The BCS, estabilished in 1998, has had a negative effect on the college football game. The Bowl Championship Series (BCS) relies on a combination of polls and computer selection methods to determine relative team rankings, and to narrow the field to two teams to play in the BCS Bowl game. What I want to know, is how a computer operated poll can determine how a team ranks. Let's look at this football season. There are 3 Non-BCS conference teams ranked in the Top 15. Utah, ranked 7th, is the highest of the Non-BCS teams. How can you say that Utah is a better team then big conference teams such as Penn State, Ohio State and Georgia. I want to see Utah put in the SEC, Big Ten or Big 12. They would have atleast 3 losses. If Utah wins out, they will guarantee themselves a spot in a BCS game. Last year, Hawaii earned the Non-BCS bowl birth, and faced Georgia in the Sugar Bowl. Well what do you know, Hawaii looked like a Pop Warner team against Georgia, they couldn't even compete with them. Take my word, the same thing will happen to Utah this year.
There have been so many controversies with this system, that newly elected president, Barack Obama, has even ripped the BCS. Obama stated, "If you've got a bunch of teams who play throughout the season, and many of them have one loss or two losses, there's no clear decisive winner. We should be creating a playoff system." Texas coach Mack Brown told reporters, "Send the best eight teams and let them play it off." Other coaches including Pete Carroll, Urban Meyer and Mike Leach have suggested a playoff system. Look at March Madness, the playoff system for college basketball. It is one of the most nationally watched playoffs in America.
Clearly, the BCS has a problem, and I don't know how we can keep this system going. A computer can not rank teams, it's just not going to work. Each year there's always "that" team who is left out. In 2003, USC was that team. They were ranked #1 in the polls, but in the final BCS poll, LSU and Oklahoma went in 1 and 2. 2006, Boise State was left out. Ohio State and Boise State were the only 2 undefeated teams left. Boise State emerged victorious against Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl, and Ohio State was trounced by the Florida Gators. It's time for the BCS to be thrown out the window, and a playoff system replacing it.
November 18, 2008 at 3:34 PM
I'm not a big fan of the BCS ranking system. I mean you have to see the game to know how good a team is. Stats and scores can be deceiving in some cases.
I would like to see a playoff system in the near future.
Maybe one with more than 8 teams. Sorta like NCAAB who has sweet 16, elite 8, etc. They could at least let the top 25 fight it out, that way a #25 team could make a run for the National Championship.
It would kind of make things interesting.