The spectacle of Oklahoma State and Stanford tied 31-31 with a quarter to go

[cthulu2016]

does make me want to see both teams play one of the mega-defenses (LSU/Bama)

And the 9-6 LSU v. Bama game was not really a very good game and would make for a poor national championship game.

But I can't make an argument that any other possible #2 team is better than Alabama.

Upshot: LSU is the national champion (in my mind) even if Alabama wins the championship game easily. They would have the same record, having lost only to each other and LSU beat Alabama in Alabama.

[KamaAina]

1. The specter of Stanford blowing a game-winning figgie with three goddamn seconds to go

makes me urgently want to

[bluedigger]

2. How about twice?

[guitar man]

3. Exactly

Go Cowboys!!

[JVS]

4. Kyle Brotzman lives on!

[KamaAina]

7. The little turd will never kick for Stanford again

but he can always go out for band.

[Syrinx]

5. "LSU v. Bama game was not really a very good game"

Are you possibly serious? That was one of the very best games I've seen in a very long time. And I say that as a 'Bama fan.

And about your upshot... if Alabama wins the game, I'm reasonably sure it will be in Louisiana.

LSU will have defeated Alabama in Alabama during the regular season, and Alabama will have defeated Louisiana State University in Louisiana, in the NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP GAME.

[trumad]

6. Agree

Mega Defensive struggles are such a relief in this offensive crazy season.

[ScreamingMeemie]

8. As far as I'm concerned there isn't a championship game.

It was fun the first time. Now? A good team (LSU) against a team that doesn't deserve it? Ahhhhh...I'd rather watch ESPN Classic and some real championship matchups.

[Syrinx]

9. there isn't an official NCAA championship game, because there's no playoff

And that's all about the money.

I'm all for a playoff system just like they have in basketball, or in smaller-college football.

But until we get that, the BCS title game is the championship game.

LSU might kick Alabama's ass, and my objection will become moot.

But why do you say that Alabama doesn't deserve to be in the game? Which team deserves it more?

[ScreamingMeemie]

10. Honestly?

Because I'm stuck down here with a bunch of Bama fans and I'm a little smacky about it. They're almost as bad as fans of other teams who shall not be named.

[Syrinx]

13. At least you used sound reasoning.

[cthulu2016]

11. There was as much misexecution on offense as good defense

I love a god defnesive game but that was a sloppy, unsatisfying game Alabama totaly outplayed LSU in the first half with very little to show for it, and it wasn't all brilliant LSU defense acounting for it.

And any modern college game that goes into overtime is a bad game, IMO, because the overtime rules are so antithetical to football that I feel like I'm watching a scrimage or exhibition of some sort.

I really think Alabama is probably the better team and expected them to handle LSU in their previous meeting.

My contention that LSU is national champion in all scenarios is partly as a protest against the college tradition of late-season games somehow counting more, partly a protest against the lack of a *simple* playoff (4 team field), and partly because the nat champ game supposed to be a neutral site game and it isn't LSU's fault that it isn't.

[Syrinx]

12. I agree with you about overtime in college football

It seems that the coin toss has too much influence on the outcome, though I haven't researched this at all. It just seems intuitive.

Maybe they should just play additional "quarters" until the thing is settled. Or just go back to the old days and accept "kissing your sister." I don't know. But I don't like the current system so much.