LSU vs. Alabama Rematch: Dismantling Arguments Against the Game

Alabama was selected to play in the national championship, but as expected the dung has hit the fan in a most inglorious fashion.  

Everyone but Alabama fans and a few other sane folks are beating the war drums over the decision for a rematch.

They are throwing every excuse in the book at the BCS and Alabama supporters.  Radio talking heads have been beating the dead horse about why Alabama shouldn't play for it.  

Here are some rebuttals to their arguments.  

Alabama Had Their Shot

Their shot at what?  A chance to play for the national championship or their chance to play LSU?  

The last time I checked, Oklahoma State had their shot to play for the national championship but dropped a big game against an easy opponent.  

They were up 24-7 only to get a bit too excited and lose.

If the argument is that Oklahoma State should get their chance to play LSU, it is not the same argument that they should play for the national championship.  

You want LSU?  Schedule a regular season game.  Les Miles is bold enough to accept the challenge.  

If you want to play for the national championship, stop losing to unranked six-loss teams.

LSU Shouldn't Have to Beat Alabama Twice

This argument would carry weight if they had to play them twice in the regular season, but it is meaningless when it comes to a conference or national championship.  

The postseason is a different ball game.  

There have been conference championship rematches as well as bowl game rematches.  Why did Clemson have to beat Virginia Tech twice this year?  Was that unfair to Clemson?

A team playing for the national championship is one of the two best teams in the nation, and the opponent doesn't matter. 

LSU beat Alabama in the regular season in their closest game of the year.  If they want the national championship, they will have to beat a team in the national championship game.  

The name that team carries means nothing because No. 2 is No. 2.

Oklahoma State's Offense Is a Better Matchup

Anyone who honestly thinks Oklahoma State would lose to LSU by a field goal, let alone beat them, is only fooling themselves.  

Their defense has been utterly porous and has proven it throughout the year.  Their defense had one great game against Oklahoma, a team crippled without their best offensive player.  

Oklahoma State just wouldn't stand a chance, and that is why LSU is disappointed they wont get to play them.  

Instead, the Tigers will have to actually work for a win.  

The First Match Was Boring

The general consensus is that defense wins championships.  The only folks who disagree with that probably don't watch football.  

Well, here are the two best defenses in recent history, but it's suddenly "boring."

Need I say more?

This Wouldn't Happen with a Plus-1 System

Oh, really?

All us fans want a playoff, and a plus-one is the absolute best compromise between a playoff and the existing system.  It's simply a four-team playoff.  

Why in the world can't we have that?  I'll tell you why.  

An article from Rivals retouched on a topic from a few years ago.  It was about a plus-one system.

Apparently, SEC commissioner Mike Slive proposed the plan.  That's right, the SEC started the argument for a playoff.  

But guess what?  It was rejected almost unanimously.  Yes, that includes the Big 12.  They didn't want it.  They liked the current system it seems.  

Maybe they recognized that a four-team playoff would, undoubtedly, include an SEC team almost every single year.  Maybe two teams.  

Whatever their reasons were, they put Oklahoma State and Stanford in this situation.  Two great, one-loss teams got left out.  

A plus-one system could have helped prevent this all-SEC rematch, but no one wanted it.  

Oklahoma State fans—don't blame Alabama and the SEC because your own conference shot you in the foot.  

But I Have More Arguments

Then let's hear them.  Let's all revel in the futility of it all.  

The game is happening.  Squabbling about it any more will be completely fruitless.  

Take it up with your conference commissioners and school athletic directors.  

In the meantime, Alabama has ball game to prepare for.