(Thumbnail image: The Mobile Press Register)

The Alabama Crimson Tide defeated the Texas Longhorns 37-21 on Thursday night, winning the BCS National Championship.  The media began breaking down the game almost immediately, and a couple of questions have surfaced about Alabama’s title.

We’re looking at perspectives from FOX Sports, ESPN, Rivals, and The San Jose Mercury News.

One question mark hanging over Alabama’s victory was the early injury to Colt McCoy, starting quarterback for Texas and a Heisman finalist.  An analyst on FOX Sports says McCoy’s injury was what beat the Longhorns, not Alabama.  

“I mean I thought Texas played really well.  Without their leader, I mean for the last four years Texas football has depended on the legs and the arm of Colt McCoy...But you know what it was really intriguing, it was a fun game, ultimately Alabama had a little too much.  But they kept it close and they kept it interesting but they just couldn’t overcome losing Colt McCoy.  They played great on defense, and their playmakers made plays, but Texas just fell short because Colt McCoy...I think they probably would have won the game with him.”

But on ESPN, Lou Holtz says Texas wouldn’t have won the game even if McCoy had stayed in the game. He says they weren’t a complete football team like Alabama, who could compensate for their own struggling quarterback.

“I think Alabama would have won this football game whether Colt McCoy was injured or whether he was not...You always need to be able to run the football.  Because even if your quarterback is injured or doesn’t show up you still have a chance to play.  Great example, look at McElroy.  Didn’t have a great game, but they could run the football.  On the other hand, you put a young quarterback in you’re gonna ask him to do the things Colt McCoy had done for four years.  A freshman can’t do that.  If you can run the ball, be powerful, you have a chance.”

Even with a BCS Championship victory, some are questioning Alabama’s sole ownership of the national title.  Boise State also went 14 and 0, and analyst Eddie George tells Rivals that we’ll never know for sure who’s better because of the current system.

“They beat TCU in the Fiesta Bowl a couple nights ago.  How would they have done against this team? I don’t know, I don’t think they would have done very well.  But you know what, we never know.  And that’s why I think it’s so important to really push for a plus-one game situation. Because you still have two 14 and 0 teams.  We still don’t know who’s the best team in the country.”

But a writer for The San Jose Mercury News says people wishing for a new system are doing just that-wishing.  The decision makers are getting a cut of the cash cow that is the BCS, and won’t put ticket sales at risk with a playoff system.

“The people who cry loudest and longest for a college football playoff system are the people who would not have to pay a dime out of their pockets to watch it. They want playoffs because they think it would be a gas to watch on their family room couches.”

So did Alabama get lucky with the injury to McCoy, or would they have won anyway?  And should college football change their post-season format or leave well-enough alone?

Writer: Lee Morehouse

Producer: Nathan Giannini