BCS Game Data: Notre Dame-Alabama

No. 1 Notre Dame and No. 2 Alabama will collide tonight in the BCS National Championship Game tonight at Sun Life Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla.

Alabama QB A.J. McCarron and Notre Dame LB Manti Te'o will lead their teams in tonight's BCS National Title Game

We have a ton of notables on this game as well as a prediction on how it may turn out.

BCS National Title Game Data

* Date, Time: Tonight, 8:30 p.m. (Eastern)

* Location: Sun Life Stadium (capacity: 76,100); Miami Gardens, Fla.

* TV: ESPN national telecast with Brent Musburger (play-by-play), Kirk Herbstreit (analysis), Heather Cox and Tom Rinaldi (sideline).

* Radio: ESPN Radio will broadcast the game with Mike Tirico (play-by-play), Todd Blackledge (analysis) and Holly Rowe (sidelines). It will be on Sirius/XM Ch. 84. Notre Dame’s national IMG College network will also broadcast the game. It can be found on Sirius/XM Ch. 129.

* 2012 Records: Notre Dame, 12-0 overall; Alabama, 12-1 overall, 7-1 SEC.

* 2012 Rankings: Notre Dame, first in Associated Press poll, USA Today coaches poll and BCS standings; Alabama, second in AP poll, USA Today coaches poll and BCS standings.

* 2012 Statistical Rankings: Notre Dame, scoring offense, 26.8 ppg (73rd nationally); total offense, 421.3 ypg (48th); scoring defense, 10.3 ppg (first); total defense, 286.8 ypg (fifth); Alabama, scoring offense, 38.5 ppg (13th nationally); total offense, 439.1 ypg (38th); scoring defense, 10.7 ppg (second); total defense, 246.0 ypg (first).

* Coaches: Notre Dame, Brian Kelly (third year at ND, 28-10; 22nd year overall, 199-67-2; vs. Alabama, first meeting); Alabama (sixth year at Alabama, 67-13; 17th year overall, 158-55-1; vs. Notre Dame, 3-0).

* Series History: Notre Dame and Alabama will meet for the seventh time with the Irish holding a 5-1 advantage in the series. This will be the third meeting between the two foes in a bowl game. Previous meetings:

Dec. 31, 1973 (Sugar Bowl): Notre Dame 24, Alabama 23
Jan. 1, 1975 (Orange Bowl): Notre Dame 13, Alabama 11
Nov. 13, 1976 (at South Bend): Notre Dame 21, Alabama 18
Nov. 15, 1980 (at Birmingham): Notre Dame 7, Alabama 0
Oct. 4, 1986 (at Birmingham): Alabama 28, Notre Dame 10
Nov. 14, 1987 (at South Bend): Notre Dame 37, Alabama 6

* Bowl Records: Notre Dame is 15-16 all-time in bowl games with an 0-3 record in BCS games (losses to Oregon State in 2001 Fiesta Bowl, Ohio State in 2006 Fiesta Bowl and LSU in 2007 Sugar Bowl). Alabama is 33-22-3 all-time in bowl games with a 2-2 record in BCS games (losses to Michigan in 2000 Orange Bowl and Utah in 2009 Sugar Bowl and wins over Texas in 2010 BCS Title Game and LSU in 2012 BCS Title Game).

* Notre Dame Schedule: Sept. 1, vs. Navy (at Dublin, Ireland), W 50-10; Sept. 8, Purdue, W 20-17; Sept. 15, at Michigan State, W 20-3; Sept. 22, Michigan, W 13-6; Oct. 6, vs. Miami (Fla.) (at Chicago), W 41-3; Oct. 13, Stanford, W 20-13 (OT); Oct. 20, BYU, W 17-14; Oct. 27, at Oklahoma, W 30-13; Nov. 3, Pittsburgh, W 29-26 (3 OT); Nov. 10, at Boston College, W 21-6; Nov. 17, Wake Forest, W 38-0; Nov. 24, at USC, W 22-13; Jan. 7, vs. Alabama (BCS National Championship at Miami Gardens, Fla.), 8:30 p.m. (ESPN).

* Notre Dame Key Players (2012 Stats): QB Everett Golson (166 of 282 passing, 2,135 yards, 11 TDs, 5 INTs; 89 carries, 305 yards, 5 TDs), RB Theo Riddick (180 carries, 880 yards, 5 TDs; 35 catches, 364 yards, 1 TD), RB Cierre Wood (110 carries, 740 yards, 4 TDs), RB George Atkinson III (51 carries, 361 yards, 5 TDs), TE Tyler Eifert (44 catches, 624 yards, 4 TDs), WR T.J. Jones (43 catches, 559 yards, 4 TDs), WR DaVaris Daniels (25 catches, 375 yards), ILB Manti Te’o (103 tackles, 5-1/2 TFLs, 7 INTs), S Zeke Motta (61 tackles, 2 TFLs), CB Bennett Jackson (61 tackles, 4 INTs), ILB Dan Fox (57 tackles, 2 TFLs), OLB Prince Shembo (48 tackles, 7-1/2 sacks, 10-1/2 TFLs), NG Louis Nix (45 tackles, 5-1/2 TFLs), DE Stephon Tuitt (42 tackles, 13 TFLs, 12 sacks).

* Notre Dame Fast Facts: Location: South Bend, Ind.; Enrollment, 11,733; Conference: Independent; Nickname, Fighting Irish; Colors, Blue and Gold; Stadium, Notre Dame Stadium (surface, grass; capacity, 80,795).

* Alabama Schedule: Sept. 1, vs. Michigan (at Arlington, Texas), W 41-14; Sept. 8, Western Kentucky, W 35-0; Sept. 15, at Arkansas, W 52-0; Sept. 22, Florida Atlantic, W 40-7; Sept. 29, Mississippi, W 33-14; Oct. 13, at Missouri, W 42-10; Oct. 20, at Tennessee, W 44-13; Oct. 27, Mississippi State, W 38-7; Nov. 3, at LSU, W 21-17; Nov. 10, Texas A&M, L 29-24; Nov. 17, Western Carolina, W 49-0; Nov. 24, Auburn, W 49-0; Dec. 1, vs. Georgia (SEC Championship Game at Atlanta), W 32-28; Jan. 7, vs. Notre Dame (BCS National Championship at Miami Gardens, Fla.), 8:30 p.m. (ESPN).

* Alabama Key Players (2012 Stats): QB A.J. McCarron (191 of 286 passing, 2,669 yards, 26 TDs, 3 INTs), RB Eddie Lacy (184 carries, 1,182 yards, 16 TDs; 20 catches, 172 yards, 1 TD), RB T.J. Yeldon (154 carries, 1,000 yards, 11 TDs), WR Amari Cooper (53 catches, 895 yards, 9 TDs), WR Kevin Norwood (26 catches, 395 yards, 4 TDs), WR Christion Jones (25 catches, 328 yards, 4 TDs), TE Michael Williams (21 catches, 166 yards, 3 TDs), MLB C.J. Mosley (99 tackles, 7 TFLs, 4 sacks, 2 INTs), MLB Trey DePriest (56 tackles, 4 TFLs), MLB Nico Johnson (54 tackles, 2 TFLs), S Vinnie Sunseri (52 tackles, 6 TFLs, 2 INTs), CB Dee Milliner (51 tackles, 2 INTs), S Robert Lester (42 tackles, 4 INTs), OLB Adrian Hubbard (39 tackles, 10 TFLs, 6 sacks), S Ha’Sean Clinton-Dix (30 tackles, 4 INTs), DE Ed Stinson (29 tackles, 8-1/2 TFLs, 3 sacks).

* Alabama Fast Facts: Location: Tuscaloosa, Ala; Enrollment, 33,602; Conference: Southeastern Conference; Nickname, Crimson Tide; Colors, Crimson and White; Stadium, Bryant-Denny Stadium (surface, grass; capacity, 101,821).

* 247Sports.com Team Sites: Click [link url="http://notredame.247sports.com/ "]here[/link] for Blue and Gold Illustrated covering Notre Dame and click here for BamaOnLine for coverage of Alabama.

Depth Charts

Notre Dame Offense

WR 7 TJ JONES 5-11 190 Jr./3
10 DaVaris Daniels 6-2 190 So./1
WR 9 Robby Toma 5-9 185 Sr./4
19 Davonte’ Neal 5-9 171 Fr./1
LT 70 ZACK MARTIN 6-4 304 Sr./3
78 Ronnie Stanley 6-6 304 Fr./1
LG 66 CHRIS WATT 6-3 310 Sr./3
65 Conor Hanratty 6-5 305 So./1
C 52 BRAXSTON CAVE 6-3 304 Gr./4
57 Mike Golic Jr. 6-3 295 Gr./4
RG 57 Mike Golic Jr. 6-3 295 Gr./4
51 Bruce Heggie 6-5 285 Jr./2
RT 74 Christian Lombard 6-5 309 Jr./2
72 Nick Martin 6-4 290 So./1
TE 80 TYLER EIFERT 6-6 251 Sr./3
18 Ben Koyack 6-5 253 So./2
85 Troy Niklas 6-7 260 So./2
WR 81 John Goodman 6-3 215 Gr./4
87 Daniel Smith 6-4 215 Jr./3
QB 5 Everett Golson 6-0 185 So./1
12 Andrew Hendrix 6-2 220 Jr./2
or 11 Tommy Rees 6-2 210 Jr./3
RB 6 THEO RIDDICK^ 5-11 200 Sr./4
or 4 George Atkinson III 6-1 210 So./2
or 20 CIERRE WOOD 6-0 215 Sr./3
PK 27 Kyle Brindza 6-1 225 So./2
40 Nick Tausch 6-0 201 Sr./3

Notre Dame Defense

DE 89 KAPRON LEWIS-MOORE 6-4 306 Gr./4
91 Sheldon Day 6-2 286 Fr./1
NG 9 LOUIS NIX III 6-3 326 Jr./2
96 Kona Schwenke 6-4 290 Jr./3
69 Tony Springmann 6-6 300 So./1
DE 7 Stephon Tuitt 6-6 303 So./2
69 Tony Springmann 6-6 300 So./1
OLB 55 PRINCE SHEMBO 6-2 250 Jr./3
11 Ishaq Williams 6-5 255 So./2
56 Anthony Rabasa 6-3 240 So./1
ILB 48 DAN FOX 6-3 240 Sr./3
44 Carlo Calabrese 6-1 245 Sr./3
ILB 5 MANTI TE’O 6-2 255 Sr./4
59 Jarrett Grace 6-3 240 So./1
8 Kendall Moore 6-1 242 Jr./2
OLB 13 Danny Spond 6-2 248 Jr./3
30 Ben Councell 6-5 240 So./1
45 Romeo Okwara 6-4 239 Fr./1
CB 6 KeiVarae Russell 5-11 182 Fr./1
43 Josh Atkinson 5-11 185 So./2
S 17 ZEKE MOTTA 6-2 215 Sr./4
29 Nicky Baratti 6-1 206 Fr./1
S 41 Matthias Farley 6-1 200 So./1
24 Chris Salvi 5-10 190 Sr./4
CB 2 Bennett Jackson 6-0 185 Jr./3
21 Jalen Brown 6-1 199 So./1
P 35 Ben Turk 5-11 186 Sr./4
27 Kyle Brindza 6-1 225 So./2

Alabama Offense

LT 71 Cyrus Kouandjio 6-6 311 Soph.
63 Kellen Williams 6-3 303 Jr.
LG 65 Chance Warmack 6-3 320 Sr.
78 Chad Lindsay 6-2 290 Soph.
C 75 Barrett Jones 6-5 302 Sr.
70 Ryan Kelly 6-5 288 RS Fr.
RG 61 Anthony Steen 6-3 303 Jr.
77 Arie Kouandjio 6-5 310 Soph.
RT 76 D.J. Fluker 6-6 335 Jr.
79 Austin Shepherd 6-5 312 Soph.
TE 89 Michael Williams 6-6 269 Sr.
84 Brian Vogler 6-7 258 Soph.
TE/H 31 Kelly Johnson 6-3 230 Sr.
82 Harrison Jones 6-4 244 Soph.
QB 10 AJ McCarron 6-4 210 Jr.
6 Blake Sims 6-0 182 Soph.
OR 12 Phillip Ely 6-1 198 RS Fr.
RB 42 Eddie Lacy 6-0 220 Jr.
4 T.J. Yeldon 6-2 216 Fr.
17 Kenyan Drake 6-1 204 Fr.
X 9 Amari Cooper 6-1 198 Fr.
80 Marvin Shinn 6-3 198 RS Fr.
Z 83 Kevin Norwood 6-2 195 Jr.
22 Christion Jones 5-11 185 Soph.
H 22 Christion Jones 5-11 185 Soph.
8 Cyrus Jones 5-10 192 Fr.
PK 5 Jeremy Shelley 5-10 165 Sr.
OR 43 Cade Foster 6-1 218 Jr.

Alabama Defense

DE 49 Ed Stinson 6-4 282 Jr.
8 Jeoffrey Pagan 6-4 285 Soph.
NG 54 Jesse Williams 6-4 320 Sr.
62 Brandon Ivory 6-4 315 Soph.
DE 92 Damion Square 6-3 286 Sr.
90 Quinton Dial 6-6 304 Sr.
SAM 42 Adrian Hubbard 6-6 248 Soph.
19 Jonathan Atchison 6-3 236 Jr.
MIKE 33 Trey DePriest 6-2 245 Soph.
OR 35 Nico Johnson 6-3 245 Sr.
18 Reggie Ragland 6-2 247 Fr.
WILL 35 Nico Johnson 6-3 245 Sr.
OR 32 C.J. Mosley 6-2 232 Jr.
11 Tana Patrick 6-3 236 Jr.
JACK 47 Xzavier Dickson 6-3 262 Soph.
30 Denzel Devall 6-2 243 Fr.
CB 13 Deion Belue 5-11 179 Jr.
24 Geno Smith 6-0 182 Fr.
CB 28 Dee Milliner 6-1 199 Jr.
10 John Fulton 6-0 187 Jr.
S 37 Robert Lester 6-2 210 Sr.
3 Vinnie Sunseri 6-0 215 Soph.
S 6 HaHa Clinton-Dix 6-1 209 Soph.
OR 27 Nick Perry 6-1 208 Jr.
26 Landon Collins 6-0 202 Fr.
P 29 Cody Mandell 6-4 202 Jr.
5 Jeremy Shelley 5-10 165 Sr.

Also Notable

* There are various ways to list college football national championships. The AP poll arrived in 1936, but there have been other selectors both prior to and since that season.

Alabama claims 14 national titles with wins in these seasons: 1925, 1926, 1930, 1934, 1941, 1961, 1964, 1965, 1973, 1978, 1979, 1992, 2009, 2011

Notre Dame claims 11 titles: 1924, 1929, 1930, 1943, 1946, 1947, 1949, 1966, 1973, 1977, 1988

Alabama is going for a third national championship in four seasons. With a win, the Crimson Tide would join only Notre Dame (three titles in four years between 1946-49) and Nebraska (three titles in four years between 1994-97) to accomplish that feat during the AP poll era.

Both Notre Dame and Alabama have captured eight AP national titles since 1936.

* An Alabama win would give the SEC an unprecedented seventh straight national championship.

* Notre Dame is 2-3 all-time in bowl games in Miami, while Alabama is 4-4 all-time in bowl games in Miami.

* Notre Dame moved into the No. 1 spot in the polls on Nov. 24 for the first time in 19 years, dating to Nov. 20, 1993 (when ND lost to Boston College, 41-39). Oklahoma leads the all-time No. 1 appearances in the poll with 101 with Notre Dame next at 97. Alabama is eighth on that list with 56.

* A win would give Notre Dame its first-ever 13-0 season. Alabama has reached the 13-win plateau twice previously: 1992 (13-0) and 2009 (14-0).

* This game could push for the largest television audience and highest rating in college football history.

The highest in the Bowl Championship Series era that began in 1998 was the 21.7 in January 2006 for Texas’ 41-38 victory over USC. A distant second in this era is the 17.8 in January 2001 when Oklahoma upset defending national champ Florida State 13-2.

* Against ranked teams this year, Notre Dame was 4-0 with wins over No. 10 Michigan State, No. 17 Michigan, No. 17 Stanford and No. 7 Oklahoma. Alabama was 5-1 with wins over No. 8 Michigan, No. 21 Arkansas, No. 12 Mississippi State, No. 5 LSU and No. 3 Georgia and a loss to No. 14 Texas A&M.

Breaking It Down

When Notre Dame Has The Ball

Notre Dame QB Everett Golson, a redshirt freshman, was inserted as the starter early in the season and steadily improved. He excels at keeping plays alive and distributing the ball to his playmakers.

The Fighting Irish use three different backs, Theo Riddick, Cierre Wood and George Atkinson III. Riddick is an explosive player and strong pass catcher, while Wood and Atkinson bring speed to the game. The Irish averaged a respectable 202.5 yards per game rushing. But Alabama leads the nation in rushing defense at 79.8 yards per game.

TE Tyler Eifert, a second-team AP All-American, is the top pass catcher. WR T.J. Jones is also a key target and DaVaris Daniels could also return from injury. Up front, center Brandon Cave was a third-team AP All-American.

Alabama lost six starters off its stellar 2011 defense, but the Crimson Tide have not missed a beat. Linebacker and leading tackler C.J. Mosley and cornerback Dee Milliner were each first-team All-Americans on the AP list. Mosley was also the team most valuable player.

Alabama’s pass rush was not as strong this year as it was in past seasons. Texas A&M and Georgia each eclipsed 250 yards passing against the Tide in those games. If Golson can keep some plays alive, perhaps the Fighting Irish can gash the Tide with Eifert and Jones through the air.

When Alabama Has The Ball

This is not Alabama QB A.J. McCarron’s first rodeo. McCarron, an AP third-team All-American, led Alabama to the national title last year. He was first in the country in passing efficiency this year.

Alabama’s rushing game came full circle in the SEC title game as dual backs Eddie Lacy and T.J. Yeldon (both 1,000-yard rushers on the year) helped the Tide roll up 350 yards rushing against Georgia. A lot of that is due to the offensive line, led by first-team All-Americans LG Chance Warmack and center Barrett Jones and second-team All-American RT D.J. Fluker. Freshman WR Amari Cooper gives Alabama a vertical threat.

When Alabama can gear up its running game (and the Tide averaged 224.6 ypg), it can be devastating for the opponent. But Notre Dame also boasts one of the game’s top front sevens. ND was fourth nationally in rushing defense at 92.4 ypg and has allowed just two rushing touchdowns all season. Heisman runner-up and first-team All-American LB Manti Te’o leads the way in that regard and he also had seven interceptions on the year.

DE Stephon Tuitt, a second-team AP All-American, chipped in 12 sacks as well. McCarron is not known for his mobility, so it will be incumbent on the Irish to pressure him. ND was 15th nationally at nearly three sacks a game.

How It Will Go

With the nation’s top two defenses going head-to-head, points could be at a premium in this game. But that could also mean that the offenses could have some short fields after turnovers or big special teams plays. The special teams battle seems pretty even. Alabama may have the edge in the return game, however.

It would be understandable if Notre Dame got off to a slow start, but the Irish play a physical brand of football that should keep them in this game for the full four quarters. Alabama knows they belong after playing the tough SEC schedule. The Crimson Tide will be shooting for dynasty status if they can win a third title in four seasons. Their coach, Nick Saban, is already there with three national titles to his credit.

But Notre Dame’s Brian Kelly, who won an NCAA Division II title at Grand Valley State and led Cincinnati to a pair of BCS bowl bids, also has strong credentials.

The team that controls the line of scrimmage and can continue to establish the run deep into the fourth quarter should win this game. And the image I am stuck with is Alabama’s impressive run game performance against Georgia in what was basically a national semifinal game.

We know what McCarron will probably do because he is just so steady. The wild card is Golson. By the end of the year, he was becoming a difference maker. They need him to play as well as he can and avoid any costly mistakes if the Irish are to have a chance to win this game.

I think we see a tight game into the fourth quarter. But that’s when Alabama will either drive for the winning score behind Lacy and Yeldon’s tough running or use that tandem to eat the clock and preserve a narrow lead.

The Pick: Alabama 27, Notre Dame 20

For The Record: During the bowl season, I am 21-13 straight-up and 18-16 against-the-spread. For the season, I am now 263-101 straight-up and 180-181-4 against-the-spread (so, yes, this single game means whether I will finish at .500 or below for the year).

Depending on the sportsbook, Alabama is favored anywhere from nine to 10-1/2 points. The over/under is listed at 40-1/2 or 41 points at most books.

More Factoids

One Versus Two Games

Through last year’s BCS national title game, the No. 1- and No. 2-ranked teams in the Associated Press poll have met 47 times since the inception of the poll in 1936. The No. 1 team has won 27 times, the No. 2 team has won 18 times and there have been two ties. The game day rankings of the teams are in parentheses.

In one-versus-two games, Notre Dame is 5-3-1 all-time (including 5-0 as the No. 1 team in such games). Alabama is 5-3 in one-versus-two games. Here are the results of these 47 previous match-ups.

Oct. 9, 1943 (at Ann Arbor): Notre Dame (1) 35, Michigan (2) 12
Nov. 20, 1943 (at South Bend): Notre Dame (1) 14, Iowa Pre-Flight (2) 13
Dec. 2, 1944 (at Baltimore): Army (1) 23, Navy (2) 7
Nov. 10, 1945 (at New York City): Army (1) 48, Notre Dame (2) 0
Dec. 1, 1945 (at Philadelphia): Army (1) 32, Navy (2) 13
Nov. 9, 1946 (at New York City): Army (1) 0, Notre Dame (2) 0 (tie)
Jan. 1, 1963 (Rose Bowl, at Pasadena): USC (1) 42, Wisconsin (2) 37
Oct. 12, 1963 (at Dallas): Texas (2) 28, Oklahoma (1) 7
Jan. 1, 1964 (at Dallas): Texas (1) 28, Navy (2) 6
Nov. 19, 1966 (at East Lansing): Notre Dame (1) 10, Michigan State (2) 10 (tie)
Sept. 28, 1966 (at South Bend): Purdue (1) 37, Notre Dame (2) 22
Jan. 1, 1969 (Rose Bowl, at Pasadena): Ohio State (1) 27, USC (2) 16
Dec. 6, 1969 (at Fayetteville): Texas (1) 15, Arkansas (2) 14
Nov. 25, 1971 (at Norman): Nebraska (1) 35, Oklahoma (2) 31
Jan. 1, 1972 (Orange Bowl, at Miami): Nebraska (1) 38, Alabama (2) 6
Jan. 1, 1979 (Sugar Bowl, at New Orleans): Alabama (2) 14, Penn State (1) 7
Sept. 26, 1981 (at Los Angeles): USC (1) 28, Oklahoma (2) 24
Jan. 1, 1983 (Sugar Bowl, at New Orleans): Penn State (2) 27, Georgia (1) 23
Oct. 19, 1985 (at Iowa City): Iowa (1) 12, Michigan (2) 10
Sept. 27, 1986 (at Miami): Miami (Fla.) (2) 28, Oklahoma (1) 16
Jan. 2, 1987 (Fiesta Bowl, at Tempe) Penn State (2) 14, Miami (Fla.) (1) 10
Nov. 21, 1987 (at Lincoln): Oklahoma (2) 17, Nebraska (1) 7
Jan. 1, 1988 (Orange Bowl, at Miami): Miami (Fla.) (2) 20, Oklahoma (1) 14
Nov. 26, 1988 (at Los Angeles): Notre Dame (1) 27, USC (2) 10
Sept. 16, 1989 (at Ann Arbor): Notre Dame (1) 24, Michigan (2) 19
Nov. 16, 1991 (at Tallahassee): Miami (Fla.) (2) 17, Florida State (1) 16
Jan. 1, 1993 (Sugar Bowl, at New Orleans): Alabama (2) 34, Miami (Fla.) (1) 13
Nov. 13, 1993 (at South Bend): Notre Dame (2) 31, Florida State (1) 24
Jan. 1, 1994 (Orange Bowl, at Miami): Florida State (1) 18, Nebraska (2) 16
Jan. 2, 1996 (Fiesta Bowl, at Tempe): Nebraska (1) 62, Florida (2) 24
Nov. 30, 1996 (at Tallahassee): Florida State (2) 24, Florida (1) 21
Jan. 4, 1999 (Fiesta Bowl, at Tempe): Tennessee (1) 23, Florida State (2) 16
Jan. 4, 2000 (Sugar Bowl, at New Orleans): Florida State (1) 46, Virginia Tech (2) 29
Jan. 3, 2003 (Fiesta Bowl, at Tempe): Ohio State (2) 31, Miami (Fla.) (1) 24, 2 OT
Jan. 4, 2005 (Orange Bowl, at Miami): USC (1) 55, Oklahoma (2) 19
Jan. 4, 2006 (Rose Bowl, at Pasadena): Texas (2) 41, USC (1) 38
Sept. 9, 2006 (at Austin): Ohio State (1) 24, Texas (2) 7
Nov. 18, 2006 (at Columbus): Ohio State (1) 42, Michigan (2) 39
Jan. 8, 2007 (BCS Title Game, at Glendale): Florida (2) 41, Ohio State (1) 14
Jan. 7, 2008 (BCS Title Game, at New Orleans): LSU (2) 38, Ohio State (1) 24
Dec. 6, 2008 (SEC Title Game, at Atlanta): Florida (2) 31, Alabama (1) 20
Jan. 8, 2009 (BCS Title Game, at Miami): Florida (1) 24, Oklahoma (2) 14
Dec. 5, 2009 (SEC Title Game, at Atlanta): Alabama (2) 32, Florida (1) 13
Jan. 7, 2010 (BCS Title Game, at Pasadena): Alabama (1) 37, Texas (2) 21
Jan. 10, 2011 (BCS Title Game, at Glendale): Auburn (1) 22, Oregon (2) 19
Nov. 5, 2011 (at Tuscaloosa): LSU (1) 9, Alabama (2) 6, OT
Jan. 9, 2012 (BCS Title Game, at New Orleans): Alabama (2) 21, LSU (1) 0

Designated National Championship Games

Beginning with the 1992 season, the Bowl Coalition then the Bowl Alliance and finally the BCS worked to stage a national championship bowl game. Here are those results:

The Bowl Coalition
1993 Sugar Bowl: Alabama 34, Miami (Fla.) 13
1994 Orange Bowl: Florida State 18, Nebraska 16
1995 Orange Bowl: Nebraska 24, Miami (Fla.) 17

The Bowl Alliance
1996 Fiesta Bowl: Nebraska 62, Florida 24
1997 Sugar Bowl: Florida 52, Florida State 20
1998 Orange Bowl: Nebraska* 42, Tennessee 17
*-Nebraska split 1997 national title with Rose Bowl champion Michigan.

Bowl Championship Series
1999 Fiesta Bowl: Tennessee 23, Florida State 16
2000 Sugar Bowl: Florida State 46, Virginia Tech 29
2001 Orange Bowl: Oklahoma 13, Florida State 2
2002 Rose Bowl: Miami (Fla.) 37, Nebraska 14
2003 Fiesta Bowl: Ohio State 31, Miami (Fla.) 24, 2 OT
2004 Sugar Bowl: LSU# 21, Oklahoma 14
2005 Orange Bowl: USC 55, Oklahoma 19
2006 Rose Bowl : Texas 41, USC 38
2007 BCS Title Game: Florida 41, Ohio State 14
2008 BCS Title Game: LSU 38, Ohio State 24
2009 BCS Title Game: Florida 24, Oklahoma 14
2010 BCS Title Game: Alabama 37, Texas 21
2011 BCS Title Game: Auburn 22, Oregon 19
2012 BCS Title Game: Alabama 21, LSU 0
#-LSU split 2003 national title with Rose Bowl champion USC.
Note: In the first 14 years of the BCS format, the wins are split evenly between No. 1 and No. 2 teams at seven apiece.