Hlas' AP Top 25 ballot for the end of the regular-season

Well, the end of the regular-season except for Saturday's Army-Navy game.

1. LSU (13-0). I told you LSU was No. 1 three months ago. Not everything else I've written in my ballot-explanations has been as surefooted.

2. Oklahoma State (11-1). But they lost at Iowa State. Waaaaa! Well guess what? That was in double-OT on the road, and Iowa State may be the best college football team in a five-state region (encompassing Iowa, Illinois, Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota.) Alabama had a better loss, to LSU at home. Waaaa! Oklahoma State has five wins over teams in last week's BCS Top 25. Alabama has two. The Cowboys have eight wins over teams going to bowls. Alabama has five. Just because some people think Alabama is better than Oklahoma State doesn't make it so, or change the aforementioned facts.

Oklahoma State played nine conferences, beat the daylights out of a fine Baylor team, clobbered Oklahoma Saturday night, withstood a fierce battle with a Kansas State team that is 10-2 and may be going to a BCS game itself.

This is completely debatable. But I'll go with the team that didn't play Kent State, North Texas and Georgia Southern.

3. Alabama (11-1). If 'Bama beats LSU in the BCS title game, this is all moot. Alabama is No. 1.

4. Stanford (11-1). I think Stanford could have beaten UCLA had the Cardinal reached the Pac-12 title game.

5. USC (10-2). USC may have the best team in the nation. I'm serious.

6. Oregon (11-2). I'll watch the Rose Bowl. Ducks and Badgers. Yeah.

7. Wisconsin (11-2).

8. Arkansas (10-2).

9. Kansas State (10-2).

10. Boise State (11-1). Pity the team that plays the Broncos in a bowl.

11. Michigan State (10-3). Who would have thought Michigan State and Wisconsin would produce the season's two best games?

12. South Carolina (10-2). I like the Capital One/Outback chances of Michigan State/Nebraska against South Carolina/Georgia.

13. Michigan (10-2). If the Wolverines play Oklahoma State in a bowl, the Wolverines will be roadkill.

14. TCU (10-2). The two best teams in Texas are TCU and ...

15. Baylor (9-3).

16. Georgia (10-3). Should have had a much-bigger lead vs. LSU before getting beaten.

17. Nebraska (9-3). The football team is a nice diversion in Nebraska.

18. Southern Mississippi (11-2). Its coach said Saturday that it should be in a BCS bowl. Uh, you lost at UAB.

19. Houston (12-1). Some people thought this team was a pretender. They were right.

20. Clemson (10-3). After two straight losses by three touchdowns, the Tigers win the ACC title. It's a good basketball league.

21. Virginia Tech (11-2). Apparently, Clemson has the Hokies' number.

22. Penn State (9-3). Could become the best team to ever play in a TicketCity Bowl.

23. West Virginia (9-3). Your Big East co-champion. West Virginia and TCU move to the Big 12 next season.

24. Northern Illinois (10-3). Great comeback Friday night to win MAC title. Eighth straight victory.

25. Arkansas State (10-2). Nine straight wins. The Red Wolves even beat Louisiana Monroe.