College Football: BCS is busy trying to fix its image, but nothing else
BCS is busy trying to fix its image, but nothing else By John Feinstein
(Obama) has other issues on the table and, to be honest, short of threatening the tax-exempt status of the big-bucks schools, even his presence probably won't force the heads of the 66 BCS schools in question to end their hypocrisy...
Only one of the undefeated non-BCS schools will get a BCS bid. There is now a likely scenario whereby Boise State, which beat Oregon soundly the first week of the season, will not play in a BCS game while USC -- which just lost to Oregon by 27 points -- might. Ohio State, which lost to USC and a horrible Purdue team, might also play in a BCS bowl. Iowa might lose to Ohio State and still get a BCS bid, and Penn State, which already lost to Iowa, could, too.
But Boise State almost certainly won't -- unless TCU loses a game and Boise State wins out.
Now, the BCS defenders will almost certainly say this: "The Boise State-Oregon game was in September." They are correct. Let's put aside the fact that on the very rare occasions when a BCS school plays a non-BCS power, it is almost always in September. Here's what the BCS defenders also say a lot: "What's great about the BCS is that the regular season is so meaningful."
If they believe that -- and who among us would question their sincerity? -- then surely Boise State's win should matter regardless of when in the regular season the game was played. Except it won't. Some might call that, well, a contradiction.
(Obama) has other issues on the table and, to be honest, short of threatening the tax-exempt status of the big-bucks schools, even his presence probably won't force the heads of the 66 BCS schools in question to end their hypocrisy...
Only one of the undefeated non-BCS schools will get a BCS bid. There is now a likely scenario whereby Boise State, which beat Oregon soundly the first week of the season, will not play in a BCS game while USC -- which just lost to Oregon by 27 points -- might. Ohio State, which lost to USC and a horrible Purdue team, might also play in a BCS bowl. Iowa might lose to Ohio State and still get a BCS bid, and Penn State, which already lost to Iowa, could, too.
But Boise State almost certainly won't -- unless TCU loses a game and Boise State wins out.
Now, the BCS defenders will almost certainly say this: "The Boise State-Oregon game was in September." They are correct. Let's put aside the fact that on the very rare occasions when a BCS school plays a non-BCS power, it is almost always in September. Here's what the BCS defenders also say a lot: "What's great about the BCS is that the regular season is so meaningful."
If they believe that -- and who among us would question their sincerity? -- then surely Boise State's win should matter regardless of when in the regular season the game was played. Except it won't. Some might call that, well, a contradiction.
Posted by Bootyboy on Monday, November 02, 2009 04:55PM
- 6 comments
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#6 Rip Nation:
Bootyboy wrote:
> I agree with you. The way the system works right now, a TCU or a Boise State have basically no chance of playing for a national title. Do they deserve a shot? Yes.
They way I see it if they deserve a shot this year is somehow the top 3 fall.
> There's no doubt that the elite non-BCS schools can walk toe to toe with the juggernauts of the BCS conferences. You'll be hard pressed to find much credible debate on that point.
>
I meant between the actual voters.
> Just to make sure we're clear here, there are two parts of the BCS system that is under scrutiny. We're pretty much agreed how the national championship game can be such a farce and should be settled like every other team sport does... with playoffs. The part that I'm more concerned with is the access to the lucrative kitty of BCS bowl money. The system is designed to hinder the non-BCS conferences.
>
> Think of it this way, I'm not claiming TCU/BSU are more deserving than Florida, Texas, or Alabama, I'm claiming that they are more deserving than a USC, Ohio State, Penn State and Notre Dame.
Yes, non BSC schools get screwed over at a shot at a title with the current system. You can make a case last year Utah could have played in the championship game. Look at it this way who would you rather watch Oklahoma vs Florida or Utah vs Oklahoma/ Florida. This year I believe they don't deserve one against the top 3. The top 3 have been up there since the beginning of the year and played a tougher schedule. Now we can hope that they somehow don't lose to create a controversy on who play in the championship game.
Those schools that you mentioned shouldn't even be in the discussion at a title shot. Well hopefully the voters see it that way.
Tuesday, November 03, 2009 12:17PM
#5 Bootyboy:
Rip Nation wrote:
Yes Boise State should get a shot but at a National title shot no. I think some non BCS schools should get a shot at playing the big programs. Utah last year beat Alabama. Hawaii was destroyed by Georgia 2 years ago.
Boise State over Oklahoma 3 years ago and Utah over Pittsburgh 4 years ago.
I agree with you. The way the system works right now, a TCU or a Boise State have basically no chance of playing for a national title. Do they deserve a shot? Yes.
I believe their is still a debate going on if non BCS schools can actually play with the BCS conferences.
There's no doubt that the elite non-BCS schools can walk toe to toe with the juggernauts of the BCS conferences. You'll be hard pressed to find much credible debate on that point.
I'm no fan of the BCS system since it hasn't worked out these past few years. Until a better solution to who gets crowned a national championship.
Just to make sure we're clear here, there are two parts of the BCS system that is under scrutiny. We're pretty much agreed how the national championship game can be such a farce and should be settled like every other team sport does... with playoffs. The part that I'm more concerned with is the access to the lucrative kitty of BCS bowl money. The system is designed to hinder the non-BCS conferences.
Think of it this way, I'm not claiming TCU/BSU are more deserving than Florida, Texas, or Alabama, I'm claiming that they are more deserving than a USC, Ohio State, Penn State and Notre Dame.
Tuesday, November 03, 2009 11:48AM
#4 Rip Nation:
Yes Boise State should get a shot but at a National title shot no. I think some non BCS schools should get a shot at playing the big programs. Utah last year beat Alabama. Hawaii was destroyed by Georgia 2 years ago. I believe their is still a debate going on if non BCS schools can actually play with the BCS conferences. It will come down to the voters and if they look a Boise's schedule and compare that to other teams it doesn't look that great even with the win against Oregon. I believe Ohio state and USC will not get a BCS bid with their losses. Will that be true maybe not. I'm no fan of the BCS system since it hasn't worked out these past few years. Until a better solution to who gets crowned a national championship.
Tuesday, November 03, 2009 11:07AM
#3 Bootyboy:
Rip Nation wrote:
Yes but who else has Boise played. Tcu has a tougher schedule than Boise. Non BCS teams can play with some of the best teams but they have to prove themselves every year. Playing in the WAC doesn't help their cause with their weak schedule.
I entirely agree with you. TCU has tried to beef up their schedule by going to a decent Clemson and a horrible Virginia.
But the point of Feinstein's article was to expose the arguments of convenience that run rampant in college football debates. The _actions_ of the BCS run the $70M-$90M in bowl money like a cartel.
Take your argument for instance: "They're schedule is weak". It's the most convenient argument to rationalize the continuation of the BCS cartel. The contradiction comes where the same people will defend Iowa's weak play with "the Big 10 is a good conference".
The Boise State versus Oregon game brings the BCS debate to its peak. Do you ignore the results on the field... Think about how huge of a contradiction this argument is.
Tuesday, November 03, 2009 10:08AM
#2 Rip Nation:
Yes but who else has Boise played. Tcu has a tougher schedule than Boise. Non BCS teams can play with some of the best teams but they have to prove themselves every year. Playing in the WAC doesn't help their cause with their weak schedule.
Monday, November 02, 2009 05:45PM
#1 Popisfizzy:
wat b bcs??????
Monday, November 02, 2009 05:18PM