Note: Staff writer J.P. Giglio is one of 60 voters for The Associated Press' college football poll.
After Louisiana State's 21-0 loss to Alabama in the Bowl Championship Series title game Monday night, Tigers coach Les Miles stopped short of asking Associated Press voters for a split national title. Even he knew it was a lost cause after his team's uninspired performance.
Alabama, with the first shutout in a BCS title game, left no room for doubt Monday night at the Superdome - despite a 9-6 regular-season loss to LSU - that it was the better team. And that's why I voted the Crimson Tide No. 1 in my AP ballot.
A close loss by LSU, and I would have voted for the Tigers. The teams split their two games this season, and LSU had a better resume, with wins against Oregon, West Virginia and Georgia.
"This football team has as quality a run as there is in this country," Miles said. "Played eight nationally ranked teams. Played in six stadiums before the SEC championship game, which we won as well. I think this team accomplished a lot. I think that's for the voters to figure."
In this particular case - the second rematch in college football's convoluted but distinguished history of the mythical national championship - every avenue is worth exploring.
To argue otherwise would be both myopic and guilty of conforming with a fraudulent system for the sake of conformity.
There is nothing "embarrassing" or nonsensical - as an ESPN radio host and Yahoo! Sports have characterized my deliberations - about evaluating the entire season. You shouldn't vote simply because the "BCS says so."
But that's not how the game played out Monday. With its dominant performance - and by holding LSU to 92 yards of offense absolutely meets the definition - Alabama closed the door on any alternative arguments for the AP's champion.
As for the rest of the Top 25, the disappointing finish for the ACC (a 2-6 bowl record) is reflected in where I had the top two teams - No. 22 Clemson and No. 23 Virginia Tech.
Florida State made the AP poll (at No. 23) but not my ballot.
Giglio's poll
Rank | Previous | |
1. | Alabama | (3) |
2. | LSU | (1) |
3. | Oklahoma State | (2) |
4. | Boise State | (4) |
5. | USC | (5) |
6. | Oregon | (6) |
7. | Arkansas | (8) |
8. | South Carolina | (9) |
9. | Michigan State | (11) |
10. | Stanford | (7) |
11. | Michigan | (13) |
12. | Wisconsin | (10) |
13. | Baylor | (15) |
14. | TCU | (12) |
15. | West Virginia | (23) |
16. | Oklahoma | (19) |
17. | Southern Miss | (20) |
18. | Houston | (21) |
19. | Kansas State | (14) |
20. | Georgia | (18) |
21. | Cincinnati | (NR) |
22. | Clemson | (16) |
23. | Virginia Tech | (17) |
24. | Auburn | (NR) |
25. | Nebraska | (22) |
Out: Arkansas State (24), Penn State (25)
