After finishing the season 13-0, the University of Central Florida Knights declared themselves the national champion.
Some gave the school grief for doing so, but Joe Cox of Saturday Down South took UCF's idea and applied it to cases where SEC schools could have done the same.
• 2004 Auburn Tigers
"Hey, the same logic that lands UCF the title should work for Auburn," Cox wrote. "The Tigers won every game they played. They got squeezed out of the BCS title game on alleged strength of schedule. Instead, USC [playing illegal players] slaughtered Oklahoma by 36. Who's the real champ here?"
Cox went on to write the Tigers should have been awarded national championships in 1993, despite being on probation, in 1983 and in 1957.
• 1978 Alabama Crimson Tide
"Alabama was named the champion by some, but others picked USC, which beat Alabama during the season. Of course, the CFP era has shined a long light on this kind of thing. Alabama beat No. 2 Penn State in the Sugar Bowl to rightfully win the AP title. An early stumble? So what. Coaches' poll champion Southern California lost two weeks later to unranked Arizona State. The Tide already claim it, but there shouldn't even be a discussion," Cox wrote.
Cox also gave Alabama national championships in 1975 and 1966.
• 1977 Alabama or Kentucky Wildcats
"Either has a solid case vis a vis Notre Dame, who was generally considered the champion," Cox said. "The flow in Notre Dame's case? Sure, the Fighting Irish went 11-1. So did Alabama. (Kentucky was banned from bowls because of probation but went 10-1). Notre Dame's loss? To Ole Miss -- 5-6 Ole Miss. The Rebels finished eighth in the 10-team SEC. On top were No. 2 Alabama and No. 6 Kentucky, neither of which lost in conference and both of which suffered only early road losses out of conference."
Cox later wrote that both Kentucky and the Tennessee Volunteers could have made a case for a national title in 1950.
The final championship should have gone to the Mississippi Rebels in 1960, Cox wrote, instead of the Minnesota Golden Gophers.
Future analyst
Jackson Way, 10, was one of dozens of Alabama fans who braved the rain and cold Tuesday to welcome the Crimson Tide players back to Tuscaloosa after winning the national championship.
Even though the Tide took center stage, Way stole some of the limelight with his analysis of the victory in an interview with WHNT-TV of Huntsville, Ala.
"Games in the championship always come down to the last second. We won in the last second this time, and we lost in the last second last year," Way said during the interview, which has been shared more than 5,400 times on Facebook, had nearly 4,000 reactions and more than 800 comments.
Way also shared why he believed the Tide made a change at quarterback for the second half.
"I think they put Tua [Tagovailoa] in because Jalen [Hurts] kept dropping back to pass, and he was just looking at Calvin Ridley. They had him covered as best as they could. He kept looking, he had all day to throw, then the pressure kept coming," Way said.
Way said he wanted to be at the homecoming to remind the team of what's important: To never stop grinding.
"They will just be ready to play again. You haven't done enough until your career is over with the Tide," Way said.
OK, and maybe he also wanted a football signed. Mission accomplished.
Sports quiz
Which team did Alabama beat to give Coach Nick Saban his first national championship with the Crimson Tide?
Answer
Alabama defeated Texas 37-21 in the 2010 BCS National Championship Game at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif.
Sports on 01/12/2018