The Associated Press

Oklahoma had the look of a national champion from the beginning, even though its top quarterback was a wobbly-kneed scrambler with only five career starts.

There weren't many people, though, who would have predicted LSU and its hobbled signal-caller would make the hour's drive to crash this year's Bourbon Street bash.

But here they are, brought together by a couple of courageous quarterbacks and the nation's two most dominating defenses to play for the national championship.

In a matchup produced by the Bowl Championship Series computers, second-ranked LSU will take on No. 3 Oklahoma next Sunday in the Sugar Bowl at New Orleans, a de facto home game for the Tigers. Meanwhile, the people's choice - No. 1-ranked USC - will play for the Associated Press title in the Rose Bowl.

Sooners seemed to be lock

Nobody would have doubted the Sooners' championship credentials if they had played the Big 12 championship the way they had in winning their first 12 games by an average of 35 points.

Oklahoma, which was ranked No. 1 in the preseason for the first time since Barry Switzer's second-to-last team in 1987, has five All-Americans but has placed most of its title hopes on quarterback Jason White. The 23-year-old senior, whose last two seasons ended with knee injuries, overcame doubts about his durability - and ability - to post one of the best seasons ever by a college quarterback.

White was the nation's leader in pass efficiency and won the Heisman Trophy, proving to be the perfect complement to the nation's stingiest defense. Together, they made Oklahoma look nearly unbeatable.

The Sooners' record-tying, 15-week run as the nation's No. 1 team included a flawless 77-0 rout of Texas A&M on Nov. 8 that started talk of them being one of the greatest teams in college football history.

Instead, the myth of Oklahoma's invincibility came to a shocking end following its 35-7 loss to underdog Kansas State.

The Sooners (12-1) played so badly, the media and coaches polls dropped them into third-place behind USC and LSU. Oklahoma still got its spot in the Sugar Bowl, but not without plenty of teeth-gnashing by BCS critics.

"For 12 games, everybody is enamored with you," coach Bob Stoops said. "But you lose one, and all of a sudden you are somehow supposed to be a fragile team."

Said Oklahoma defensive tackle Tommie Harris: "Now that we have one loss, it's like we're Prairie View or something."

Strong finish boosted Tigers

LSU was coming off a disappointing 8-5 season that was capped by an ugly, mistake-filled 35-20 loss to Texas in last season's Cotton Bowl.

In the offseason, coach Nick Saban had to replace his two top running backs, one of his best linebackers and three starting defensive backs.

Making matters worse, 24-year-old quarterback Matt Mauck was handed the starting job even though he was recovering from torn ligaments in his right foot - an injury that some feared would end his brief career.

But LSU (12-1) was every bit as dominant a force as the Sooners.

The Tigers finished with the nation's top-ranked scoring defense (10.8 points a game) and won their games by an average of 24 points, losing only to a resurgent Florida team in Baton Rouge on Oct. 11.

LSU went on to hold off Eli Manning-led Mississippi 17-14 for the Southeastern Conference's West division title, pound Arkansas a week later and trounce fifth-ranked Georgia 34-13 in Atlanta for the SEC crown.

"We had to beat three teams down the stretch that beat us the year before," Saban said.

Defensive tackle Chad Lavalais overcame his inconsistency and earned All-America honors and became a Lombardi Award finalist.

Mauck became the SEC's most efficient passer and set a school record with 28 touchdown passes. Freshman running back Justin Vincent seized a starting role and ended the regular season by rushing for 201 yards against Georgia in the league championship game.

"The whole state is behind us. Very few people doubt us here," Lavalais said. "But in the rest of the country, a lot of people are saying we can't beat Oklahoma. We're not doubting. We have a great team here."