The BCS Stinks

It doesn't take a sports genius to determine that the BCS is not only flawed but fatally flawed. Since the BCS started back in 1998 there has been controversy. There have been undefeated teams left out of not only the championship game but left out of a BCS Bowl altogether. This year in no different. There are over 100 teams in Division I College Football. It is a bit crazy to think that a mathematical system will be able to narrow it right down to just two teams vying for the National Title. If the BCS is so flawed then what would be a better way to do things? How do we sort this whole thing out?

The most popular alternative is to have a tournament. This is the way every other level of college football sorts our their champion. Like stated earlier, with so many teams, it's tough to get it down to only two teams going for the title. However, it would be a lot more fair to pick, say, the best 16 teams and letting them sort out a champion. Let's say we take the top 16 teams in football using the BCS formula. It should be noted, I think the formula for ranking the teams is fine, the problem lies in having only two finalists. So, let's take the top 16 teams and put them in a bracket, the opening round match ups would be:

1. Ohio St. vs 16. Rutgers
8. Boise St. vs 9. Auburn

5. USC vs 12. Arkansas
4. LSU vs 13. West Virginia

6. Louisville vs 11. Notre Dame
3. Michigan vs 14. Wake Forest

7. Wisconsin vs 10. Oklahoma
2. Florida vs 15. Virginia Tech.

Now we look at this from a few angels.

Pro: Look at those match ups! Boise State's offense up against Auburn's stingy defense. Notre Dame going up against Louisville could result in 100 total points. You could have Michigan against Notre Dame in the second round. Every team on the list is capable of upsetting a higher seed. Good times.

Con: There would be 15 games played in this system. Right now there are 37 Bowl games. Thirty-seven! Fewer games is seen by some as a negative.

Con: The question of what to do with teams that fall out of the top 16. If this system were in effect this season the following teams would be left out, Tennessee, California, Texas, and Nebraska. Not only are these traditional powerhouses left out of the post season but TV Networks are out of the TV viewers that come with them.

Pro: Insane money for television stations, advertisers, venues, etc. More exposure for the top players in the country. More exposure for successful programs. If Rutgers is seen in the company of Ohio State, Michigan, and USC, what do you think that does for recruiting? Instead, Rutgers is playing in the Texas Bowl against a 7-5 Kansas State team. Yuck.

Con: Greater chance for injury. More games means it becomes more likely for a big name to get hurt. Not a good thing for draft stock.

The excuse I hear most often for not having a tournament is that money is lost. I just cannot see how this is possible. It's possible that the networks will get an extra four games out of any of these teams. Four extra games for Notre Dame means tons of money. Four extra games for a Cinderella also equals a fatter wallet. Let's make the switch because the biggest Pro of all in this is no doubt as to who the champion is at the end of the season.

-Blake-