Enquirer news services

The pollsters are partial to Southern California. When the computers are done calculating, they spit out Ohio State.

About the only constituency that doesn't get a say in determining which team is in the best position to play Oklahoma for the national championship in the Sugar Bowl is the players.

That's where LSU is starting to garner a lot of support.

"They're every bit as good as Oklahoma," Alabama quarterback Brodie Croyle said.

And the Crimson Tide should know. They gave Oklahoma its toughest test so far, losing 20-13 at home on Sept. 6. Alabama couldn't hang with LSU at all, falling 27-3 Saturday night.

"They're both pretty much the same," offensive lineman Atlas Herrion said. "LSU's front seven is a little bigger. They've got speed just like Oklahoma has speed. They've got big names just like Oklahoma has big names."

Being better than Oklahoma doesn't matter at this point. If the Tigers can make it to second in the BCS standings, they'll get the chance to prove that in the Sugar Bowl.

LSU needs to beat out USC and Ohio State. And the Tigers have at least one supporter saying they're better than the No. 2 Trojans.

"I thought they were really good," Arizona's Clay Hart said about USC after the Trojans beat the Wildcats 45-0 Saturday. "But personally, I think LSU was the best team we've faced since I've been a Wildcat."

LSU pounded Arizona 59-13 the second game of the season.

So how is a team that, according to Alabama coach Mike Shula, is "neck and neck" with unanimous No. 1 Oklahoma only fourth in the BCS standings?

What's holding LSU back is a weak nonconference schedule. The Tigers played Louisiana-Monroe (1-10), Arizona (2-9), Louisiana Tech (5-6) and Division I-AA Western Illinois.

LSU's weak schedule isn't all its own fault. Arizona wasn't a patsy when the game was scheduled and Marshall backed out of a game in January, forcing the Tigers to add Western Illinois at the last minute.

But in the world of the BCS that won't matter.

The Tigers will get a boost with a finishing stretch against Mississippi, Arkansas and possibly the SEC title game.

But it probably won't matter if USC and Ohio State don't lose.

BCS REFORM: Refining and restructuring the postseason continued Sunday when presidents from both sides of the Bowl Championship Series met in New Orleans. The next step: consultants.

After four hours of dialogue, 13 presidents representing schools on both sides of the BCS debate issued a joint statement. The last sentence said: "The spirit was such that we believe we will be able to achieve constructive change."

Over the next two to three months, commissioners from the BCS and non-BCS conferences have been instructed to seek the advice of consultants who will provide opinions and facts about the television value of a restructured postseason. The only postseason model not being considered is an NFL-style playoff. Everything else is on the table.

"We want to get the best advice possible," said Tulane president Scott Cowen, the leader of the schools and conferences not included in the current BCS agreement. "At some point, all 11 commissioners will come together with the suggestions from the consultants to craft a set of proposals that will be provided to the presidents."

Weekend tidbits

Stat of the week

Purdue is 1-40 in its last 41 games at Ohio State, Michigan and Notre Dame.

Thumbs of the week

•  Up to Baylor. Can a 41-3 loss be a moral victory? Bears, 53-point underdogs, get five sacks and hold Oklahoma to 104 yards in second half.

•  Up to Florida State. ACC not scared of Seminoles anymore. But they're still champions for 11th time in 12 years.

•  Up to Vanderbilt. Down come the goalposts after Vandy beats Kentucky 28-17 to end 23-game SEC losing streak, though not everyone enjoyed it. "The way we played," said Kentucky coach Rich Brooks, "makes me sick to my stomach."

•  Down to Northern Illinois. Remember the upset victories? Remember the friendly national headlines? Here comes real life in the MAC. At 9-2, Huskies likely won't get a bowl invitation.

•  Down to Texas Tech defense. Lets Texas, and a few other teams, slip away. Red Raiders are averaging 35.25 points a game - in their four defeats.

- Mike Lopresti, Gannett News Service