Dominant for the sixth year in a row, the Southeastern Conference had the championship game all to itself between two defense-first teams loaded with first-round draft picks. Alabama avenged its only loss by ruining LSU’s undefeated season that included wins over the eventual winners of the Rose Bowl, Cotton Bowl, Rose Bowl and the BCS champions. But wait: The rest of the highly ranked teams were rapid scoreboard changers.

What an NCAA tournament you could create: With QB Brandon Weeden and WR Justin Blackmon, Oklahoma State won the Big 12 and the Rose Bowl and felt cheated out of shot at the national championship. It beat 11-2 Stanford, led by No. 1-overall NFL pick Andrew Luck. Baylor was 10-3 with incomparable QB Robert Griffin III, who accounted for 47 TDs. Wisconsin was two Hail Mary passes away from an undefeated season and a shot at the big game with electric QB Russell Wilson. 11-2 Arkansas lost only to Alabama and LSU. Michigan returned to power with an 11-2 season behind unique QB Denard Robinson’s 36 TDs. Add electrifying Oregon (12-2) and 10-3 West Virginia, which hung 70 points on 10-4 Clemson in the Orange Bowl.

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