Who is the legitimate No. 1 in college football: USC or LSU?
Last week in college football he was a dandy. With another wave of upsets and two of the nation’s perennial powerhouses (Notre Dame and Michigan) losing for the second week in a row, football fans across the country are bracing for what is likely to be a very unpredictable season in college football. . However, it seems that some things will be very stable this year; namely, the success of the USC Trojans and the LSU Tigers.
USC and LSU are ranked #1 and #2, respectively. Each has a perfect record and has utterly defeated the competition, leaving no doubt as to their supremacy at the collegiate level. With two of these teams clearly ahead of the rest of the field, we can begin to envision how the championship game will play out. Will it be John David Booty marching his explosive teammates from one side of the field to the other? Or will the tenacious and relentless defense of the Tigers be too much for Pete Carroll’s players? Only time will tell. But, even though the final meeting between these two soccer giants is some 4 months away, the question invariably arises as to who currently deserves the No. 1 ranking.
Some say that until someone proves they can beat USC, the Trojans deserve the top spot. However, I personally think LSU has the advantage. This is why.
LSU has played 2 games. In both, the outcome of the match was decided at the start of the first half. In the season opener, LSU simply outscored Mississippi State 45-0. Yes, Mississippi State is probably the worst team in the SEC, but holding any team to 0 points is impressive. The Bulldogs couldn’t even muster enough energy to get within field goal range. I don’t care who the opposition is, that’s pure domination. Then, in their second game, LSU proved that they can not only beat mediocre teams, but they can beat good teams as well. And when I say beat, I mean really beat. The Tigers absolutely swept the floor with the Hokies, 48-7. And let’s not forget that Virginia Tech was ranked 9th in the nation at the time.
On the other side of the ball, USC is 1-0 after beating the Idaho Vandals 38-10. Beating a team by 4 touchdowns is always a good result, but the Idaho Vandals? Go USC! The score should have been even more unbalanced. If you compare a 38-10 USC win over Idaho to LSU’s 45-0 massacre at Mississippi State, which win looks more impressive? LSU!! Plus, USC hasn’t really been challenged by a worthy opponent yet, something LSU dealt with with ease.
So until USC proves that they, too, can dismantle ranked teams at LSU, I have to give the Tigers the lead in the national rankings. Right now, the LSU resume is just more impressive. Does that mean USC is not a championship contender? No! In fact, I hope to heaven that both USC and LSU go all the way. That way, we’ll be able to see who really is the better team when they meet in the national championship. Although, if I were a gambler, my money would definitely be on the Tigers. But hey, many things can change from now on. I may be eating my words come January.