re: If it were any team but Alabama, would the media be clamoring for a rematch?

Not the only team. However, the only reason they have a chance is that almost everyone seems to think they are 2nd best team by a sizable margin.

This kind of consensus opinion could probably only happen for a team that's on a run of impressively strong teams over years like LSU is now, USC or Florida teams from a few years back etc ect. . .

But in the media's defense. Even in losing to LSU they certainly passed the "eye test" that they were on a similar level where every other team with a chance now has had a serious eye sore instead.