Two national championships in a row for the SEC, two in five seasons for LSU, and for Ohio St., two straight years when they came into the national championship game #1 and looked far from it.

The Tigers iced the game with a little under six minutes to play when picked off , and put the cherry on the sundae with ’s fourth touchdown pass of the game, a 5-yarder to Richard Dickson with 1:50 to go. Flynn was named the game’s offensive MVP, going 18 of 27 for 158 yards and four scores.

The Buckeyes promptly scored on the next drive, but it was too little, too late, as the Tigers ran out the clock to become the first team in the 10-year history of the BCS to win multiple BCS titles.

Ohio St. actually outgained LSU on offense, but once again, the Buckeyes were doomed not only because they got beaten by a better team, but they beat themselves as well, with three turnovers and a couple of key penalties, including the roughing the kicker call that led to LSU’s touchdown in the third quarter that effectively put the game out of reach at 31-10. And, just like last year, they couldn’t keep up after getting off to a fast start.

The trophy has been presented, the post-game interviews are being conducted, and two losses or not, LSU is the national champion. The question now is whether or not they’ll be #1 in the AP poll as well, given that #4 Georgia and #6 USC both scored blowout wins in the Sugar and Rose Bowls respectively. Either way, though, there’ll be a two-loss champion, unless Kansas shoots all the way up to #1.

It’s been quite a college football season, and now it’s time to reflect for a little while and then look ahead to the 2008 season, which will be here before we know it, and it’ll be time to start the chase for the crystal all over again.

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