Evidence so far points to Alabama as No. 1

After six long, hard weeks we have some separation around the country. Iowa and Ohio State in the Big Ten. USC and Oregon in the Pac-10. Virginia Tech and Miami in the ACC.

You might have also noticed that Alabama and Florida have emerged tops in the SEC, two of the nine remaining undefeated teams. By reputation and ranking, they are also neck-and-neck for the national championship. We know this because, well, you might have heard. The Strictly Elite Conference has won four of the past six titles, the past three in a row. Yada, yada, yada.

Greg McElroy and the Tide rank 17th in the country with 444.7 offensive yards per game. (US Presswire)

But after each team's defining road win Saturday, we know this much going into Saturday's halfway point of the season: No matter what you read or see this week, Alabama is No. 1. By a micron, the thickness of a computer chip, by the last inch of Mark Ingram's 172 rushing yards against Ole Miss on Saturday.

The teams are 1-2 nationally in defense, No. 1 and No. 3 in the SEC in offense. Yes, it's that close. Still, Alabama is No. 1.

This is not meant to take a cattle prod to Gator Nation. Florida remained No. 1 in both major polls Sunday after suffocating LSU. It is not a slight at Texas, which had held steady at No. 2 for most of the season before being jumped by Alabama in the AP poll. But we now have a body of work for reference. Alabama is No. 1 because it is boring, balanced and, in the end, brilliant. It is playing with more urgency than Florida (and Texas), if that's possible.

For starters, Alabama has the revenge motive, against both Florida for last season's SEC title game loss and the 800-pound gorilla that sits on its shoulder. Its name is "1999," which is the last year 'Bama won the SEC.

Sure, 'Bama left a lot of points on the field against Ole Miss, but it also left the Rebels bruised, battered and mumbling, "Wait 'til next year." That's pretty much what Florida did to the Tigers, snapping their 32-game Saturday night winning streak. But you have to watch. It's a feel right now, like choosing between a Lamborghini and a Ferrari.

What the Gators are attempting is next to impossible, winning three titles in four years. What the Crimson Tide are attempting has been hard-wired into their brains by relentless Nick Saban. The Tide are on a mission.

"This is the fastest defense if you went from one to 11," Ole Miss coach Houston Nutt said. "From corners to safeties to linebackers, this is the best I've seen."

Even Mr. Mum, Saban, called the thrashing of Ole Miss the best defensive performance "I've been around in a while."

People keep asking me, "How good is Alabama?" I refer them to those now fourth-ranked Hokies, who are chasing a third consecutive ACC title and have won by an average of three touchdowns since that opening night loss to the Tide. Tech gave up 34 points and lost by 10 on a neutral field in Atlanta. That's the second-most points given up by Virginia Tech in the past six years.

Yes, we have separation.

Florida held LSU to 166 yards and its fewest points at home in seven years. Only Tim Tebow's concussion cacophony overshadowed a defense that made a footnote of LSU quarterback Jordan Jefferson. There is a reason no sophomore quarterback has won a national championship since 2002 or the SEC since 1992. They tend to melt under the heat that Florida brought Saturday night.

But Alabama is No. 1, by a hair, because it lost its quarterback and an All-American left tackle from 2008 plus a linebacker this season (injured Donta Hightower) and is somehow better. Quarterback Greg McElroy waited around for three years so he could make everyone say "John Parker who?" Ingram has turned out to be a hoss. Javier Arenas is headed for an All-American season either as a returner or a cornerback. Maybe both.

Florida's biggest obstacles have been coming up with witty retorts to Lane Kiffin and losing sleep over Tebow's concussion.

That's splitting heirs to the SEC throne, but their similarity forces us to make a choice. Alabama is No. 1 most of all because it has a blueprint. Alabama spent five weeks in the No. 1 spot last season and took a lead into the fourth quarter against Florida in the '08 SEC title game. Be assured that Saban has copied the game tape from Monte Kiffin's brilliant play calling for Tennessee against Florida. LSU defensive coordinator John Chavis' crew allowed one touchdown.

Alabama is No. 1, and right now, it doesn't matter. The argument will be decided on the field. From here it looks like for the second year in a row, the winner of that SEC title game goes to the national championship game.

That's the best separation you can get if you're one of the Strictly Elite. Everybody else will be playing for that other berth.

Yada, yada, yada.

The Undefeated

There are nine undefeated I-A teams remaining. (Two each from the Big East, Big 12 and SEC.) That ties for the fewest after six weeks of the season since at least 2002. A capsule look at the remaining seven ...

Boise State (5-0): Considering the remaining schedule, the Broncos will go unbeaten to wrap up their second BCS bowl. Considering the upcoming opponents, that's as good as the No. 5 Broncos can do. There will be no BCS title game.

Cincinnati (5-0): Tony Pike, Mardy Gilyard and a no-name defense. We'll know more names and faces if the Bearcats can win Thursday's showdown at South Florida.

Iowa (6-0): The Hawkeyes are off to their best start since 1985. Fast forward to Nov. 14, when the Hawkeyes go to Columbus. A Rose Bowl berth could be on the line. This might be Kirk Ferentz's finest coaching job. The defense was the only sure thing. Then Iowa up and wins a shootout against Michigan. Go figure.

Kansas (5-0): It's been, and will be, fun watching the Jayhawks have to outscore everybody. Quarterback Todd Reesing should be on every Heisman list in the country. The Jayhawks still have to beat out Nebraska on Nov. 14 for the Big 12 North title. First, they have to defeat Oklahoma on Oct. 24 in Lawrence to stay unbeaten.

South Florida (5-0): The Bulls have made a habit of fast starts before fizzling out. The Big East is there for them if they can get past Cincinnati.

TCU (5-0): The offensively challenged Frogs have to travel to BYU and get Utah at home. The Mountain West spent the offseason telling you how good it is. It didn't tell you it is going to eat its own this season. TCU will not make it through. Bad sign that it dropped two spots in AP after beating Air Force.

Texas (5-0): The other BCS title game spot looks to be the Longhorns if they take care of business. There should be no tiebreaker funny business even if they beat Oklahoma on Saturday. After that, they would have to survive a possibly Dez Bryant-less trip to Oklahoma State.