Did LSU

There has always been talk of a playoff system in major college football. It just reached an all-time high when LSU and Alabama squared off in the 2012 national championship game.

The two Southeastern Conference heavyweights had already played each other in the 'Game of the Century' in Tuscaloosa and here they were meeting again in New Orleans for all the marbles.

'A lot of people around the world wanted their team to play in the national championship game and they didn't want to see that game over again,' said former LSU receiver Rueben Randle, who is in his second season with the New York Giants.

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Like Randle, those who played for LSU and Alabama at the time knew the rest of the nation had its fill of SEC football. They believe the scenario of two teams from the league playing twice in the same season with the latter game being for the national championship was the final straw for the four-team playoff that's taking flight next season.

'It definitely played a part just because people were getting so tired of the SEC,' said former Alabama All-American center Barrett Jones, who is in his rookie season with the St. Louis Rams.

'I can understand how a lot people might not think that was fair, but I think in all reality, those were by far the two best teams in the country that year. We deserved to play again, but from a national perspective, that's probably what pushed us over the edge to the playoffs.'

A 13-member committee has been chosen to select college football's Final Four in 2014, but how the 2011 season unfolded gave more credence to the idea of having a playoff.

'I'm guessing it did have a key part in it,' Randle said.

Alabama didn't win its division or the conference, but got in the title game - and won it.

'Stuff happens,' said former Alabama All-American Trent Richardson, who was third overall pick in the 2012 NFL Draft. 'I think for that year, the best two teams played on that day.'

The LSU-Alabama rematch - though wildly popular in the Southeast - had the third-lowest television rating in the BCS era, which shows there wasn't a great national interest in watching the two teams play again.

The game itself didn't help matters.

Alabama defensive lineman Jesse Williams (54) reacts after the Crimson Tide lost 9-6 in overtime to LSU on Nov. 5, 2011 at Bryant Denny Stadium.(Photo: Marvin Gentry, USA TODAY Sports)

Not only did Alabama shut out LSU 21-0 but only one touchdown was scored in the title game and Richardson's 34-yard score came after five Crimson Tide field goals.

'It left a distaste in people's mouths,' ESPN's College GameDay host Chris Fowler said. 'I don't know if it was a final push for the playoffs. It was certainly another piece of dissatisfaction with the BCS and people outside of the SEC region certainly had SEC fatigue. I think that contributed to the rematch not being very popular for a lot of people.'

Oklahoma State opened the door for Alabama to get squeeze into the title game by losing at underdog Iowa State in overtime two weeks after the Tide fell 9-6 to LSU in OT.

While the BCS has had detractors, its format in determining who plays for a national champion created late-season drama.

The playoffs could make games in November less important than they have been in the BCS era.

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'That's the one thing I'm going to miss as this playoff system goes on,' said Frank McGough, Jr., 63, an Alabama fan from Montgomery. 'Some of that will be lost because now Alabama fans can say, well, we got one loss, but there's a good chance we're going to get back in the four-team playoff. It would greatly minimize it if we go to an eight-team playoff.'

Duane Rankin also writes for the Montgomery (Ala.) Advertiser, a Gannett company.

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