BCS vs. Playoffs: Another Reason For The Playoff System

Do teams like Boise State deserve a shot?

Ed. Note: This is Brady's response to Danny's take on the BCS

I couldn’t agree with you more Danny. The pre-BCS era was awful and in no way gave us a true national champion. You will get no argument on this point from me. Unfortunately, just because the system was tweaked to get a “national championship game” in the fold doesn’t mean that the NCAA got it right. It is still an incredibly flawed and biased system. The fact remains that teams are still elected to their various BCS games in what amounts to be a beauty contest.

You mentioned that individuals have bias and computers don’t. I don’t think anybody would argue with that. You also noted that by combining a voting public with a non-emotional-by-the-numbers computer entity, one comes up with two teams that the majority of people think should be in a title game.

That is also true but why must the public settle on a majority vote when a playoff bracket, used in almost every competitive sporting competition in this country, could just crown a champion on the field? The combination of computer programs, crazy algorithms and voting could still be used to seed the brackets. Arguments would still exist as to why team A got in over team B on the lower end of the brackets but that wouldn’t bother me as much. If a given team’s reason for missing a 8 or 12 seed (depending on the number of teams) in the playoffs was due to a loss or scheduling a weak out of conference slate then tough luck. I can guarantee no undefeated squads would be left out and the TCU’s of the world would get a fair chance to compete for a national title.

I have heard BCS proponents argue that the regular season would diminish in a playoff style format. Are you freaking kidding me?! First off, losing one game in college football these days pretty much assures that your national title aspirations are over. That wouldn’t really change with a playoff system. How many spots does a team usually drop from a loss in the regular season? At least 4-8 depending on the opponent and sometimes more if it was really bad. That all but knocks you out of the postseason or at the very least gives that team a road game to deal with in the opening rounds. Coaches, players and fans alike would have white knuckles for the entirety of the season just like we do today.

Secondly, assuming top teams are given some advantage in the playoffs (home field, close proximity to campus, etc..) there is plenty of incentive to win every week. There is no better home field advantage than at your home stadium in college football. The atmosphere that would be created by a college football playoff would be outstanding. I get goose bumps just thinking of the horseshoe at night against a power like USC or Texas.

It is true that Ohio State has benefited from the BCS more than any other team in the nation. The Buckeyes have been to 8 BCS games including the 3 MNC contests over the past decade. The fact that a majority of OSU fans still have a problem with the current system should speak volumes. While it is great to get into a “money” contest at the end of the year against another highly rated team, in the end it is just an exhibition game with no real value. It sucks to think of it that way because I get just as excited as the next fan about a Sugar or Rose bowl appearance but you have to face facts. A BCS bowl means absolutely nothing in the grand scheme of things. Sure you may be able to give yourself some momentum going into next year or boost your preseason ranking (another argument for another day) but there is no REAL value other than stuffing the wallets of a select few.

It always comes down to money doesn't it? There is no disputing that college football is a cash cow and continues to grow in popularity every year. Whether it be conference television networks, major network TV contracts or merchandise sales there seem to be an endless supply of revenue streams. Universities are all but printing their own money these days. The weird part is that everybody is leaving MORE money on the table by sticking with the BCS. There are currently 5-6 weeks of rolling tumbleweed in between conference championships and the beginning of the major bowl season. I won’t even venture a guess as to how much money is lost on potential games that could be played during this time.

 It has to be in the hundreds of millions. The problem is that the college presidents and bowl committee members are all buddy buddy and don’t want to see the money dry up for them. Call it an old boy’s network if you want because you know these powerful men have enormous influence and decision making powers. Would you want to give up your 6 figure income job that only require a couple months worth of work? I know I wouldn't. Unfortunately this is a major hurdle standing in the way of a playoff system.

Well Danny, there is my response. I realize that bitching and moaning aren’t the most attractive of qualities but I won’t let it die until something changes. It just makes me sick that this is the way champions are crowned in the sport that we all love. The BCS is still the biggest atrocity in American sports and needs to addressed post haste.