USC the best team? Are not all 'hiccups' equal?

On New Year's Day, while discussing the top college football team, ESPN's assortment of anchors and analysts dismissed the Trojans because the "hiccup" or "misstep" (their words) against Oregon State made it an open-and-shut case.

It was a different story today as ESPN's "Outside the Lines: First Report," which aired at noon, made the case for USC being worthy of a title.

The report examined the "impact of USC's dominance in becoming the first team ever to win three consecutive Rose Bowls." Those words are from the press release.

Thursday's casual dismissal of USC because of that "hiccup" was head-shakingly silly from the start. The two teams playing for the BCS championship, Florida and Oklahoma, also had "hiccups" and "missteps" that apparently automatically didn't disqualify them from the championship game.

Want to argue that the Pac-10 wasn't as good as the Big 12 and the SEC? Well, OK, but then how do you explain the Pac-10's finishing the bowl season 5-0?

Want to argue that USC's humdrum midseason skein of inexplicably undecisive wins hurt the case? Fine. But Thursday, ESPN's broadcasters and panelists had one reason, one only, for why USC coach Pete Carroll shouldn't complain about anything.

The Oregon State loss. Again, just to point it out, Florida lost at home to Mississippi. Oklahoma lost at a neutral site to Texas. USC lost at Oregon State. "Hiccups" and "missteps" apparently only disqualify one team. Explain that one. Here is what ESPN had to say last night -- Chris Fowler, Leo Corso, Kirk Herbstreit.

-- Diane Pucin

Photo: USC quarterback Mark Sanchez is interviewed by ESPN's John Saunders after the Rose Bowl game. Saunders was not among those last night who dismissed USC as worthy of being national champion. Credit: Harry How / Getty Images

Comments

[Andy Evans]

I take umbrage at the italics used with Mississippi, especially considering their performance against Texas Tech. Had USC ventured anywhere to play a team like Mississippi, or any SEC or Big 12 team, had the Pac-10 had more than one bowl game on or after January 1st, you might make an argument, but your history of taking a share of the national championship without having to play a champion speaks for itself.

No more. Get a schedule, and wait until next year. You are short of quality in your sandbox.

[nate]

In what world can you compare a loss to Oregon State to a loss to Texas?? I am not an OU fan, but thheir loss to Texas is not near an equal to losing to oregon st. or florida's loss to ole miss.