Biased, Critical, and Stupid: The BCS

January 11, 2010 • John Bergman - Sports Editor  
Filed under Opinion, Sports

Major changes are due for college football relating to the Bowl Championship Series (BCS), the most controversial postseason in all of sports. Currently, 5 Division I schools completed the regular season undefeated, all showcasing their resumes hoping that the BCS Computer system will put them in the top 2 positions by the end of the year. Making the perfect schedule is the way most teams try to make a case for the championship. Texas and Alabama, both playing in championship game, got the most attention because of staying perfect in the Big 12 and SEC respectively. With each team in contention playing completely different schedules, trying to find the top 2 teams is virtually impossible.
Obvious problems have occurred in the BCS like just recently in 2009 when Utah finished the season undefeated and knocked off Alabama in the Sugar Bowl. The spotless record left them at number 2 to end the year without giving them a chance against national champion Florida. The same situation also appeared in 2007 when Boise State knocked off Oklahoma to complete their undefeated season. Boise State received 1 first place vote in the polls to end the season, but finished behind two 2-loss teams. Also, strangely in 2003, Oklahoma lost to Kansas St. in the Big 12 Title game 35-7, but got the chance to play in the title game versus LSU.
College football officials are tentative to make the final games into a tournament because it would take out the tradition of bowl games and reward teams that play a weak schedule. Potentially, the switch would take money from the business and destroy the tradition. Pollsters debate now which two teams should play for the championship, but the problem would still remain leaving people arguing about who gets a chance in the playoffs. By expanding the season, teams risk health issues.
Sure, TCU, Cincinnati, and Boise State should be satisfied with a BCS game, but still think they can compete with the best. The final rankings this year were decided on what would or should happen, but that is not the magic in college football. Technically we do sometimes see playoffs like in Florida-Alabama matchup the last two years for the division championship, but small schools and smaller conferences are left with smaller wins and eventually not leaving any impact on their BCS standings.
After clearly giving the National Championship away on a subjective basis, a new system needs to be put together. Changing the way teams are ranked is a long lasting tradition that should be kept, but more teams deserve a shot at the title, therefore a playoff system is necessary.
The BCS should consider a 8-team playoff, giving the top eight teams in the nation a chance at the title. The 3-round seeding and qualifications would still depend on the BCS system. Change needs to come, and a playoff can correct the subjectivity of a corrupted system.

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