An unlikely key emerges in the race for No. 2

The quest to get in college football’s national championship game is like a famous horse race, except that placing is as good as winning and Kentucky is never involved.

There are front-runners, late chargers and substantial jockeying down the stretch. As the season enters what could be described as the final turn, three teams appear to be running neck-and-neck-and-neck for a place in the BCS national championship game in Miami.