If a "national championship" game is held, and the number one team isn't playing, does it take place? The fact is, SC being passed over by LSU isn't the controversy; it's Oklahoma laying such an enormous egg last night but still qualifying to play in the Sugar Bowl. If the Sooners had won, the Trojans might be feeling rightly aggrieved, particularly if LSU had gone on to upset Oklahoma on January 4. But with their loss, Oklahoma has no credibility to having a claim on the national title. SC just has to win on New Year's Day, and they will have as strong a claim as anyone in the country to being number one. The Sugar Bowl just doesn't matter as much, now.