In Search of Perfection

Perfection is practically a prerequisite for college football's Division I national champion, thanks to a relatively short regular season and absence of a traditional playoff format. Twenty-four of the last 36 champs have finished undefeated (pictured at left, listed below) -- with dozens of others having entered bowl season with a perfect record and realistic shot at the title. Until university administrators dump the current system -- as discussed at the recent NCAA convention -- college football will remain the lone mainstream sport where a ''perfect'' team can finish second.(From top left: 1972 USC, 1973 Notre Dame, 1974 Oklahoma, 1976 Pittsburgh, 1979 Alabama, 1980 Georgia, 1981 Clemson, 1984 BYU, 1986 Penn State, 1987 Miami, 1988 Notre Dame, 1991 Miami, 1992 Alabama, 1994 Nebraska, 1995 Nebraska, 1997 Michigan, 1998 Tennessee, 1999 Florida State, 2000 Oklahoma, 2001 Miami, 2002 Ohio State, 2004 USC, 2005 Texas.)