If top-ranked LSU defeats No. 2 Alabama tonight in the BCS championship game at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome, the Tigers can claim to be more than the best college football team of the 2011 season. They can claim to be the best college football team of all time, and they can dethrone Alabama in that category in the process.
Rusty Costanza/The Times-Picayune
LSU cornerback Morris Claiborne intercepts a pass intended for Alabama tight end Brad Smelley, setting up an LSU field goal to tie the score at 6 on Nov. 5 at Bryant-Denny Stadium.
At least that's the view of Richard Billingsley of the College Football Research Center, whose computer rankings are one of six used in determining a portion of the BCS standings.
Alabama's 2009 national championship team is Billingsley's all-time leader, and the 1971 Nebraska team is second, so a win by LSU tonight would take that distinction from the Crimson Tide.
"That would sweeten the pot a little bit," Tigers sophomore defensive end Barkevious Mingo said. "You think of all the teams that have ever played, and we'd be considered the best of all time. It would be a great honor."
Not that Alabama would willingly give up the mantle, even if Crimson Tide players weren't aware they had the title.
"Nobody's ever told us about it," said senior guard Alfred McCullough, who was a member of Alabama's 2009 title team. "It's amazing to be recognized like that. I guess we'd just better go out and win then."
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