After LSU's 21-0 loss to Alabama in the BCS title game Monday night, Tigers coach Les Miles stopped short of asking AP voters for a split national title. Even he knew it was a lost cause after his team's uninspired performance against the Crimson Tide.

Alabama, with the first shutout in a title game (BCS, de facto or otherwise) in 20 years, left no room for doubt Monday night in the Superdome — despite a 9-6 regular-season loss to LSU — that it was the better team. And that's why I voted the Crimson Tide No. 1 in my final AP ballot of the 2011 season.

RALEIGH – N.C. State women’s basketball coach Kellie Harper saw the focus in her player’s execution from their first set on Sunday.

The attention to detail was apparent in their tempo and decision-making, leading to a complete and satisfying 79-57 victory over Alabama at Reynolds Coliseum.

Alabama got its shot at LSU, and lost. I don't think Alabama deserves another shot at the No. 1 Tigers in the Bowl Championship Series title game.

But the AP is not part of the BCS equation nor is it asking its voters which two teams should be in the "national" title game. The AP asks us to rank the top 25 teams in order.

So who's No. 2, Oklahoma State or Alabama?

DURHAM – As a native of Birmingham, Ala., and a 1976 graduate of Alabama, Duke coach David Cutcliffe certainly understands the significance of Saturday's home game against the Crimson Tide at Wallace Wade Stadium.

He's aware that the Blue Devils (1-1, 0-1 ACC) are facing the defending national champions and No. 1-ranked team in the nation.

DURHAM — Alabama will make an appearance at Wallace Wade Stadium in 2010 to play the Duke Blue Devils, Duke Athletics Director Kevin White confirmed on Wednesday.

“It’s pretty straight forward,” White said. “The 2010 Duke-Alabama game is our home game. We simply decided to play it at Wallace Wade.”

Duke's previous plan was to stage its home game of the home-and-home series with the Crimson Tide at another site. Duke's athletics department, under former AD Joe Alleva, had considered other cities, most seriously Atlanta, while looking for a larger venue.