Factoid 402 - Mike Gundy’s 12-1, 2011 team: why does Oklahoma State not claim this as a National Championship?

In 2011 Mike Gundy coached the Oklahoma State Cowboys to a 12-1 season. They were snubbed and were not invited to the BCS National Title game. However, they beat Stanford 41-38 in the Fiesta Bowl. After all the games were played that season, the Colley Matrix (computer ranked) awarded Oklahoma State the National Championship over LSU (13-1) and Alabama (12-1). Oklahoma does not recognize this season as a National Championship for the Cowboys.

LSU finished the regular season undefeated 13-0, which included a 9-6 overtime victory over Alabama. Alabama finished the regular season 11-1 with their only loss coming to LSU. Despite having already played, Alabama and LSU were selected to go to the BCS National Championship game. Oklahoma State was snubbed, as their 37-31 double overtime loss to Iowa State hurt there rankings and kept them from being asked to the BCS National Championship game.

The new four team playoff was created to eliminate these kind of situations. In the present system Oklahoma State would have had a chance to win the championship on the field. They were never given the chance. So since the Cowboys never got the chance, and the Colley Matrix rated them the best team at the end of the year in college football, why not claim this as a National Championship? It makes no sense not to.