Crazy Vote,gun to my head I'd take the Shorthorns.They beat a USC Team that had at least as many weapons as LSU.And a defense that tagged along also
i would argue Clemson's OLine is/was stronger and the key to the horns was Vince... reduce V's scramble and true dual threat, and... they're beat. USC couldn't do that- I think LSU could do that at least
better than USC did, and result in an LSU win by at least the same margin the Longhorns beat USC.
apples to apples, the 'best' opponent for this season's LSU is this season's tOSU. Again, I'm not pandering to company when i offer that.
we see the score of the game and in the years to come we'll only see the score- but the score doesn't explain how that game could have went either way... especially when you're talking about an offense (LSU and tOSU ~AND~ Clemson) that can truly score on any play from anywhere on the field. these scores usually result in a mismatch found somewhere and exploited (duh), and it's usually the first team to find it wins... LSU found it... and punched it over and over and over resulting in Clemson being forced into a place they aren't familiar with (playing from behind) and losing tempo, and isolating their likely play calls to a smaller variety playing catch up... it could JUST AS EASILY in my opinion been LSU behind the eight ball in that game, but they 'broke free' first... and that is the difference in that game. it was all on the coaches.
saying it plainly, Clemson caught significant breaks in the game against tOSU- and it was and wasn't officiating. Had they scored even once in the red zone on two drives they settled for 3, they would have most likely shoved Clemson in the same corner LSU did, and.... they'd have (as recorded by history) 'easily' won that game by two or three scores. all the while, it wasn't that Clemson was better- it was that tOSU shot themselves in the foot in the most crucial time NOT to shoot themselves in the foot, and allowed Clemson opportunity to hang on.... add to that two really botched calls, and.... we would have seen a far different NCG by my reckoning.
in the title game there was a significant happening that i haven't seen anyone discuss- two were early, and it was Clemson allowing the LSU drive to continue because of penalty. It seemed to me that LSU was about to push the O.S. button before that- but keeping the score close kept them off it. Then, the killer- Burrow was yanked by his mask and resulted in a F&10.... the significance? the guy that grabbed his mask was being held. had the holding been called? THAT was the breaking point in that game by my reckoning... it sent Clemson into desperation mode and played directly into LSU's strengths after the resulting score.
targeting was HUGE in both games. that key element reduced a solid defense to one with holes on both the Clemson team in the title game, as well as the OSU team against Clemson.
we look at statistics and base opinions solely on them- as that's how we record the games and justify their outcomes... and then compare teams from despair ages. that's not smart. LSU's offense was prolific, and they did it against defenses who were good and those defenses were diminished statistically by playing teams who also had good offenses... meaning- Bama's D was 'off center' from what we usually consider a good bama d... but.... had they played in the ACC their defense, statistically, would have been lights out as the ACC doesn't have O's to truly threaten opponents defensive (statistically supported) ratings. Statistics are skewed across the board- which would make Clemson (ACC) look better than they are... but... just to confound- Clemson was every bit as good as advertised on both sides of the ball.
i guess all that^ to say- eye tests from reasonable and informed fans of this sport tell me more than statistics which have to be scrutinized against competitors and their competitors, and... the three best teams were given a chance... one literally lucked out, score be damned. they're all three 'that' good. ...... and this is the case more often than it isn't over the years and over individual seasons.
just my opinion and 35 cents (sorry- i started typing with 3 cents in mind and got carried away).