The College Football Controversy: BCS vs. Playoffs
Theory
In order to fix the problems that have created such a contreversy with the BCS, three main goals need to be reached. Regardless of format, the new postseason for college football must allow all teams to have a legitimate shot at winning the championship, have a well defined, consistent, method of placing teams in whichever type of playoff format is chosen, and create a way for the league to consistently determine a single champion each year. Many different variations of a playoff system for the postseason have been proposed as a possible solution that would fit both of the previously mentioned requirements (1). Various proposals for a playoff system in college football can be found at the Sports Fans of America website. You can also voice your opinion on this issue at the College Football News website's open forum. I think that regardless of whether or not the solution is a playoff system, the best way to bring an end to the polarized sides in this argument is to provide an easier way for smaller college football programs to have a chance at playing in an important postseason game. If this can be accomplished, then I believe it will quell much of the complaining that routinely comes from smaller schools who feel they are getting treated unfairly. Once this issue is adressed, then we can focus on a postseason system which results in a single national champion in college football each year and by doing so, we can solve many of the issues people have problems with such as split national championships. A large amount of the complaints about the BCS arise when a team's postseason destiny is determined not by their own games, but by the BCS bowl selection committee which many people do not understand or agree with (2). If the placing of the team's in the postseason is more consistent and defined, then I believe fans will be much happier with the outcome.
To understand how to fix this problem that is currently afflicting college football, it is helpful to gain a perspective on the history of this conflict and take a look at why the issue has become so heavily debated. The origin of the turmoil dates all the way back at the beginning of the 20th century, when college football and the NCAA had only just begun (3). At that point, there were only a few bowl games after the regular season without any of them being designated as some sort of championship contest. The national champion was determined each year, by a series of media and coaches polls that still operate today (4). The problem was, there were so many different polls, and only on rare occasions would they all agree that one team was the true national champion (5). After almost a century of having multiple national champions year after year, the BCS was first implemented 1997 and it appeared to be a great system because of its more defined method in the bowl selection process that is based upon a computer formula (6). Since then, many people have lodged complaints with the BCS often because their decision-making process is not defined enough to justify some of the bowl selections made each year (7). While the computer formula determined the ranking of each team in a much defined manner, the selection of the bowl committee was totally based upon that group's decision which is at the opposite end of the spectrum. When some smaller schools had undefeated seasons, or very good seasons, but were not given a shot to prove their worth in a large bowl game, many doubts arose as to the fairness of the BCS. Anytime a football team is not allowed to determine their own postseason opportunities by winning games, and are instead left out of big games as the result of a committee’s decision, there will be complaints (8). So hopefully now you have a better idea of what needs to be done in order to fix the current problems with college football.
(1) "SFAA College Football Playoff Proposals" http://www.sportsfansofamerica.com/FansInAction/Football/playoffs1.htm
(2) Fiutak, Pete "5 Thoughts on the 2004 Sugar Bowl" http://www.collegefootballnews.com/2003/Bowls/5_Thoughts/Sugar.htm
(3) "History of the NCAA" http://www.ncaa.org/about/history.html
(4) "Championships Program Missing at NCAA's Birth" http://www.ncaa.org/news/1999/19991108/active/3623n31.html
(5) "NCAA Football Past Division 1-A Champions" http://cbs.sportsline.com/collegefootball/story/2554072
(6) "Welcome" http://cbs.sportsline.com/collegefootball/story/2554072
(7) "BCS Rankings Ready: Let the Complaints Begin" http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20041018/news_lz1s18gallry.html
(8) "BCS Rankings Ready: Let the Complaints Begin" http://www.signonsandiego.com/uniontrib/20041018/news_lz1s18gallry.html
