OT: Is the BCS working?

[Crazy Patriot Guy]

Not a ton to talk about right now so I thought I'd bring this up. There is a lot of talk of how we need a playoff system and the Florida president was pushing for this but backed off after the Gators won the championship this season. (of course)

I've always been a fan off seeing a playoff system. However, I don't think the BCS is as bad as many feel it is.

For the 2005 Rose Bowl, the BCS system set up a game between Michigan and Texas, two of the most storied football schools playing each other for the first time. Cal was upset that they were shafted. They felt they deserved to be in the Rose Bowl, plus it would have kept with the Pac 10-Big 10 tradition. The result was Texas winning on a last second FG in what essentially was the birth of Vince Young's legend in colllege football and Cal was dominated by Texas Tech in the Holiday Bowl. Some might argue that Cal played poorly because of little motivation being in a smaller bowl, though IMO they would be determined to show the BCS the mistake they made.

Fast forward to this year. I admit I was one of the people furious that Michigan finished their season as the #2 team in the country then got leaped by Florida without playing another game. The team I thought didn't deserve to be in the National Championship destroyed Ohio State.

For every time there has been a questionable BCS decision there has been moments like the ones mentioned above that turned out to make sense.

 

[Seven Nation Army]

The BCS needs to do one of two things:

a) Crown the #1 ranked team as champion at the conclusion of the regular season.

or

b) Move to an eight-team playoff system.

 

[Boston Jay]

BCS - Big Crock of ....

 

[QuiGon]

Any system whereby a team can go undefeated and not have the chance to play for a championship is not a system that works.

 

[DarrylS]

Any system whereby a team can go undefeated and not have the chance to play for a championship is not a system that works.

Even if the team has an easy schedule in a division that is not having a strong year?? The BCS is flawed, but an 8 team playoff may be a better alternative.

 

[QuiGon]

Even if the team has an easy schedule in a division that is not having a strong year??

Yup. Even if the team has an easy schedule in a poor division or minor conference. Of course, what I like to point to is Auburn of 3-4 years ago that got screwed out of the chance of even playing for the national championship.

The BCS is flawed, but an 8 team playoff may be a better alternative.

They should at the very least give us a "plus one" game... imagine how cool it would be to have an NCAA Football Final 4 playing on New Year's Day with the winners to square off the following week.

 

[DarrylS]

Yup. Even if the team has an easy schedule in a poor division or minor conference. Of course, what I like to point to is Auburn of 3-4 years ago that got screwed out of the chance of even playing for the national championship.
They should at the very least give us a "plus one" game... imagine how cool it would be to have an NCAA Football Final 4 playing on New Year's Day with the winners to square off the following week.

I agree with the latter, but struggle with the former.. for example, USC and UCLA are virtually neck and neck throughout the year, unamimously 1 & 2 in the polls.. the play the final game of the year, virtually even, USC wins by a FG in OT. Ohio, ranked about 9, looses two games in the big ten which is weak this year. Should Ohio be invited into the final 4 and exclude UCLA?? This is real hypothetical, and kindof a stretch, but not that far from what happens.

 

[QuiGon]

I agree with the latter, but struggle with the former.. for example, USC and UCLA are virtually neck and neck throughout the year, unamimously 1 & 2 in the polls.. the play the final game of the year, virtually even, USC wins by a FG in OT. Ohio, ranked about 9, looses two games in the big ten which is weak this year. Should Ohio be invited into the final 4 and exclude UCLA?? This is real hypothetical, and kindof a stretch, but not that far from what happens.

If an unbeaten USC plays an unbeaten UCLA, and wins on a last second FG, there is no way UCLA would fall out of the top-4. So they would most likely be in a football "Final 4". And it would be practically impossible for a 2-loss team to crack the top 4. You'd have too many 1-loss teams laying a legitimate claim.

Don't get me wrong... I wish there was a real playoff system... but a "Plus 1" game would be infinitely better than what we have now.

 

[BradyMossTD]

The BCS needs to do one of two things:

a) Crown the #1 ranked team as champion at the conclusion of the regular season.

or

b) Move to an eight-team playoff system.

Totally agree!