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Which of the BCS national championship contenders is the best away from home?
Which team has been battle-tested in the most intimidating and hostile environments on the road?
Matthew Emmons/US PresswireKansas State has already proven it can win in hostile environments. The Wildcats have wins in Norman and Morgantown to their credit.
No. 3 Kansas State, led by 73-year-old general LHC Bill Snyder, has already defeated two nationally ranked opponents on the road, taking down then-No. 6 Oklahoma 24-19 on Sept. 22 and then-No. 13 West Virginia 55-14 on Saturday. The Sooners had won 42 of their previous 43 games at Oklahoma Memorial Stadium before losing to the Wildcats. Kansas State faces two more road contests: at TCU on Nov. 10 and at Baylor on Nov. 17.
Alabama has been nearly as impressive on the road, winning four games away from home by an average margin of 35.5 points. The Crimson Tide clobbered then-No. 8 Michigan 41-14 at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas, in their Sept. 1 opener and won 52-0 at Arkansas on Sept. 15. The Tide play four of their last five games at home, but will have to win at LSU if they're going to have a chance to win consecutive BCS national championships.
No. 2 Florida, which came from behind to win at Texas A&M and Tennessee in September, plays No. 10 Georgia in Jacksonville, Fla., on Saturday and closes the regular season at No. 12 Florida State on Nov. 24.
No. 4 Oregon and No. 5 Notre Dame really haven't been tested on the road yet. The Fighting Irish defeated Navy 50-10 in Dublin, Ireland, in their opener and beat Miami 41-3 at Soldier Field in Chicago on Oct. 6. But Notre Dame has played only one true road game -- a 20-3 win at then-No. 10 Michigan State on Sept. 15. The Irish will have to win at No. 8 Oklahoma on Saturday and at USC on Nov. 24 to stay in the BCS title hunt.
The Ducks have won two road games (at Washington State and Arizona State) and still play at USC on Nov. 3 and at No. 8 Oregon State in the Civil War on Nov. 24.
Edge: Kansas State
