Some might call the SEC championship game the de facto national championship game, and they'd be right. Not only did an SEC team appear in the BCS National Title game for the seventh straight season, it claimed its seventh title in a row thanks to a 42-14 victory by Alabama over Notre Dame on Monday night.
The Crimson Tide were favored by 9 1/2 points over the Fighting Irish, who came into the game undefeated and ranked No. 1 in the country. However, it could have been 19 1/2 points and nobody would have batted an eye. That's how dominate No. 2 Alabama figured to be, and the perennial powerhouse more than lived up to the hype.
The Tide jumped out to a 28-0 first half lead and cruised to victory behind quarterback A.J. McCarron, who completed 20 of 28 passes for 264 yards and four touchdowns.
Perhaps more impressive than the SEC's dominance in the title game in recent years is the fact that it was Alabama's third national title in four seasons. That kind of dominance in college football's most dominating conference is something to be applauded.
As for Notre Dame, the team made a surprising showing in 2012 by marching through the regular season undefeated after not even being ranked at the start of the year and made its first ever appearance in a BCS title game.
A victory would have given the Irish their first national title since Lou Holtz coached them to a victory over West Virginia in 1988.
Head coach Chip Kelly will have to wait at least another season to bring Notre Dame and its rabid and loyal national fan base a championship.
For yet another year, the Tide will be rolling with the BCS trophy and the right to be called "Number one!"
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