Who now wears the crown/

Who NOW wears the crown?

Now that Texas has fallen, losing a close game to Texas Tech, we now wonder who the best team in the Division I really is.

According to the USA Today poll, Alabama is now the new king, followed by Penn State the heir-apparent. Flanking Penn State are Texas Tech, Oklahoma and Florida, with USC, Texas and Oklahoma State bringing up the rear.

If the season ended today, we would see Alabama and Penn State in the National Championship…but the season does NOT end today, and we will NOT see this matchup.

Just as we all believed that nobody could survive the Big 12 undefeated, we know the same goes for the SEC. So just as Texas suffered a blow, we also know that Alabama is likely due the same.

But if the TRUE test is to determine the best in the nation, then I might submit that even the rankings as they are leave much to be desired. Who is REALLY the best team in the nation?

We say by default that Alabama is the best, but I submit to you that Alabama’s only quality win was against Georgia. A great win away from home to be sure, but outside of that, what other great games have the Tide demonstrated to us? A win over Clemson? Nay my friends, who is Clemson now? Granted they were THOUGHT to be great at the beginning of the season, but we now know that we were all misled.

Now Alabama must prove their strength by facing LSU, a team that is an equal to Alabama…and maybe a little better. Beat LSU, and then we speak of your royalty.

And what of Penn State? My friends, as much as I root for Joe Pa, we know that the strength of schedule was suspect for the Nittany Lions as well. Yes they defeated Wisconsin, but just as Alabama beat Clemson, we now question both the Badgers and Tigers. Who are they now? We do know that Penn State defeated both Illinois and Ohio State, which are quality wins, but with games vs. Iowa and Indiana, we wonder if a true king should be compared with a weaker schedule. Prove to us in the final game vs. Michigan State that you are worth, and we shall give you the crown.

Shall we now crown the Red Raiders of Texas Tech the best team in the country? I say nay to that as well. Up until 3 weeks ago, the country wondered why Texas Tech was ranked so high when the have played anyone of quality. But then the win over ranked Kansas sent a message, and a home game vs. Texas, they pulled it off. That is a great feat, but remember that the very team you beat did the same thing, defeating 3 top 25 teams in a row. Now YOU must do the same. Your next two games are against ranked teams, and nobody believes you can win them both…you too shall feel the pain of a loss…perhaps two ?

Win those two games, and we then can proudly place the crown upon your head…but wait, do you not also have the Big 12 Championship? That means one more big game…how can one team survive that?

Three undefeated teams, but only one crown to give….who is really the best team in the NCAA? We shall see.