Alabama Crimson Tide running back Trent Richardson, perhaps the nation's best running back and certainly the NFL Draft's top rushing candidate, wasn't Bama's featured back on every drive in the BCS National Championship Game's first half. Many were confused to see Eddie Lacy getting carries ahead of the devastating Richardson, especially on the LSU Tigers side of the field.

SI.com: Live LSU-Alabama box score

If the plan was to split series, Richardson seems to have asserted his way into more carries. But he's hardly overexerting himself so far. He has 11 carries and two catches, more touches than any two other Tide players combined, working his way to 52 yards rushing and 11 through the air. The highlight was a 20-yard jaunt down the sideline that ended with a jolting stutter step.

Richardson tends to get more and more effective as games wear on, which makes sense. At a molten 224 pounds, he's acquired his 1,583 rushing yards on the year by being used as much a closer as a starter. Until things get really out of hand, of course.

For more on the 2012 BCS National Championship Game, visit LSU blog And the Valley Shook, Alabama blog Roll Bama Roll and SEC blog Team Speed Kills.