the Informer

In theory, the BCS system seems understandable, designed as a uniquely competitive match-up pairing system compared to tournament style and an enjoyable way to watch match-ups of big-time schools playing against other big-time schools not normally scheduled during the regular season.

This year’s bowl game selections showcase plenty of match-ups that exemplify problematic pairings though.

Taking primary notice, the BCS National Championship bowl game is set with #1 LSU taking on #2 Alabama, two schools that are both from the same, SEC conference.
Never before has the BCS championship game been between two schools from the same conference.

In actuality, the BCS determining system was created to prevent such a thing from happening, the schools from the same conference playing each other for a championship, since a majority of fans have already them play.

Seen in Brad Edwards’ article, “Potential changes for the BCS,” Oklahoma State at No. 3 on the BCS final standings neared an appearance in the BCS national championship, just missing it by .0086 points in the computer based system, according to an ESPN inside article, which is the closest margin between the No. 2 and No. 3 teams since the BCS inception in 2003. In the same article, explained that had OSU gained at least 21 third place vote in the Harris and coaches’ polls instead of fourth, fifth or even sixth, than OSU would’ve still been out of the BCS National championship by .0018 points.

Maybe under the current BCS system, Alabama is deserving of a BCS National Championship bowl game appearance. Now, in a theoretical scenario, this all could have been avoided had the BCS not placed such a large emphasis on the “power-house” conferences.

Because of this emphasis, school’s have switched around conferences in order to obtain greater national coverage, tougher schedule strength and of course increased revenue income, particularly involving the Big 12, the conference Oklahoma State plays with.

Earlier in the year before the season started, Nebraska and Colorado moved out of the Big 12 and into the Big Ten. As a result of this, Oklahoma State lost two possible opponents, one being a No. 20 in the BCS final standings Nebraska, and a conference championship.

Which, given this season’s outcome, most likely would’ve feature Oklahoma state against No. 20 Nebraska.

Presuming that Oklahoma State at No. 3 in real life, probably would have won the game, giving them another win, in a conference championship game, and enough of a “quality win” to boost them into the No. 2 spot and BCS national championship with out a doubt.

However such was not the case, and second plausible argument for abolishing the BCS system has arisen.

If a tournament style was enforced, then who knows who would be playing the National Championship (note the BCS absence) as a series of tournament games would need to be played to determine the final meeting beforehand.

Additionally controversial on a system that is designed to pair the best teams against each other, there are teams playing in the nationally televised and recognized games that are not the best teams in comparison to other teams on the list.

For example, Clemson at No. 15 in the standings and WVU at No. 23 in the standings are playing in the sugar bowl while school’s such as No. 7 Boise State and No. 8 Kansas State are not in a BCS Bowl game at all.

Division 1 football, either transition to a tournament style post season by the start of next season or be prepared to have your fan base suffer critical losses.