Alabama vs. Texas Is the Matchup College Football Deserves

Saturday night had to be rough for TCU and Cinncinati fans everywhere.

Just when we thought all hell would break loose, kicker Hunter Lawrence booted Nebraska and earned Texas its second trip to Pasadena for the National Championship in the waning seconds of a hard fought defensive struggle between two of college football's classic powers.

The manner in which the game ended has been under much scrutiny and questions have been raised as to whether Texas deserves a chance to play for it all based on their weak performance against the Cornhuskers.

As for the Crimson Tide, their performance in the SEC Championship demonstrated they are the best squad in college football after derailing Tim Tebow and the defending national champion Florida Gators, 32-13.

While it is obvious that Alabama earned its spot in the title game, many wonder whether Texas has done enough to prove it belongs in Pasadena over teams like TCU and Cinncinati.

To all of the naysayers out there, I tell you the BCS got it right for once, at least as far as the championship game goes.

Kudos to TCU, Cinncinati, and Boise State for their undefeated seasons.  That is quite an accomplishment and each of those three schools has a valid argument as to why they should get a chance to play for a title.

However, I truly believe Alabama-Texas is the match up college football deserves.

There's just something about this game that seems special to me.

Could it be the historical significance? 

Legendary coaches Paul "Bear" Bryant and Darrell K. Royal coached against eachother in the '60s.  Who could forget the epic 1964 Orange Bowl game where Royal's Longhorns defeated Bryant's No. 1 Alabama( with Joe Namath at the helm), 21-17? 

Over the last 50 years, Texas is 7-0-1 against the Tide, with the latest being the 1982 Cotton Bowl where the Longhorns pulled out a thrilling 14-12 victory.

Could it be the defensive nature of the game?

Alabama's defense is rated second in the nation with Texas following close behind at third.  The Longhorns boast the best rush defense in the country (62 yards per game) while the Crimson Tide are second (78 yards per game).  Both teams force a lot of turnovers as well, as Alabama is plus-16 and Texas is plus-12.

Names like Earl Thomas, Javier Arenas, Sergio Kindle, and Rolando McClain fill the defensive All-American team, making this a highly anticipated defensive slug fest.

I look at this game and I see two teams who just know how to win no matter the circumstances.

The Tennessee Volunteers were lined up for the game-winning field goal that would ruin Alabama's title chances.  Tide nose guard Terrence Cody wasn't about to let that happen.  As the ball was snapped, Cody broke through the Volunteer line and tipped the ball on its way up.  The slight contact with the ball caused the field goal attempt to fall short, effectively saving Alabama's season.

The Crimson Tide again found themselves in trouble against rival Auburn on the road.  Down 21-20 in the fourth quarter, Tide quarterback Greg McElroy engineered a 15 play, 79-yard drive that ended with a four yard touchdown pass to Roy Upchurch with just 1:24 left on the clock.  Alabama would hold on for the victory.

Texas has had some close encounters of its own.

Clinging to a 16-13 lead over archrival Oklahoma in the Cotton Bowl, Colt McCoy threw an untimely interception deep in Oklahoma territory.  As Oklahoma defensive back Brian Jackson took off towards the endzone, McCoy may have made the tackle that saved the season. 

Still, Oklahoma had the ball late in the fourth quarter only down by a field goal.  Sooner quarterback Landry Jones dropped back to pass, and threw right in to the hands of safety Earl Thomas. That interception would prove to be the game-clincher.

On Saturday night, the Nebraska Cornhuskers were 1:49 from throwing a wrench in the national title picture.  Up 12-10, the Husker kickoff went out of bounds put Texas at the 40 yard line. 

Following a long pass to Jordan Shipley that had yardage tacked on after a horse-collar penalty, Texas was at the Nebraska 26 yard line.  With time running and a timeout left, Texas inexplicably ran a play.  As time was winding down, McCoy threw the pass out of bounds, but the clock showed zero. 

However, replay officals ruled that there was one second left, giving Texas kicker Hunter Lawrence a chance to win it.  From 46 yards out, Lawrence squeezed the ball just inside the left upright, giving Texas the Big 12 title and a shot at the national title.   

Both the Crimson Tide and the Longhorns have faced a great deal of adversity this season, but it is because of those challenges that I believe these two are the best teams in the country.

Since the 2005 Rose Bowl game between Texas and USC, we haven't seen an evenly matched title game.

2006: Florida 41, Ohio State 14

2007: LSU 38, Ohio State 24

2008: Florida 24, OU 14 (not as close as score suggests)

I expect this year's game to be in the mold of the 2005 Rose Bowl, and not just because the game will be played in Pasadena.

Alabama and Texas are two of the premier programs in the country with arguably the best collection of talent between them.

While Texas' 41-38 triumph over USC was an offensive fireworks display, I expect an Alabama-Texas matchup to be exactly the opposite.

Two of the nation's best defenses come to the forefront in a game the could very well be decided by field position and field goals.

Both squads match up evenly in terms of athleticism and discipline.  The coaching abilities of Nick Saban and Mack Brown are impeccable as well.

One team runs to set up the pass, the other passes to set up the run.

Two Heisman candidates in Bama's Mark Ingram and Texas' Colt McCoy can really light up the scoreboard.

What more could you ask for in a national title game?

While the heated arguments that started Saturday night will continue well in to January, I believe the BCS finally got it right (and I won't say that often).

This matchup was destined to happen, and now that it's set, we can expect nothing less than a titanic, rough-and-tumble grudge match between two of the nation's most storied programs.