To make it to the national championship from the ACC, an undefeated season is likely a must. Florida State and Virginia Tech could argue for a spot here, but the unbelievable collection of offensive talent on the side of the Tigers gives them the edge. Until the ACC shows a movement toward some legitimate defense I have to believe that the bid goes to the highest scorer.

Quarterback Tajh Boyd, halfback Andre Ellington, and receiver Sammy Watkins will cause nightmares all season for opposing defenses. The potent trio could be enough to carry the squad to a conference title and to an appearance in the BCS championship game. While defense does tend to win championships, getting to the big game is all Clemson could hope for -- and once there, anything can happen.

Take everything that you loved about the Ohio State Buckeyes from the past ten years and substitute some Nebraska uniforms. A powerful spread running attack, a dual-threat quarterback, and a wrecking crew for an offensive line. Throw in some serious experience and talent across the board on defense and you've got the recipe for a B1G championship.

The Cornhuskers must escape an early trap game at UCLA and have tough contests at Ohio State, Michigan State, and Iowa. However, their strength and overall balance mixed with experience at key positions gives them the ability to win crucial road games. Even if Nebraska drops one game, their tough schedule could work to their benefit and put them ahead of other teams with one loss for a serious shot at a national championship appearance.

Really, Texas?! You bet your Bevo they can. It may not be the most likely choice considering a lackluster 8-5 record in 2011, but projecting the future in college football requires an almost-clean-slate approach. And not only does the slate look different for the Longhorns this year, but the cupboard looks absolutely stuffed.

Nine returning starters on offense, including quarterback David Ash, mean that the road bumps incurred by the young 'Horns in '11 could translate into huge amounts of growth for the coming season. As with any Texas team, talent won't be an issue and the offense has plenty to go around.

And as good and talented as the offense looks, the defense appears to be twice as impressive. Ranking in as my second most-talented defense in the nation in 2012, Texas has skill comparable to some of the best top-tier Big-12 teams of the past -- enough defensive potential to scare off the upset and win crucial games on the road.

If you've followed my columns the past two weeks it's likely no surprise who my number one team on this list would be. The Trojans are not only the team with the best chance to end the SEC streak, but they are my choice to finish the deal and win the 2012 BCS National Championship. Not to mention, they are listed as my second-rated team in the nation based on talent, and are led by Matt Barkley, my favorite to win the Heisman.

The Trojans have a tall order in closing out the season with games against Oregon, at UCLA, and home against Notre Dame. As if that weren't enough, a rematch with Oregon potentially looms for the PAC-12 title. But a schedule isn't enough to slow down the Trojans in 2012. They are a galvanized group that persevered through scandal and the subsequent fallout.

The talent alone of the Trojans is enough to push them to the top, and the leadership, experience, and hunger of the squad only pushes them that much higher in my mind. But if you want to argue against the intangibles it's a small ledge to stand on. USC is home to arguably the best quarterback in the nation, the best receiver corps in the country, one of the top linebacker groups in America, and the best secondary in Lane Kiffin's tenure.

The goal for any team, once again, is just to make it to the BCS championship game. Once there, anything can happen. In our current era it's hard to imagine a title matchup without the SEC, and rightfully so, as the conference of record should have a representative in the battle if their streak finally does come to an end.


Who are your favorites to end the SEC's national championship streak this year?


Justin Mikels is a staff writer for Operation Sports. You can follow him on Twitter @long_snapper.