How come USC got counted as national champs in '03 when LSU won the championship against OU?

Question

I think that you shouldn't just be able to whine your way into being champs, you have to earn it by winning the championship game.

Answer 1

USC did not win a National Championship in 03!!! The National Championship is the winner of the GAME. You know, the one that actually gets the Trophy. Polls are just opinions, but the winner of the game is the winner!!!! Personally, I would like to see the top 8 teams have a playoff to see who would come out on top. That way there would be no more whiners, just winners.

Answer 2

There isn't just one national champion each year. There are about 30 something organizations or polls that choose a national champ. The only way to settle arguments like this is to have a playoff. But since almost all college presidents are against that it's not gonna happen anytime soon. So we have to be happy with the BCS for now. Hey ocho tres why are you talking so much trash? The asker never said what team he pulls for but I am guessing you are an SC fan. I guess you have to talk while you can. After all it was only a few years ago the Trojans were 5 and 7. They even lost 6 games during Carrols first year. I don't think having 12 division 1a champs in a playoff is a good idea. First of all there are only 11 conferences in division 1a. Secondly some conferences are a lot stronger than others. So to put the champs of lets say the Sun Belt conference on an equal footing with the SEC or Big 10 champ for example is not right. I think taking the top 16 teams in the polls would be a better playoff. Redman 656565 has the right idea. It should have been USC vs LSU. No way Oklahoma deserved to be there after losing to KSU the week before. Everybody whines when there team doesn't make it to the big game. So I guess it's good to have a lot of national champs. To recognize teams that had a great year but didn't win or get in the big game. In 03 some organizations even selected Oklahoma as the champs.

Answer 3

I agree that a championship should be decided on the field but USC was never given the chance they were ranked 1 in both polls if i remember correctly. So they should have had the chance to play LSU. There should be at least a 16 team playoff. 12 Conference Champions and 4 at large. Division 2 has a 24 team play off so 16 is definitely do able

Answer 4

As of right now, USC is ranked #1 and LSU is ranked #2. Hopefully they will both go through this season undefeated and play each other for the 08 National Championship. As far as I know these 2 schools have never met on any football field. May the true champion emerge victorious. By the way, why did Pete Carroll have to travel all the way down to Louisiana to find himself a quarterback? My guess that California boys just aren't that talented.

Answer 5

Because USC was ranked #1 by the AP. Since the AP poll has been one of the two reputable processes in naming the D-1A champion for several decades, most college football fans and media outlets treat the result with a high level of credibility. While LSU won the BCS championship, under the current state of affairs in college football, this is merely the second half of the "championship" process that is not bound to be uniform. Though the major conferences (including the Pac-10, and USC itself) have agreed to the BCS structure, in the eyes of the NCAA, it has no official standing (except as another source of TV $$$).

Though it is arguably hippocritical for a team to claim a championship counter to its agreement with the BCS, since a "national championship" in D1-A football is not a title sanctioned by the NCAA, in theory a team could claim a championship due to a #1 ranking in any sort of ways (Sagarin rating, the Orange County Register...).

Answer 6

LSU was the champs they won the game. Who has the crystal football? The AP poll does not matter. Hey What My Name Is USC was not undefeated that year. They had one loss just like LSU. Go do your homework . I think USC should have been in the game but I still think LSU would have won. OU shouldnt have been in the championship game because they didnt even win Kansas St. did.

Answer 7

"As of right now, USC is ranked #1 and LSU is ranked #2. Hopefully they will both go through this season undefeated and play each other for the 08 National Championship. As far as I know these 2 schools have never met on any football field. May the true champion emerge victorious. By the way, why did Pete Carroll have to travel all the way down to Louisiana to find himself a quarterback? My guess that California boys just aren't that talented. "


Ohhhh ain't this the notorious veteran SC hater Mr. Calil C? Damn I never took you as a smart person but now I have just lost the last bit of respect for you.

Can't find a talent in California? Dude the guy behind booty named Mark Sanchez is even more talented. He's from CA. Matt Leinart and Carson Palmer were both Cali dudes. The new ND qb Jimmy Clausen is a CA dude. Pac-10 is famous for putting out elite QBs and California is one of the biggest pipeline states for producing football stars.

You had just made all SC haters look imbecilic with that ignorant statement of yours.

Now since the Ninja Doggie is back..you might as well go back under your rock and complete the hibernation process.

Answer 8

Technically no one was the National Champ. Did you see them hold p the NCAA trophy after the game like all the others NCAA champions do? Until there is a playoff/tournament there will be no official champion. I know this wasn't the intent of the question but until they install some type of playoff there will be split "champs" from time to time. For the record USC would have crushed LSU.

Answer 9

It was a National Poll and BCS/coaches poll split championship season. If the NCAA would have a 16 or 32 team tourney there would be one champion.

Answer 10

They won the AP national championship