Before writing this article, I questioned whether it was even worth the trouble.As fans of college football, we’ve come to expect each season to be flavored with the usual potpourri of upsets and strange outcomes.
That said, 2007 has been one the wildest years in recent memory—and the race for the two spots in the BCS title game is as wide open as ever.
Below is my top five. I made an effort to consider as many relevant factors as possible, and unlike the voters, I'm not necessarily a sucker for an undefeated record or a recent loss...
1. Ohio State
Pros
The Buckeyes are an outstanding, balanced football team—they lead the nation in scoring defense, and their offense is putting up 35 points a contest.
I'm not sure whether it's Boeckman that makes Robiskie and Hartline good or vice-versa. Either way, Ohio State's passing offense is a capable, productive unit that complements Chris Wells and Co. very nicely.
Once could make a case for the Buckeye D's being the best in the nation, but that title still probably goes to LSU. Linebacker James Lauranitis anchors a smothering and athletic unit that features one of a only a handful of shutdown corners in college football—Malcolm Jenkins.
Many of the teams in the title hunt have stellar passing games, so having Jenkins on the national championship stage will be beneficial...should the Buckeyes get there.
Against LSU or Oklahoma, Jenkins' ability to play on an island against either Early Doucet or Malcom Kelly would be invaluable for the Buckeyes.
Jim Tressell is one of the most respected, studious coaches in the country. Though last year's national championship stands out as an ugly outlier, he's one of the nation's better game-planners.
Lastly, Ohio State is a seasoned program with quite a pedigree. Such a trait could prove valuable in a title game against programs like USF, BC, or Kentucky—all tenderfoots on the national stage.
Cons
Are the Buckeyes legit—or is their dominance the product of a weak schedule?
In my opinion, they really are that good—though if we've learned anything from the season thus far, it's that nothing is certain.
The Buckeyes remaining schedule is challenging, with a three-game set against Wisconsin, Illinois, and a resurgent Michigan squad to close out the season. It's a shame the Big Ten doesn't have a conference championship to give us another look at the Buckeyes in a tough game.
Bottom Line: It's rare, and perhaps ultimately discouraging, to have questions surrounding the consensus No. 1 team in the country. Nonetheless, all relevant factors considered, I think OSU has to be called the cream of the crop right now.
2. LSU
Pros
The Tiger D should still be considered tops in the country despite a subpar outing vs. Kentucky.
One game doesn't define a unit, and "subpar" for the Tigers is "par" for the majority of teams.
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