The past two years, unexpected losses by Oklahoma and Southern California created paths to the national championship for Southeastern Conference teams.

Don’t look for that to happen again in 2008. The Sooners and Trojans are on a collision course with the national championship that will bring them to familiar ground. On Jan. 8, 2009, Dolphin Stadium in Miami will host a championship game that might seem familiar to the Trojans and Sooners. The last time Miami hosted the BCS title game, in the Orange Bowl in January 2005, those teams met as unbeatens.

That Oklahoma team came in being hailed as one of the best of all time. It left humiliated, losing 55-19. Since then, the Sooners have been in a Bowl Championship Series funk that has saddled them with a “can’t win the big one” reputation despite their nation-best 90 victories this decade.

It weighs on the minds of a loaded team that returns stars such as sophomore quarterback Sam Bradford and arguably the best offensive line in the game. The Sooners’ mission going into the season is a four-letter acronym, WTLG. It means “Win the Last Game.”

“We’ve been very deficient in that area,” Oklahoma senior safety Nic Harris said. “WTLG, that’s our whole motto this year.”

The schedule sets up nicely for Oklahoma. The Sooners will be favored heavily in every nonconference game, and except for the annual clash with Texas in Dallas, their toughest Big 12 games are in Norman. And they would not face Missouri until the Big 12 championship game, if the Tigers make it there.

It’s a similar story for USC, which seems by far the class of the Pac-10 after the other usual contenders lost major talent. The Trojans will field one of the nation’s nastiest defenses and have an embarrassment of riches on the offensive side of the ball. Pete Carroll has led the Trojans to six consecutive double-digit-win seasons and two national titles, giving USC its own claim to be college football’s best team of the decade.

USC’s toughest test will come Sept. 13, when Ohio State visits. Win that one, and the Trojans will be sitting pretty, barring a monumental upset in league play.

That, however, has been the problem. Oklahoma and USC know they missed chances the past two years. Oklahoma can point to close losses to Oregon, Colorado and Texas Tech that knocked it out of the running in 2006 and 2007. USC blew a title shot by losing to UCLA in 2006 and then was stunned by Stanford and Oregon last year.

Florida in 2006 and LSU last year parlayed the SEC’s strength — and other top contenders’ unexpected stumbles — into the opportunity to beat up on Ohio State in the BCS title game.

Now the league generally regarded as the nation’s toughest, top to bottom, has a chance to make history. Florida, LSU and Georgia give the SEC three powerful candidates to achieve a conference three-peat not seen since Big Ten teams won three consecutive national championships in the 1940s.

Standing in the way: Each other. LSU will play at Florida on Oct. 11 and host Georgia on Oct. 25. Florida and Georgia will meet in their annual slugfest in Jacksonville on Nov. 1.

One of the SEC teams emerging from league play unscathed seems about as likely as finding gas for $2 a gallon. No perfect record will mean no title shot for the SEC. Oklahoma and USC aren’t going to lose — until one faces the other.

“The national championship is the biggest goal,” Oklahoma All-America guard Duke Robinson said. “A lot of teams have done that here before. We want to be remembered with those kinds of teams. You can’t do it without winning one.”

WTLG. That’s the Sooners’ ticket.

The big games of the college football season

FIVE DARK HORSES

Ten games that will help decide the 2008 national title:

1. OHIO STATE AT USC, SEPT. 13

Both teams will be in the top five of everybody’s poll, and it is a pretty good bet that the winner will be No. 1 on Sept. 14. The winner will also have a (relatively) clear path to the BCS championship game.

2. GEORGIA VS. FLORIDA, NOV. 1

A lot of big games have been played between these two old rivals. But if a few things fall into place this one will have huge national championship implications.

3. AUBURN AT WEST VIRGINIA, OCT. 23

Spread offense vs. spread offense. Both of these teams could still be in the national championship hunt when they meet in Morgantown on a Thursday night.

4. OKLAHOMA VS. TEXAS, OCT. 11 (IN DALLAS)

Oklahoma should be ranked no worse than No. 4 when it arrives in Big D for the annual Red River Shootout. After games against Chattanooga, Cincinnati, Washington, TCU and Baylor, this will be Oklahoma’s first big test.

5. GEORGIA AT ARIZONA STATE, SEPT. 20

Some feel that Arizona State, with senior quarterback Rudy Carpenter, is the second-best team in the Pac-10. The Sun Devils are still looking for a signature win under Dennis Erickson. Beating Georgia would fit the bill.e_SClB6. LSU AT FLORIDA, OCT. 11

If the Gators win at Tennessee on Sept. 20, they will likely be 5-0 when the defending national champs come to call in The Swamp. If LSU loses at Auburn on Sept. 20, Les Miles’ gang could be facing an elimination game for the national title.

7. OHIO STATE AT ILLINOIS, NOV. 15

If the Buckeyes win at USC on Sept. 13, two huge Big Ten road games remain in which they could stumble. At Wisconsin on Oct. 4 looks dangerous. But a year ago Illinois handed the Buckeyes their only regular-season loss.

8. ALABAMA VS. CLEMSON, AUG. 30 (IN ATLANTA)

Clemson fans believe this is the year when the Tigers will again contend for the national championship. But if they lose to Alabama in the opener at the Georgia Dome, that dream is over. Done. This is a huge game for Tommy Bowden and the Tigers.

9. TEXAS TECH AT OKLAHOMA, NOV. 22

The Sooners could be 10-0 when the Red Raiders arrive in Norman. Texas Tech has beaten Oklahoma two of the past three years. Graham Harrell, Michael Crabtree and the boys could put the Sooners’ national title hopes in the ditch.

10: ARIZONA STATE AT USC, OCT. 11

If the Trojans beat Ohio State on Sept. 13, this is probably the last game that USC could lose. The Trojans will have hosted Oregon the week before. The Sun Devils will have been at Cal the week before.

Heisman Trophy candidates

Five players who could win college football’s top individual award:

1. QB Sam Bradford, Oklahoma

He led the nation in passing efficiency as a freshman and will play behind the nation’s best offensive line while leading the Sooners to the top of the polls.

2. QB Chase Daniel, Missouri

It’s the year of the quarterback in the Big 12. A finalist last year, he will throw for 3,500 more yards and lead Missouri to another top-10 finish.

3. RB Chris Wells, Ohio State

He should rush for more than 1,500 yards and lead the Buckeyes to another Big Ten title. But we’re not giving the Heisman to a guy nicknamed “Beanie,” are we?

4. QB Tim Tebow, Florida

Voters could have Tebow fatigue by the time they cast ballots, and his numbers could diminish this year as Florida spreads around the ball more.

5. RB Knowshon Moreno, Georgia

The SEC’s best back could win the trophy if the Bulldogs match their preseason hype. They are so loaded in the backfield, though, that he might share carries.

BYU QB Max Hall, West Virginia QB Pat White, Texas Tech WR Michael Crabtree, Florida WR Percy Harvin, USC RB Stafon Johnson.