Ranking the BCS Champions

We have 11 college football champions since the Bowl Championship Series was instituted in 1999. While they all have sparked controversy, which one was the best? Here's the list:

11. Ohio State, 2002: There were questions about whether the Buckeyes should have even played the Miami Hurricanes for the national championship. They pulled the upset in overtime.

10. LSU, 2007: The tigers had two regular season losses, at Kentucky and against Arkansas, and entered the SEC Championship ranked No. 7 in the country. The team made it to the national championship as the No. 2 team and crushed Ohio State.

9. Oklahoma, 2000: The Sooners defense shut out Florida State, winning the game 13-2. Coach Bob Stoops had a number of close calls throughout the season, including the Big 12 title game, and regular season games against Texas A&M and Oklahoma State.

8. Tennessee, 1998: The Vols won the first BCS title game as the No. 1 team and beat Florida State by seven. They needed overtime to beat Florida as well as Arkansas that season. Both were at home.

7. LSU, 2003: Nick Saban won his first and only national championship by knocking off No. 1 Oklahoma by seven. It was the famous split championship year in which USC won the Rose Bowl to claim the AP national championship.

6. Florida, 2006: Tim Tebow was not the starting QB on this one-loss team, although many fans wondered why. Chris Leak was the game's offensive MVP as the Gators spanked Ohio State.

5. Miami, 2001: The Hurricanes nipped Virginia Tech in their final game of the regular season to finish the year No. 1. Once in the Rose Bowl, they thrashed Nebraska to win the title.

4. Florida State, 1999: The 'Noles spent the entire season No. 1, their closest game a 3-point win over Clemson. Virginia Tech and Michael Vick provided little test in the national championship game, which FSU won by 17.

3. USC, 2004: QB Matt Leinart won the Heisman Trophy and the Trojans crushed Oklahoma for their second straight national championship. Reggie Bush, who won the Heisman the following year, and LenDale White were sophomores.

2. Texas, 2005: Vince Young won his second consecutive Rose Bowl, upsetting USC, considered heading into the game one of the greatest teams of all time. The game is considered one of the greatest college football games ever played. The closest regular-season game was a 3-point win over Ohio State.

And the Number one No.1 team in the BCS era...

1. Florida, 2008: This team was no perfect, but following a loss to Ole Miss, the Gators went on an incredible role, knocking off No. 1 Alabama in the SEC Championship and then taking care of No. 1 Oklahoma to win the national championship. The loss was the only close game the Gators played all season. Tim Tebow's legend grows ...