The drive to the 2012 Bowl Championship Series (BCS)

Louisiana State and Alabama will play for college football’s national title in New Orleans on Jan. 9 in an unprecedented Southeastern Conference rematch. Here’s a look back at some of the high profile games of the season.

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Nov. 5, 2011

LSU safety Eric Reid (1) intercepts the ball from Alabama tight end Michael Williams (89) during the second half of an NCAA college football game in Tuscaloosa, Ala. LSU won 9-6 in overtime.

Butch Dill / AP

Nov. 5, 2011

Alabama quarterback AJ McCarron (10) works against an LSU defense during the first half of an NCAA college football game in Tuscaloosa, Ala.

Butch Dill / AP

Nov. 5, 2011

Alabama running back Trent Richardson (3) jumps over LSU safety Eric Reid (1) during the first half.

Dave Martin / AP

Dec. 3, 2011

University of Oklahoma quarterback Landry Jones, center, fumbles when he is hit by Oklahoma State University linebacker Alex Elkins as defensive end Jamie Blatnick converges on the play in the first half of their NCAA Big 12 football game played at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla.

Mike Stone / Reuters

Dec. 3, 2011

Oklahoma State University running back Joseph Randall dives forward after being hit by University of Oklahoma defensive back Tony Jefferson, left, as defensive tackle Jamarkus McFarland, defensive end Frank Alexander and linebacker Corey Nelson look on in the first half of their NCAA Big 12 football game at Boone Pickens Stadium in Stillwater, Okla.

Mike Stone / Reuters

Nov. 26, 2011

Stanford quarterback Andrew Luck (12) throws a pass in the second quarter of a college game in Stanford, Calif.

Paul Sakuma / AP

Nov. 26, 2011

Stanford tight end Levine Toilolo (11) catches a touchdown pass in front of Notre Dame cornerback Gary Gray (4) in the first quarter of an NCAA college football game in Stanford, Calif.

Paul Sakuma / AP

Dec. 2, 2011

UCLA quarterback Kevin Prince is taken down by Oregon defenders during the first half of their NCAA Pac-12 Championship college football game in Eugene, Ore.

Don Ryan / AP

Dec. 2, 2011

Oregon running back LaMichael James, right, runs against UCLA during the second half of their Pac-12 Football Championship game in Eugene, Ore.

Steve DiPaola / Reuters

Dec. 3, 2011

Montee Ball (28) of the Wisconsin Badgers scores a six-yard rushing touchdown in the first quarter against the Michigan State Spartans during the Big 10 Conference Championship Game at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis.

Andy Lyons / Getty Images

Dec. 3, 2011

Keshawn Martin (82) of the Michigan State Spartans loses his helmet as he is hit by Chris Borland (44) of the Wisconsin Badgers during the third quarter of the Big 10 Conference Championship Game at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Gregory Shamus / Getty Images

Oct. 15, 2011

Clemson Tigers Sammy Watkins (2), left, runs for a fourth-quarter touchdown as Clemson defeats Maryland 56-45 at Byrd Stadium at College Park.

John McDonnell / The Washington Post

Oct. 15, 2011

Clemson Tigers wide receiver Jaron Brown (18) hauls grabs a fourth-quarter touchdown pass against Maryland Terrapins linebacker Lorne Goree (53) as Clemson defeats Maryland 56-45.

John McDonnell / The Washington Post

Sept. 17, 2011

West Virginia Mountaineers running back Vernard Roberts (9) scoots untouched into the end zone during first-quarter action in College Park.

Jonathan Newton / The Washington Post

Dec. 1, 2011

West Virginia defensive back Eain Smith (24) nearly intercepts a pass intended for South Florida wide receiver Deonte Welch (83) during the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game in Tampa.

Chris O'Meara / AP

Nov. 25, 2011

West Virginia's Shawne Alston carries the ball over Pittsburgh's Andrew Taglianetti during the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game in Morgantown, W.Va. West Virginia won 21-20.

Jeff Gentner / AP

Sept. 3, 2011

Virginia Tech quarterback Logan Thomas, top center, calls signals as Tech defeats Appalachian State in NCAA football for their season opener at Lane Stadium in Blacksburg.

John McDonnell / The Washington Post

Dec. 3, 2011

D.J. Coles (18) of the Virginia Tech Hokies makes a reception between backs Martin Jenkins (14) and Mike Bellamy of the Clemson Tigers during the third quarter of the ACC Championship at Bank of America Stadium in Charlotte.

Jared C. Tilton / Getty Images

Nov. 26, 2011

Ohio State defensive back Orhian Johnson (19) and defensive back C.J. Barnett (4) try to contain Michigan running back Fitzgerald Toussaint (28) in the fourth quarter of an NCAA college football game in Ann Arbor. Michigan won 40-34.

Tony Ding / AP

Nov. 26, 2011

Michigan linebacker Cameron Gordon (4) stops Ohio State's Jordan Hall (7) during a kickoff runback during the third quarter of a college football game in Ann Arbor, Mich.

Carlos Osorio / AP

Featured Photo Galleries

PARIS, FRANCE - MAY 29: Serena Williams of USA stretches to plays a forehand in her women's singles first round match between Serena Williams of USA and Virginie Razzano of France during day three of the French Open at Roland Garros on May 29, 2012 in Paris, France. (Photo by Mike Hewitt/Getty Images)

French Open results: Serena Williams loses, Maria Sharapova cruises

The American tennis star lost in the first round of a Grand Slam event.

Winnie Pajcic, 9, holds on to a railing as she leans back in the wind during a visit to Stockton Park in Ortega, Fla., in the aftermath of Tropical Storm Beryl on Monday May 28, 2012. Beryl came ashore early Monday near Jacksonville Beach with near-hurricane-strength winds of 70 mph. (AP Photo/The Florida Times-Union, Kelly Jordan)

Tropical storm Beryl, Flugtag, Rolling Thunder, Memorial Day and more in the day in photos

Tropical storm Beryl, Flugtag, Rolling Thunder, Memorial Day and more.

Camels rest at a watering hole outside the town of Aleg May 25, 2012. REUTERS/Joe Penney (MAURITANIA - Tags: ANIMALS SOCIETY)

Camels, tigers, turtles, a giant stag beetle and more in animal views

Camels, tigers, turtles, a giant stag beetle and more.

ANNAPOLIS, MD- MAY 29: Graduates cheer as the Blue Angels fly over during the 100th anniversary of the United States Naval Academy Graduation and Commissioning Ceremonies in Annapolis, Maryland, on Tuesday, May 29, 2012. U.S Sec. of Defense Leon Edward Panetta gave the graduation address. (Photo by Nikki Kahn/The Washington Post)

U.S. Naval Academy graduation

Secretary of Defense Leon Panetta gave the commencement address at the ceremony.

LAS VEGAS, NV - MAY 26: Singer/actress Jennifer Lopez (C) performs with dancers during the Q'Viva! The Chosen Live show at the Mandalay Bay Events Center on May 26, 2012 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Ethan Miller/Getty Images)

Eye on entertainment

Jennifer Lopez, Marc Anthony, Lil Jon, Eddie Van Halen, Mariah Carey and other celebrities.

Doc Watson, bluegrass and folk legend, dies at 89

The blind singer and guitarist was a Grammy winner, known for his flat-picking style of guitar playing.

Henry, a calf, sustained a head wound and required stitches after being slashed over the weekend.

Farm animals attacked in Fairfax

A calf, two goats and a chicken were slashed over the weekend at Frying Pan Farm Park in Herndon.

COVINGTON, LA - MAY 14: Brother Emmanuel Labrise of St. Joseph's Abbey prepares a casket for lining on May 15, 2012 in Covington, Louisiana. Louisiana law forbids those who are not licensed funeral directors from selling caskets. And since Hurricane Katrina leveled the timberlands that once provided the main source of funding for the abbey, the monks have attempted to make a living by building and selling simple cypress caskets. The monks won their first round last year, and have a hearing at the U.S. Court of Appeals for the 5th Circuit in June. (Photo by Sean Gardner/For the Washington Post)

Louisiana monks fight for the right to sell coffins

Federal court case pits a group of monks against the funeral home industry.

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