MIAMI - Matt Leinart and Southern California teammates played to perfection, leaving no doubt about this national championship.
Even better, they don't have to share it.
The Heisman Trophy winner threw a record five touchdown passes and USC overwhelmed Oklahoma 55-19 on Tuesday night in the Orange Bowl, assuring the Trojans will end the season just as they started: No. 1.
The much-anticipated battle of unbeatens, No. 1 vs. No. 2, turned into a coronation for USC, which had to settle for a share of the national championship last year after being left out of the Bowl Championship Series title game.
Unbeaten Auburn, the odd team out of the BCS title game this season, certainly couldn't have done any worse against the mighty USC.
The Tigers (13-0) finished their perfect season with a 16-13 win over Virginia Tech in the Sugar Bowl on Monday night.
USC surely will become the first team to repeat as AP national champions since Nebraska in 1994-95 and join Florida State in 1999 as the only teams to go wire-to-wire - from preseason to post bowls - as No. 1.
The final media poll was to be released early this morning.
The Trojans wrapped up their 2003 national title three days before the BCS championship game by beating Michigan 28-14 in the Rose Bowl.
They won't have to wait for their trophy this season.
With the aide of four Oklahoma turnovers, the Trojans (13-0) ambushed the Sooners (12-1) with 38 points in the final 20 minutes of the first half.
The first meeting of Heisman winners couldn't have been more one-sided. Leinart set an Orange Bowl record with his five scoring tosses and Jason White spent another BCS title game running for his life.
Oklahoma's Heisman winner finished 24 of 36 for 244 yards with three interceptions and two touchdowns.
Leinart was 18 of 35 for 342 yards and he had the USC band playing Fight On all night. The laidback Californian who replaced Carson Palmer became the first Heisman winner to win a national title since Michigan's Charles Woodson in 1997.
Leinhart looked nothing like the overrated quarterback for an average offense as Oklahoma defensive end Larry Birdine described him.
He tossed four scores in the first half as the Trojans turned an early 7-0 deficit into a 38-10 halftime lead.
And when the demolition had ended, the Trojans bounced and danced their way to the locker room, grooving in the end zone as Outkast's Hey Ya blared through Pro Player Stadium. Meanwhile, the Sooners trudged off having already allowed more points in a bowl game than any team in school history.
Leinart shrugged off Birdine's comment and played great in what could be his farewell to college football. The junior could be a top pick in the next NFL Draft.
He also got plenty of help. The Trojans reached a season high for points and turned the game into a USC highlight reel. Steve Smith caught an Orange Bowl record three touchdowns, LenDale White ran for 118 yards and two scores and the USC's defense smothered Oklahoma's Adrian Peterson.
Peterson, the Heisman runner-up, managed just 82 yards on 25 carries.
The Augusta Chronicle ©2012 Morris Communications, LLC. All Rights Reserved.
Back
