Getting a piece of college football history will cost some green: $99 for a square of Rose Bowl grass.

Alabama’s title tops a year of triumph and coaching turmoil.

The long and Longhorns’ season is over, the Rose Bowl is empty and Alabama and Texas fans are slogging toward home (once they clear airport security). We pause to recollect and reminisce about some of the top memories and moments of this inspiring, tiring and expiring college football season.

Texas quarterback Colt McCoy popped up and shook his record-setting right arm after sustaining a big hit early in Thursday’s BCS national championship game. Nothing about the play was unusual until he walked to the sideline and backup quarterback Garrett Gilbert ran onto the Rose Bowl field and called a timeout. McCoy had trainers examine his shoulder, then went to the locker room and never returned.

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No. 2 Texas got all it could out of true freshman quarterback Garrett Gilbert Thursday night at the Rose Bowl, but No. 1 Alabama recovered from near embarrassment for a 37-21 win in the BCS national championship game. Heisman Trophy winner Mark Ingram’s second touchdown of the game with 2:01 left was the deal-breaker in the Crimson Tide’s 13th national championship and first since 1992.

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Alabama wins BCS title after Texas loses Colt McCoy on its opening drive.

Alabama won the Bowl Championship Series national title Thursday night, 37-21, using two jarring back blows to two Texas quarterbacks to turn the Rose Bowl into Crimson, clover and game over.

It’s a matchup made in heaven. Two storied programs at college football’s most famous venue. Alabama vs. Texas at the Rose Bowl. | With Gallery

It’s a matchup made in heaven. Two storied programs at college football’s most famous venue. Alabama vs. Texas at the Rose Bowl. It just doesn’t get any better, and that’s not lost on the participants, especially Texas coach Mack Brown.

Arenas says he won’t try to be Superman. Still, his coach says, he’ll blitz and tackle, he’ll be all over Longhorn receiver Jordan Shipley, and he may try to break an NCAA punt-return record.

At 5 feet 9 and 195 pounds, Javier Arenas will be one of the smallest players on the field tonight at the Rose Bowl. He is also among the players most likely to have a huge effect on the outcome of the Bowl Championship Series title game.

Signs and portents make the Longhorns the feel-good favorite at the Rose Bowl on Thursday. Or not. Take off that tinfoil hat with the horns, the mean and hungry Tide will carry the day.

Texas will win the national championship because, in La-La land, people like scripts that come full circle, having their fortunes told and Jupiter aligned with Mars.