USC Could Have Won Five Consecutive NCAA Titles
I suppose this is obvious. But I'm not sure I'd thought of it in a big-picture way. The last five football seasons collectively ... as opposed to thinking of them one at a time.
Here's how USC goes on a five-year run at the top:
USC won the AP version of the 2003 national title. The Trojans trashed Oklahoma to win the 2004 BCS national title. There's two.
Then the Trojans were a couple of bone-headed mistakes away from beating Texas for the 2005 BCS title. If Reggie Bush doesn't try that ridiculous lateral, if LenDale White converts the fourth-and-2 to kill the lock, if the USC defense gets a stop on that fourth-and-5 at the 8 instead of letting Vince Young score with 19 seconds left ... the Trojans win, and that's three straight titles.
Then in 2006 AND 2007, if the Trojans win either one of two quite winnable games -- Oregon State (33-31) and UCLA (13-9) in 2006, Stanford (24-23) and Oregon (24-17) in 2007 -- they are in the BCS title game again ... and they most certainly would have beaten Ohio State both times. Instead of seeing Florida and LSU handle the Buckeyes.
Anyway, Pete Carroll and the lads were that close to five straight.
And to think, no school has even won three consecutive national titles.