned the right more than anyone else to be in that game on Monday night, Ohio State. Ohio State did everything that would be asked of them to make it to the game. They won their conference title and they finished with fewer losses than anyone else among the BCS conference champions.
When the dust cleared, LSU was the only team remaining. And in a year in which college football was so whacky to follow, it is fitting that the champion has two losses, even if they came in overtime.
By the way, the champions of the Championship Subdivision, Appalachian State, has two losses. They beat all comers on the field in a 16 team playoff. Their record was 13-2 compared to LSU's 12-2. I think LSU's record is good enough.
Oh yeah, some kind of play-off is going to be coming soon to the Bowl Subdivision. It would be a shame if the NCAA has to rename its subdivisions again if a playoff is developed for the Bowl Subdivision.
Labels: For What It's Worth
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