BCS Bash Tuesday

BCS Bash Tuesday

        We have all heard the saying "the BCS got it right". Well, when it comes to #1 vs #2, yes, the BCS gets it right (most of the time, anyway). However, when you say "the BCS got it right", that also refers to the rest of the BCS matchups. And this season I have to say that the BCS just proved why we need a play off system.

 

 

        Northern Illinois is ranked 16th and they are the MAC Champions. With the rules of the BCS, that gives NIU access to a BCS Bowl even though they are not part of an AQ conference. Instead of the BCS rewarding the teams that are great (Texas A&M, LSU, Oklahoma, South Carolina, or even the SECOND BEST SEC TEAM; Georgia) It rewards teams like NIU, Louisville, and an 8-5 Wisconsin team. Yes, an 8-5 team is playing in the Rose Bowl. How many times have we said that the system is broken? Even when we are talking about just how the top 10 rankings look there are always people saying it's broke. The only game the BCS got right this season was the BCS Title Game.

 

        Why does the system work this way? I don't want to act like I know every rule the BCS has to follow, but I will tell you that we only have the smaller conferences to thank for this huge mess. You can say it started with Boise State a few years ago, but I think it pre-dates that situation just a little bit. Some of you may remember reading the stories about how congress may investigate the BCS under the suspicion that the BCS doesn't give access to the smaller conferences. Congress never went through with it (to my knowledge). The threat, however, made the BCS change its rules for qualifying for the BCS. Now as the rule stands, to my understanding, a team in a NON-AQ conference can qualify for a BCS Bowl if they win their conference and are ranked 16th or higher in the BCS standings.

 

       This system is now made to serve everyone, not just the teams that are great or deserving. Sure, it may sound great when you say "the BCS serves everyone" but that's not what it was made for...... It was made to reward those teams who played in an AQ conference. It was made for those teams that work so hard to get into the top 10 in the rankings. It was made for the team that finishes 6th (Georgia). But now, it has been changed. This isn't the first year this has happened, but this year it has drawn more discussion. All I can say at this point is "Come on 2014!"

 

       Will the Playoff system fix the issues we have now? No. There is no system that could solve all the issues that the current BCS system has right now. However, the playoff system will be better at getting to that #1 ranking. Think of how great it would be to see Notre Dame, Ohio State, Alabama, and Florida all participate in a four team playoff. Or for those who discount Ohio State because of their current bowl ban, insert Oregon. Will we get the four teams right every time? Maybe not. Will there be teams left out that deserve a shot? Yes, but the difference will be that there will be more chances of getting it right than getting it wrong. This year is a prime example of what could've happened in the playoffs. Take away the bowl ban from Ohio State, and you get Notre Dame and Ohio State in the picture. Then it's a huge debate for the other two teams. Kansas State, Oregon, Florida and Alabama all have ONE LOSS. Hey don't forget about NIU (12-1)......Yeah forget that.... The playoff system will keep that from ever happening...

 

 

       Okay, so we can't change the fact that Louisville and NIU are in the BCS.......but we can stop blaming the teams they are playing against for the mess created by the BCS. It isn't Florida's fault for having to play Louisville. It isn't Florida State's fault for having to play NIU. If you want to be mad at somebody, or a group for these matchups......take it out on the BCS and the VOTERS! The Voters could've prevented NIU from making it into the BCS. We can't control the computers (so they say, anyway) but we can control who we vote for in the rankings. The AP poll still has some weight to it and it could have stopped this. Now we have two teams ranked 16th or worse playing in BCS Bowls....Thank you, Associated Press. Thank you, BSC, excuse me...BCS.

 

         NIU is 16th in the AP poll. So the Associated Press is telling us that NIU is better than Nebraska, Michigan, and UCLA?!?!?! (Just to name a few that are ranked under NIU) Let me get this straight, Nebraska and UCLA played for their conference championships (they both lost; UCLA nearly won) and they aren't better than the MAC Champion? To you smaller conferences, please stop complaining and get out there and play teams from the SEC, Big 12, PAC-12, or even the ACC. I end with the most over-used phrase; "the system is broke." It will still be broke in two years but with less issues like this one (I hope).

 

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