SB Nation Boston - BCS National Championship, Alabama Vs. LSU: Crimson Tide Roll To 21-0 Winhttps://cdn.vox-cdn.com/community_logos/48863/boston-fave.png2012-01-10T09:38:59-05:00http://boston.sbnation.com/rss/stream/24599522012-01-10T09:38:59-05:002012-01-10T09:38:59-05:00BCS Standings: Alabama Finishes As Unanimous No. 1
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<p>The final 2011-12 college football rankings were released Monday night, and it was an almost unanimous decision that the Alabama Crimson Tide, who dominated Southeastern Conference rival, LSU Tigers, 21-0, in the BCS National Title Game at the Mercedes-Benz Super Dome in New Orleans, LA, is the No. 1 team in the country.</p>
<p>Alabama (12-1) finished with 55 of 60 first-place votes in the <a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/ncaa/polls/ap/?eref=sinav">AP Poll</a>, while it was a unanimous decision in <a href="http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/ncaa/polls/coaches/">USA Today/Coaches Poll</a>.</p>
<p>Here's is the final AP and USA Today/Coaches rankings and BCS standings:</p>
<p></p>
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<h3>Football Rankings</h3>
<ul id="rankingsTabs" class="pane-tabs pane-tabs3 clearfix">
<li><a href="#ap">AP</a></li>
<li><a href="#bcs">BCS</a></li>
<li><a href="#usa%20today">USA Today</a></li>
</ul>
<div id="ap" class="pane-body pane-body-tabs">
<table class="zebra">
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Rank</th> <th>Team</th> <th> Points </th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td class="td-first">1</td>
<td class="td-name"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/alabama-crimson-tide">Alabama Crimson Tide</a></td>
<td class="td-last">1495</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first">2</td>
<td class="td-name"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/lsu-tigers">LSU Tigers</a></td>
<td class="td-last">1425</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first">3</td>
<td class="td-name"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/oklahoma-st-cowboys">Oklahoma St. Cowboys</a></td>
<td class="td-last">1399</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first">4</td>
<td class="td-name"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/oregon-ducks">Oregon Ducks</a></td>
<td class="td-last">1250</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first">5</td>
<td class="td-name"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/arkansas-razorbacks">Arkansas Razorbacks</a></td>
<td class="td-last">1198</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first">6</td>
<td class="td-name"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/usc-trojans">USC Trojans</a></td>
<td class="td-last">1181</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first">7</td>
<td class="td-name"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/stanford-cardinal">Stanford Cardinal</a></td>
<td class="td-last">1167</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first">8</td>
<td class="td-name"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/boise-st-broncos">Boise St. Broncos</a></td>
<td class="td-last">1127</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first">9</td>
<td class="td-name"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/south-carolina-gamecocks">South Carolina Gamecocks</a></td>
<td class="td-last">1013</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first">10</td>
<td class="td-name"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/wisconsin-badgers">Wisconsin Badgers</a></td>
<td class="td-last">905</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first">11</td>
<td class="td-name"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/michigan-st-spartans">Michigan St. Spartans</a></td>
<td class="td-last">873</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first">12</td>
<td class="td-name"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/michigan-wolverines">Michigan Wolverines</a></td>
<td class="td-last">839</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first">13</td>
<td class="td-name"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/baylor-bears">Baylor Bears</a></td>
<td class="td-last">780</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first">14</td>
<td class="td-name"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/tcu-horned-frogs">TCU Horned Frogs</a></td>
<td class="td-last">653</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first">15</td>
<td class="td-name"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/kansas-st-wildcats">Kansas St. Wildcats</a></td>
<td class="td-last">621</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first">16</td>
<td class="td-name"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/oklahoma-sooners">Oklahoma Sooners</a></td>
<td class="td-last">572</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first">17</td>
<td class="td-name"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/west-virginia-mountaineers">West Virginia Mountaineers</a></td>
<td class="td-last">547</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first">18</td>
<td class="td-name"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/houston-cougars">Houston Cougars</a></td>
<td class="td-last">518</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first">19</td>
<td class="td-name"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/georgia-bulldogs">Georgia Bulldogs</a></td>
<td class="td-last">439</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first">20</td>
<td class="td-name"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/southern-miss-golden-eagles">Southern Miss. Golden Eagles</a></td>
<td class="td-last">411</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first">21</td>
<td class="td-name"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/virginia-tech-hokies">Virginia Tech Hokies</a></td>
<td class="td-last">329</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first">22</td>
<td class="td-name"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/clemson-tigers">Clemson Tigers</a></td>
<td class="td-last">188</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first">23</td>
<td class="td-name"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/florida-st-seminoles">Florida St. Seminoles</a></td>
<td class="td-last">154</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first">24</td>
<td class="td-name"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/nebraska-cornhuskers">Nebraska Cornhuskers</a></td>
<td class="td-last">143</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first">25</td>
<td class="td-name"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/cincinnati-bearcats">Cincinnati Bearcats</a></td>
<td class="td-last">103</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
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<div id="bcs" class="pane-body pane-body-tabs">
<table class="zebra">
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Rank</th> <th>Team</th> <th> Avg </th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td class="td-first">1</td>
<td class="td-name"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/lsu-tigers">LSU Tigers</a></td>
<td class="td-last">1.000</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first">2</td>
<td class="td-name"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/alabama-crimson-tide">Alabama Crimson Tide</a></td>
<td class="td-last">.9419</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first">3</td>
<td class="td-name"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/oklahoma-st-cowboys">Oklahoma St. Cowboys</a></td>
<td class="td-last">.9333</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first">4</td>
<td class="td-name"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/stanford-cardinal">Stanford Cardinal</a></td>
<td class="td-last">.8476</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first">5</td>
<td class="td-name"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/oregon-ducks">Oregon Ducks</a></td>
<td class="td-last">.7901</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first">6</td>
<td class="td-name"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/arkansas-razorbacks">Arkansas Razorbacks</a></td>
<td class="td-last">.7687</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first">7</td>
<td class="td-name"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/boise-st-broncos">Boise St. Broncos</a></td>
<td class="td-last">.7408</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first">8</td>
<td class="td-name"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/kansas-st-wildcats">Kansas St. Wildcats</a></td>
<td class="td-last">.6827</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first">9</td>
<td class="td-name"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/south-carolina-gamecocks">South Carolina Gamecocks</a></td>
<td class="td-last">.6553</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first">10</td>
<td class="td-name"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/wisconsin-badgers">Wisconsin Badgers</a></td>
<td class="td-last">.6374</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first">11</td>
<td class="td-name"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/virginia-tech-hokies">Virginia Tech Hokies</a></td>
<td class="td-last">.5190</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first">12</td>
<td class="td-name"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/baylor-bears">Baylor Bears</a></td>
<td class="td-last">.4977</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first">13</td>
<td class="td-name"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/michigan-wolverines">Michigan Wolverines</a></td>
<td class="td-last">.4794</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first">14</td>
<td class="td-name"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/oklahoma-sooners">Oklahoma Sooners</a></td>
<td class="td-last">.4603</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first">15</td>
<td class="td-name"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/clemson-tigers">Clemson Tigers</a></td>
<td class="td-last">.4218</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first">16</td>
<td class="td-name"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/georgia-bulldogs">Georgia Bulldogs</a></td>
<td class="td-last">.4119</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first">17</td>
<td class="td-name"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/michigan-st-spartans">Michigan St. Spartans</a></td>
<td class="td-last">.3883</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first">18</td>
<td class="td-name"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/tcu-horned-frogs">TCU Horned Frogs</a></td>
<td class="td-last">.3869</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first">19</td>
<td class="td-name"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/houston-cougars">Houston Cougars</a></td>
<td class="td-last">.3504</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first">20</td>
<td class="td-name"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/nebraska-cornhuskers">Nebraska Cornhuskers</a></td>
<td class="td-last">.2606</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first">21</td>
<td class="td-name"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/southern-miss-golden-eagles">Southern Miss. Golden Eagles</a></td>
<td class="td-last">.1918</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first">22</td>
<td class="td-name"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/penn-st-nittany-lions">Penn St. Nittany Lions</a></td>
<td class="td-last">.1305</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first">23</td>
<td class="td-name"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/west-virginia-mountaineers">West Virginia Mountaineers</a></td>
<td class="td-last">.1233</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first">24</td>
<td class="td-name"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/texas-longhorns">Texas Longhorns</a></td>
<td class="td-last">.0876</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first">25</td>
<td class="td-name"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/auburn-tigers">Auburn Tigers</a></td>
<td class="td-last">.0584</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
</table>
</div>
<div id="usa today" class="pane-body pane-body-tabs">
<table class="zebra">
<thead>
<tr>
<th>Rank</th> <th>Team</th> <th> Points </th>
</tr>
</thead>
<tbody>
<tr>
<td class="td-first">1</td>
<td class="td-name"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/alabama-crimson-tide">Alabama Crimson Tide</a></td>
<td class="td-last">1,475</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first">2</td>
<td class="td-name"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/lsu-tigers">LSU Tigers</a></td>
<td class="td-last">1,404</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first">3</td>
<td class="td-name"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/oklahoma-st-cowboys">Oklahoma St. Cowboys</a></td>
<td class="td-last">1,367</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first">4</td>
<td class="td-name"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/oregon-ducks">Oregon Ducks</a></td>
<td class="td-last">1,290</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first">5</td>
<td class="td-name"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/arkansas-razorbacks">Arkansas Razorbacks</a></td>
<td class="td-last">1,188</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first">6</td>
<td class="td-name"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/boise-st-broncos">Boise St. Broncos</a></td>
<td class="td-last">1,162</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first">7</td>
<td class="td-name"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/stanford-cardinal">Stanford Cardinal</a></td>
<td class="td-last">1,106</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first">8</td>
<td class="td-name"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/south-carolina-gamecocks">South Carolina Gamecocks</a></td>
<td class="td-last">1,084</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first">9</td>
<td class="td-name"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/michigan-wolverines">Michigan Wolverines</a></td>
<td class="td-last">925</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first">10</td>
<td class="td-name"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/michigan-st-spartans">Michigan St. Spartans</a></td>
<td class="td-last">912</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first">11</td>
<td class="td-name"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/wisconsin-badgers">Wisconsin Badgers</a></td>
<td class="td-last">911</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first">12</td>
<td class="td-name"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/baylor-bears">Baylor Bears</a></td>
<td class="td-last">775</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first">13</td>
<td class="td-name"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/tcu-horned-frogs">TCU Horned Frogs</a></td>
<td class="td-last">710</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first">14</td>
<td class="td-name"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/houston-cougars">Houston Cougars</a></td>
<td class="td-last">673</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first">15</td>
<td class="td-name"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/oklahoma-sooners">Oklahoma Sooners</a></td>
<td class="td-last">610</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first">16</td>
<td class="td-name"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/kansas-st-wildcats">Kansas St. Wildcats</a></td>
<td class="td-last">602</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first">17</td>
<td class="td-name"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/virginia-tech-hokies">Virginia Tech Hokies</a></td>
<td class="td-last">574</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first">18</td>
<td class="td-name"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/west-virginia-mountaineers">West Virginia Mountaineers</a></td>
<td class="td-last">554</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first">19</td>
<td class="td-name"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/southern-miss-golden-eagles">Southern Miss. Golden Eagles</a></td>
<td class="td-last">429</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first">20</td>
<td class="td-name"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/georgia-bulldogs">Georgia Bulldogs</a></td>
<td class="td-last">345</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first">21</td>
<td class="td-name"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/cincinnati-bearcats">Cincinnati Bearcats</a></td>
<td class="td-last">248</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first">22</td>
<td class="td-name"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/clemson-tigers">Clemson Tigers</a></td>
<td class="td-last">237</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first">23</td>
<td class="td-name"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/florida-st-seminoles">Florida St. Seminoles</a></td>
<td class="td-last">205</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first">24</td>
<td class="td-name"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/nebraska-cornhuskers">Nebraska Cornhuskers</a></td>
<td class="td-last">144</td>
</tr>
<tr>
<td class="td-first">25</td>
<td class="td-name"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/byu-cougars">BYU Cougars</a></td>
<td class="td-last">79</td>
</tr>
</tbody>
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<p><i>For more 2012 BCS National Championship coverage, follow along with </i><a href="http://boston.sbnation.com/boston-college-eagles/2012/1/9/2695911/bcs-national-championship-alabama-vs-lsu-final-score-trent-richardson-aj-mccarron-jordan-jefferson">our stream</a><i>.</i></p>
https://boston.sbnation.com/boston-college-eagles/2012/1/10/2696411/bcs-rankings-standings-2012-ap-usa-today-coaches-top-25-pollJared Smith2012-01-10T09:02:11-05:002012-01-10T09:02:11-05:00Alabama Leaves No Doubt They Deserved BCS Championship Title
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<p>The Alabama Crimson Tide picked up right where they left off a little over two months ago in Tuscaloosa, dominating the line of scrimmage and moving the ball effectively. This time though, they left no doubt who the better team was.</p> <p>The <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/alabama-crimson-tide">Alabama Crimson Tide</a> picked up right where they left off a little over two months ago in Tuscaloosa, dominating the line of scrimmage and moving the ball effectively. This time though, they left no doubt who the better team was. After dominating almost every statistical category in the first meeting with the previously unbeaten <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/lsu-tigers">LSU Tigers</a> except the one that mattered, they dominated there as well, winning their second BCS National Championship trophy with a ferocious 21-0 thumping.</p>
<p>The series played out similar to the movie Rocky.</p>
<p>After the first meeting in November, the two teams stumbled off the field like Rocky Balboa and Apollo Creed with no clear winner. LSU, playing the part of Creed, was judged the winner despite a great deal of evidence to the contrary. It was one of the hardest hitting football games seen in quite some time, and by the end both teams closely resembled the bruised and battered faces of Balboa and Creed. In fact, if you squinted hard, you could almost see Les Miles tell Nick Saban in the post-game hand shake that "there ain't gonna be no rematch". No word on whether Saban said he didn't want one.</p>
<p>After some time off to lick their wounds, Alabama was granted a rematch and was determined not to let this one get to the scorecards. As opposed to Rocky II where Creed dominated Balboa until the latter stages of the fight, the Tide never let get LSU into the second meeting. They went right to work right where they left off and bruised and battered the Tigers into the corner before running back <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/78256/trent-richardson">Trent Richardson</a> landed the knockout punch late in the fourth quarter when he broke a 34 yard run around the left side and breached the end zone for the first time this season against the SEC Champions.</p>
<p>So how did they do it?</p>
<p>For the Crimson Tide, it was the quintessential perfect game. They allowed zero points to a Tigers offense that averaged over 36 per game against a very difficult schedule that included Rose Bowl champion Oregon, Orange Bowl champion West Virginia, and Cotton Bowl champion Arkansas, they didn't commit a penalty until there were less than two minutes to play in the football game, and maybe most importantly, they didn't turn the ball over once after doing it twice in the earlier meeting.</p>
<p>Not to be outdone, the Tide offense was terrific as well. Offensive MVP AJ McCarron showed great poise amid a strong pass rush from LSU and made some absolutely beautiful throws into the arms of senior wideout <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/9845/darius-hanks">Darius Hanks</a> and sophomore receiver <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/78287/kevin-norwood">Kevin Norwood</a>. The performance by McCarron was made even more impressive by the general ineffectiveness of Richardson for three quarters and the fact that the Tide lost leading receiver <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/9835/marquis-maze">Marquis Maze</a> in the second quarter to a hamstring injury.</p>
<p>As with the first game, special teams also played a critical role. Alabama missed on four of its six field goal attempts back in November while the Tigers were a perfect three for three. This time around, while they weren't perfect, kicker <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/78291/jeremy-shelley">Jeremy Shelley</a> made five of his seven field goal attempts with both misses coming from beyond 40 yards. In addition, the Tide didn't allow LSU Heisman candidate <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/116009/tyrann-mathieu">Tyrann Mathieu</a> to be a factor in the kick return game, allowing him just one opportunity to return a punt that went for a grand total of zero yards.</p>
<p>Essentially, Alabama didn't beat it self the way they did back in November.</p>
<p>For LSU though, this is something that will stick with them forever. Coming into the game off consecutive beatings of top 10 opponents Georgia and Arkansas, the Tigers were widely expected to win this game before a fairly partisan crowd just a few hours from their Baton Rouge campus. It was apparent early though that this game was simply too much for quarterback Jordan Jefferson. He was atrocious throughout the game, completely unable to get anything going either with his arms or his feet, and as the game progressed and the defense of Alabama, led by linebackers <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/35176/courtney-upshaw">Courtney Upshaw</a> and Dont'a Hightower, began to close in around him, Jefferson began to get happy feet and make mistakes. His third quarter interception was the beginning of the end for the Tigers who battled valiantly on defense, but couldn't produce any turnovers of their own.</p>
<p>By the third quarter, a genuine quarterback controversy was brewing as the LSU crowd began booing Jefferson with each successive poor throw or unproductive run, hoping for an appearance by oft-ridiculed <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/10506/jarrett-lee">Jarrett Lee</a>, who began the season as the starter by beating Oregon and West Virginia in non conference action before Jefferson worked his way back into the spot. The reality though, was that nobody (this means you, Oklahoma St.) would have been able to successfully throw the ball on this Crimson Tide defense, at least not on this night. They were simply too zoned in and too fast.</p>
<p>The win was as dominant a performance as any we've ever seen on the biggest stage that college football has.It harkened back to the night that Oklahoma officially ended the Florida St. dynasty in the 2001 Orange Bowl, winning the title by holding the mighty Seminole offense to zero points in a 13-2 win. When we look back on this Alabama team a few years from now, we may well recognize them as one of the best defensive teams the sport has ever seen.</p>
<p>It may not have been pretty, and you can certainly make a case that they weren't the second best team in the country six weeks ago, but Alabama put on a performance for the ages in New Orleans and erased the memories of the earlier meeting. When push came to shove, the Tide proved once and for all that they were the best team in America and deserved to be in the game and to hoist that crystal ball.</p>
https://boston.sbnation.com/boston-college-eagles/2012/1/10/2695904/alabama-vs-lsu-2012-bcs-championship-game-aj-mccarron-trent-richardson-courtney-upshaw-nick-sabanDave Shook2012-01-10T00:11:48-05:002012-01-10T00:11:48-05:00BCS National Championship: AJ McCarron, Courtney Upshaw Named MVPs
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<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/78259/a-j-mccarron">A.J. McCarron</a> and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/35176/courtney-upshaw">Courtney Upshaw</a> were named the offensive and defensive Most Valuable Players of the 2012 BCS National Championship Game, which featured the No. 2 ranked <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/alabama-crimson-tide">Alabama Crimson Tide</a> blanking the No. 1 ranked <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/lsu-tigers">LSU Tigers</a>, 21-0, on Monday night in New Orleans, Louisiana. </p>
<p>McCarron had 234 passing yards on 23-of-34 passing for Alabama, which totaled 384 yards in the blowout win. While McCarron did not throw a touchdown in the victory, he did not turn the ball over like his counterpart, Jordan Jefferson, who totaled a mere 53 passing yards on 11-of-17 passing for LSU. Upshaw had one sack and had seven tackles (six solo).</p>
<p>There was only one touchdown scored in the game on a 34-yard touchdown run by <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/78256/trent-richardson">Trent Richardson</a>. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/78291/jeremy-shelley">Jeremy Shelley</a> kicked five field goals -- one in the first quarter, two in the second and two in the third -- to lead the Crimson Tide.</p>
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<td class="td-name"><span class="win"> <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/alabama-crimson-tide">Alabama Crimson Tide</a> </span></td>
<td>3</td>
<td>6</td>
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<td>0</td>
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<td>0</td>
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<p class="foot clearfix"><span class="link-more"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/events/84552">Complete Coverage ></a></span></p>
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<p><i>For more 2012 BCS National Championship coverage, follow along with </i><a href="http://boston.sbnation.com/boston-college-eagles/2012/1/9/2695911/bcs-national-championship-alabama-vs-lsu-final-score-trent-richardson-aj-mccarron-jordan-jefferson">our stream</a><i>.</i></p>
https://boston.sbnation.com/boston-college-eagles/2012/1/10/2695943/bcs-national-championship-alabama-vs-lsu-aj-mccarron-courtney-upshaw-mvpGethin Coolbaugh2012-01-09T23:42:56-05:002012-01-09T23:42:56-05:00BCS National Championship, Alabama Vs. LSU: Crimson Tide Blank Tigers, 21-0
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<p>Trent Richardson rushed for 96 yards and the game's only touchdown as the No. 2 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide upset the No. 1 ranked LSU Tigers, 21-0, to win the BCS National Championship on Monday night in New Orleans, LA.</p> <p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/78256/trent-richardson">Trent Richardson</a> rushed for 96 yards and the game's only touchdown as the No. 2 ranked Alabama Crimson Tide upset the No. 1 ranked LSU Tigers, 21-0, to win the BCS National Championship on Monday night in New Orleans, LA.</p>
<p>Richardson and the Crimson Tide (12-1) offense racked up 384 total yards (234 passing, 150 rushing) en route to their 14th national title. <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/78259/a-j-mccarron">A.J. McCarron</a> completed 23-of-34 passes for 234 yards and <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/78287/kevin-norwood">Kevin Norwood</a> had four catches for 78 yards. The Crimson completed a nearly perfect season, with their only loss coming to LSU, 9-6, in the regular season.</p>
<p>LSU (13-1) was putrid on offense, totaling 92 yards (53 passing, 39 rushing). Jordan Jefferson completed just 11-of-17 passes for 53 yards and threw one interception. The Tigers' leading rusher, <a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/131961/kenny-hilliard">Kenny Hilliard</a>, had 16 yards on five carries and their leading receiver, Odell Beckham, totaled 38 yards on five catches.</p>
<p><a class="sbn-auto-link" href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/players/78291/jeremy-shelley">Jeremy Shelley</a> kicked five field goals in the victory -- one in the first quarter, two in the second quarter and two in the third -- for Alabama. Richardson's 34-yard run down the left sideline was the only touchdown of the game.</p>
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<td class="td-name"><span class="win"> <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/alabama-crimson-tide">Alabama Crimson Tide</a> </span></td>
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<td>6</td>
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<td class="td-name"><span class="loss"> <a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/teams/lsu-tigers">LSU Tigers</a> </span></td>
<td>0</td>
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<p class="foot clearfix"><span class="link-more"><a href="http://www.sbnation.com/ncaa-football/events/84552">Complete Coverage ></a></span></p>
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<p><i>For more 2012 BCS National Championship coverage, follow along with </i><a href="http://boston.sbnation.com/boston-college-eagles/2012/1/9/2695911/bcs-national-championship-alabama-vs-lsu-final-score-trent-richardson-aj-mccarron-jordan-jefferson">our stream</a><i>.</i></p>
https://boston.sbnation.com/boston-college-eagles/2012/1/9/2695871/bcs-national-championship-alabama-vs-lsu-final-score-trent-richardson-aj-mccarron-jordan-jeffersonGethin Coolbaugh