If LSU Wins, Should Kansas Get the AP Title?

It's ironic in a year in which the National Parity League fields a football juggernaut in the New England Patriots, that college football finds itself staring down the barrel of its first ever two-loss national champion.

If LSU beats Ohio State on Monday night, the Tigers will be crowned the BCS national champion. This despite regular season losses to middle-of-the-road schools Arkansas and Kentucky.

One of the hallmarks of college football is its propensity to field titan teams year in and year out. Just two seasons ago, the sport was blessed with two -- USC and Texas -- who laid waste to a slate of formidable opponents all season, culminating in a hard-fought battle between two greats. Before them, in addition to USC, we saw seasons dominated by the likes of Oklahoma, LSU, Ohio State and Miami. In the 90s, Nebraska and Florida State were the perennial goliaths. In the 80s, everybody feared Miami. And so on and so far.

Last year saw a bit of a slide in quality. Ohio State put in an impressive regular-season run only to get clobbered by a one-loss Florida squad for the title.

This year, everybody collapsed.

And so we're left with this. LSU is less than a week away from potentially wearing the crown of prettiest pig of 2007. If Ohio State wins, this should all be moot. They'll be 12-1 and a consensus national champion. The Kansas Jayhawks, also with one loss would likely end up number two in the polls.

Both Ohio State and Kansas played weak non-conference schedules. Ohio State has a signature win over Michigan (bolstered by the Wolverines impressive win over Florida in the Capital One Bowl). Kansas got their signature win on Thursday night by beating Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl. Missouri's domination of Arkansas gives a little boost to Kansas whereas, Illinois' Rose Bowl performance sullies the Buckeyes a tad. Still, with a win over LSU, Ohio State would claim two signature victories to Kansas' one. Buckeyes stay on top.

But things get a little stickier if LSU pulls it out.