It took less than three minutes for Alabama to confirm what we should have already known: The Crimson Tide are the No. 1 team in the land. 

In one of the most lopsided national title games in recent memory, Nick Saban's squad thoroughly dominated Manti Te'o and Notre Dame 42-14, earning a third title in four years. 

With the resounding win, Alabama established itself as the clear-cut top team in the BCS, but how should the rest of the Top 10 stack up now that bowl season is complete? 

Let's take a closer look.

 

1. Alabama (13-1) 

Hi-res-6918132_crop_exact It was all smiles on the Crimson Tide's sideline by the end of Monday night.
Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

The hardest hit that AJ McCarron took last night came from three-time All-America roommate and starting center Barrett Jones. 

That's how good Alabama's offensive line played against what was supposed to be the stingiest defense in the country.

Facing Manti Te'o, Stephon Tuitt and Co., the Crimson Tide did whatever they wanted against the Fighting Irish, capping off their third season in four years hoisting the Coaches' Trophy. 

 

2. Oregon (12-1) 

Hi-res-158922657_crop_exact Oregon simply outscored opponents all season long.
Stephen Dunn/Getty Images

In what looked like Chip Kelly's final game with the Ducks, Oregon stomped Collin Klein and the Kansas State Wildcats 35-17 in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. 

Kelly's innovative spread attack caused confusion for every defense except the Stanford Cardinal's this season and would have been a much more compelling matchup for Nick Saban in the title game. 

 

3. Texas A&M (11-2)

Hi-res-158988684_crop_exact Johnny Football put on a performance for the ages.
Ronald Martinez/Getty Images

Johnny Manziel topped off his Heisman Trophy campaign with what former Dallas Cowboys architect Gil Brandt described as, "The best performance I've ever seen." 

The redshirt freshman torched Oklahoma's defense for 41 points and more than 500 total yards. The Aggies' only losses came against Florida and LSU, but with Manziel playing at an all-time level at year's end, it's tough to put many teams ahead of Texas A&M in the final standings. 

 

4. Georgia (12-2)

Hi-res-158859892_crop_exact Aaron Murray led his team to within inches of a national championship berth.
Scott Cunningham/Getty Images

Aaron Murray may have come up short against Alabama in the SEC Championship, but the junior quarterback led the Bulldogs to a 45-31 thrashing of Nebraska in the Capital One Bowl. 

The Bulldogs finished the season at 12-2 with their only losses coming against national champion 'Bama and then-No. 6 South Carolina. But with their combination of defense and a high-powered offensive attack, few teams boast the complete package like the Bulldogs. 

 

5. South Carolina (11-2)

Jadeveon Clowney is a man among boys.

Jadeveon Clowney deserves his own spot in the BCS standings for that legendary hit against Michigan's Vincent Smith in the Outback Bowl. 

The likely No. 1 overall pick in 2014 keyed another successful season under Steve Spurrier, as the Gamecocks overcame the loss of star running back Marcus Lattimore to finish the season with quality wins over Georgia, Clemson and Michigan. 

 

6. Stanford (12-2)

Hi-res-158861965_crop_exact Stanford ended its season with a Rose Bowl win.
Jeff Gross/Getty Images

With SEC powerhouses Florida and LSU dropping their bowl games, Stanford moves in front of the Gators and stays ahead of the Tigers. 

The Cardinal ended their season on an eight-game winning streak, including an overtime win against Oregon and back-to-back wins against UCLA. 

No Andrew Luck? No problem. 

 

7. Florida (11-2)

Hi-res-158890512_crop_exact Florida came up short in the Sugar Bowl.
Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

A magical season ended in heartbreak for the Florida Gators, who saw their No. 3 scoring defense get carved up by Teddy Bridgewater and the Louisville Cardinals. 

Florida's offensive woes were exposed in the Allstate Sugar Bowl, as Jeff Driskel looked completely lost at times against Charlie Strong's aggressive defense. 

Since the loss, the Gators have also lost more than half of their starting defense, including stars Matt Elam and Sharrif Floyd, to the NFL draft.

 

8. Notre Dame (12-1)

Hi-res-159090639_crop_exact Notre Dame just didn't have an answer for Alabama.
Streeter Lecka/Getty Images

Monday night was a forgettable one for the Fighting Irish, but that doesn't erase a regular season in which they went 12-0 with wins over Michigan, Stanford, Oklahoma and USC. 

Sure, Manti Te'o and the defense looked overmatched against Alabama's rugged offensive line, but who didn't in 2012? 

The Fighting Irish still put together a great season and don't deserve to fall out of the Top 10 after Monday's loss. 

 

9. Kansas State (11-2)

Hi-res-158922831_crop_exact Collin Klein put together a very solid senior season.
Ezra Shaw/Getty Images

While the Oregon Ducks proved too much to handle, the Kansas State Wildcats still boast a strong enough resume to stay in the Top 10. 

Before running into the train that is the Oregon offense, the Wildcats were dropping points at a prolific pace of their own. An 11-2 season is nothing to scoff at for K-State. 

 

10. LSU (10-3) 

Hi-res-158845822_crop_exact LSU finished its season on a sour note.
Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images

The only team with three losses to make this list, the LSU Tigers just weren't as consistent as they've been in years past. 

However, Les Miles' team finished the season with wins over Texas A&M, South Carolina and Mississippi State and lost to Alabama by just four points.

A one-point loss to Clemson in the Chick-Fil-A Bowl knocks them down a few spots, but the Tigers' number of quality wins has them clinging on to a spot in my final BCS standings.