David Crenshaw / AP

Running back Allen Patrick and Oklahoma could make a case for a split national title if they rout West Virginia and LSU barely wins, Matt Hayes of the Sporting News writes.

OPINION

By Matt Hayes

updated 11:28 a.m. ET Jan. 1, 2008

Matt Hayes

In one final, ironic twist to the weirdest season of all, the BCS ratings system left us with a No. 1 team (Ohio State) that nearly everyone outside Columbus thinks isn't No. 1 and a No. 2 (LSU) that somehow found a way to the game because, well, it had the fewest warts. We think.

This, of course, leads to the inevitable: The ever-fluctuating poll business ain't over yet. No matter what the BCS says, there still is an opportunity for a split national title. The Associated Press isn't part of the BCS party — and frankly, neither is Sporting News.

That makes this the most intriguing bowl season ever, which fits perfectly with the most insane season ever. Five BCS bowl games, six potential national champions. At this point — considering all that has happened this fall — why would anyone think the national championship race is limited to one game?

Just when you thought it was safe to pack away the improbable, we give you more reason to dance with it. Yes, the winner of Ohio State-LSU automatically wins the BCS national championship, but there are four other teams that can do enough to sway AP voters — and yeah, SN voters, too.

Ohio State
AP No. 1, BCS No. 1
The undisputed champion: The Big Ten is the worst league among the Big Six, and any team — even some Division I-AA schools — would kill for Ohio State's nonconference schedule. That said, a win over LSU should end the debate.

The Buckeyes would be the nation's only BCS team with one loss (with the possible exception of Kansas, but the Jayhawks aren't in the title hunt), and Ohio State would have beaten the champion of the SEC.

The split title: The Buckeyes are about as attractive as a New Orleans drag queen on a weekend bender. Never has a BCS No. 1 been so unloved. The Buckeyes didn't earn a spot in this game — it was given to them. Still, the only way OSU splits a championship is if something unexpected — a controversial ending to an awful game — happens.

Even then, that may not be enough.

LSU
AP No. 2, BCS No. 2
The undisputed champion: It comes down to this: LSU can't afford another overtime or last-minute win, especially with the preconceived unworthiness — fair or not — of Ohio State.

The Tigers have to win big and make a statement. A so-so win would simply magnify the flaws of the BCS championship game and how it came about.

College football Complete recaps of all 32 games

The split title: Winning ugly opens up all kinds of possibilities for the remaining four hopefuls. Because when it comes down to numbers, LSU would have two losses — just like Oklahoma, Georgia, Virginia Tech and USC.

The strength-of-conference argument that was so prominent in the fall won't help this time around. The SEC isn't significantly better than the Pac-10 or Big 12.

Oklahoma
AP No. 3, BCS No. 4

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The split title: Step 1: LSU wins ugly. Step 2: The Sooners roll West Virginia in the Fiesta Bowl — or win an all-time classic game. The Mountaineers are much better than they showed in that loss to Pitt — which wouldn't have happened with a healthy Pat White — and OU is playing better than anyone in the country.

This clearly is the best bowl matchup — one AP voters will watch closely.

The drawback: If Oklahoma's big win against top-ranked Missouri in the Big 12 championship game wasn't enough to sway voters, how can this game make it happen? There will have to be a ton of energy and big plays; a grudge match won't cut it.

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