Could LSU lose to Alabama in the National Championship and still be #1?

[Villain]

Who cares if the voters think they are number 1? The BCS game is what matters the most. Being ranked number 1 just gets you into that game. The winner of the Championship match is the Champion. Period.

It's like saying that it doesn't matter that the Patriots lost in the superbowl against the Giants because they were still number 1 in voting. BFD. Superbowl is all that matters. The shit that happened prior gets you in. It's all whiped clean and gone once that whistle is blown and the opening kickoff is flying down the field.

EDIT: Just read that Saban made that same point. Good for him. Here's an alternate example: Boxing. If the Pac-man beats you 3 times along with 40 other dudes, then you come up and knock him out on your 4th try... Guess what? The belt is yours.

[EmpireWF]

Course not.

[SethMode]

I don't agree with the article, but more than that I disagree with you using "irregardless".

[NAHSTE]

If LSU loses, they will have beaten 3 of the 5 BCS bowl game winners in the regular season.

[MrBill]

The BCS should have implemented a rule a long time ago that states you can't play in the national title game if you didn't win your conference.

[DSpydr84]

lol at everyone missing the obvious.


Alabama doesn't deserve to be #2.




































(but hey, I'll take it! )

[Golden Taters]

Who cares if the voters think they are number 1? The BCS game is what matters the most. Being ranked number 1 just gets you into that game. The winner of the Championship match is the Champion. Period.

It's like saying that it doesn't matter that the Patriots lost in the superbowl against the Giants because they were still number 1 in voting. BFD. Superbowl is all that matters. The shit that happened prior gets you in. It's all whiped clean and gone once that whistle is blown and the opening kickoff is flying down the field.

EDIT: Just read that Saban made that same point. Good for him. Here's an alternate example: Boxing. If the Pac-man beats you 3 times along with 40 other dudes, then you come up and knock him out on your 4th try... Guess what? The belt is yours.

I see what you're saying, but the NFL has a proper playoff system in place, the NCAA doesn't. As a result, this will always lead to discussion of who is actually the number 1 team. I strongly agree with this quote from the article..

"How in the world can they be the SEC West champ, the outright SEC champ, and lose to Alabama in a "neutral" site game (I guess you can debate the Superdome being a neutral site) after they have already beaten them in Tuscaloosa, have the series split 1-1 and not at least have a share of the national title?"

There is so much importance on the regular season and pre-season polls (which I believe have no importance) that it would be hard to skip over LSU if they lose to Alabama. Without a playoff, you may have to look at the team's full body of work, in this case LSU is the best team in the nation (barring a very major blowout).

[ZoneBlitz]

I see what you're saying, but the NFL has a proper playoff system in place, the NCAA doesn't. As a result, this will always lead to discussion of who is actually the number 1 team. I strongly agree with this quote from the article..

"How in the world can they be the SEC West champ, the outright SEC champ, and lose to Alabama in a "neutral" site game (I guess you can debate the Superdome being a neutral site) after they have already beaten them in Tuscaloosa, have the series split 1-1 and not at least have a share of the national title?"

There is so much importance on the regular season and pre-season polls (which I believe have no importance) that it would be hard to skip over LSU if they lose to Alabama. Without a playoff, you may have to look at the team's full body of work, in this case LSU is the best team in the nation (barring a very major blowout).

Its called the BCS Championship Game for a reason. The point of the BCS was to put #1 vs #2 to play for the title...not to play a random bowl game with equal importance as the regular season.

[FirstTimer]

Its called the BCS Championship Game for a reason. The point of the BCS was to put #1 vs #2 to play for the title...not to play a random bowl game with equal importance as the regular season.

And Alabama would win the BCS title....the writers can still vote however they want to. They aren't playing for the AP Poll title.

[ZoneBlitz]

And Alabama would win the BCS title....the writers can still vote however they want to. They aren't playing for the AP Poll title.

True.

In that case, we'd need to get rid of the AP poll if we are to have a playoff. Even with a playoff, you could have a #1 seed narrowly eliminated in the 1st round and still winning the AP poll if they had a stronger overall season than whoever won the playoff.

[FirstTimer]

True.

In that case, we'd need to get rid of the AP poll if we are to have a playoff. Even with a playoff, you could have a #1 seed narrowly eliminated in the 1st round and still winning the AP poll if they had a stronger overall season than whoever won the playoff.

I really really doubt that would happen.

Like REALLY doubt it.

[ZoneBlitz]

I really really doubt that would happen.

Like REALLY doubt it.

Unlikely, but possible...if the playoff winner was some darkhorse team with more losses.

Even more likely:

If there was a playoff this year, the last 2 teams standing would probably be LSU & Alabama...so it would be the exact same scenario we have now.

[ZoneBlitz]

Another scenario: Say we had a playoff this year and Oregon beat LSU in the title game...Oregon would still have more losses, and would have split the overall series with LSU.

Its not only possible but its very possible (that a team other than the playoff winner wins the AP).

AP polls and playoffs dont mix.

[KNUBB]

Another scenario: Say we had a playoff this year and Oregon beat LSU in the title game...Oregon would still have more losses, and would have split the overall series with LSU.

Its not only possible but its very possible (that a team other than the playoff winner wins the AP).

AP polls and playoffs dont mix.

A playoff would be more respectable for a rematch and I don't think a split would be the case.

[ZoneBlitz]

A playoff would be more respectable for a rematch and I don't think a split would be the case.

Why not? Oregon would have 1 more loss than LSU, and weaker SOS, and the H2H series would be split.

AP polls wouldnt be obligated to crown the playoff winner...they can choose any of the playoff teams they like most.