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"USC was 110th in pass defense"

So let's see, USC plays in the Pac-10, generally regarded as the top passing conference in the country year after year. Then, they are beating most everybody by 20-40 points, which means the other teams are behind, which means they are going to pass a lot, which means they will get some yards because teams in that league pass well. So at the end of the game, the stat sheet shows Oregon State's QB Derek Anderson throwing the ball SIXTY times in an attempt to come back, and gaining 485 yards (he threw for 4058 yards on the year), but USC wins 52-28. Valiant effort, yes, and the guy was beat up at the end, just like Michigan's Navarre, who also played well against USC. But these yards given up mean something to you?

Also, after Oklahoma's finish, and the Big 12's tremendous showing in the bowl games, how much validity would you attach to stats earned in that league?

Of the three teams in the running for the title, only ONE lost to an UNRANKED team: USC.

No matter how spin it..THAT loss is THE reason they were not in the big game, and calls into question any true right to the claim of national champ.

As for them beating teams by 20 to 40 points, did you not notice that Notre "Losing Record" Dame beat BYU by MORE points that USC did? USC beat, in the Rose Bowl, a Michigan team that had TWICE lost before the bowl game (to 13th ranked Iowa, and UNRANKED Oregon). Three teams scored more points against Michigan this year than did USC, including UNRANKED Minnesota and UNRANKED Oregon.

Everywhere one looks OBJECTIVELY, one will find reasons to doubt just how good USC really was this year.

The AP has a history of being wrong, often having to pick a new #1 several times over the course of the season.

But when all is said, when all the "my conference is better than your conference" rants have run their course, I am still left with ONE factor I just cannot get past when deciding if USC should be # 1.....they LOST to an UNRANKED team.