"Alabama-LSU on Nov. 5 looms over season"

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BIRMINGHAM, Alabama -- One month into the college football season, there's an unmistakable feel on when the national champion will be crowned.

Nov. 5, LSU vs. Alabama in Tuscaloosa.

I know, I know. It's the height of SEC arrogance to think this way in September. This reinforces every stereotype that the SEC declares itself lord and creator of college football.

So sue the SEC. (Actually, on second thought, don't give Baylor any ideas.)

There are very good teams. And then there are a handful of national-championship caliber teams. LSU and Alabama fall in the latter. They're the two best teams in the country through one month.

Undoubtedly, obstacles still await them both, most notably Will Muschamp, who could ruin either team's dreams by beating his ex-boss (Nick Saban) or his ex-school (LSU). The new-and-improved Florida Gators will have a say in this.

And yes, there are other national contenders to reach the BCS Championship Game. An undefeated Big Ten champion would be one. So too could the Oklahoma-Oklahoma State winner on Dec. 3 in Stillwater.

But this feels like 2009 all over again. This feels like two SEC teams preparing to eye each other from a distance week after week until they finally play a dramatically-hyped game late in the season.

We saw this act two years ago between Alabama and Florida. By this point in 2009, the Gators and Crimson Tide were ranked 1 and 3, respectively, with Texas sandwiched in between. Florida and Alabama stayed in the top 3 all season until the Crimson Tide's beatdown of the Gators at the SEC Championship Game.

Today, it's LSU 1, Oklahoma 2 and Alabama 3 in the latest Associated Press poll. The coaches have it this way: Oklahoma 1 and Alabama and LSU tied at 2.

Three times in four games, LSU has faced a ranked opponent away from home. (Yeah, Mississippi State still technically counts even though the Bulldogs have new warts.) All three times LSU won.

LSU 40, Oregon 27. LSU 19, Mississippi State 6. LSU 47, West Virginia 21.

You won't find a stronger opening-month resume in today's college football world. Most contenders have no interest playing one nonconference game away from home, much less two and a league road game in front of cowbells.

Alabama can't top LSU's resume yet. But the Crimson Tide has the look of a national-championship caliber team.

Blow out easy opponents and never let them in the game? Check.

Methodically win a road game at Penn State before 100,000-plus fans? Check.

Destroy Bobby Petrino's offense again? Check.

Alabama still faces this question: Will quarterback AJ McCarron become more than a game manager when Alabama needs him to go beyond that?

Meanwhile, LSU wonders in the back of its mind whether very steady quarterback, Jarrett Lee, will ever revert to his days of pick-sixes. The Tigers won't win beauty contests; they just beat you down until you say mercy.

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