Who's Number One?
While watching college football's national championship game with friends last night, the inevitable debate over the BCS system began. I was surprised to hear that all of us were in agreement on the topic. And the more people I talk to about it, the more obvious college football's mistake becomes.
On January 4th, the USC Trojans demolished Oklahoma. The top two teams in the nation duked it out and by the end of the first half there was no question who the best team was. But there's still a problem. Two other Division 1A schools finished the year undefeated. Say what you want about USC's dominance over their entire season, they shouldn't win a national championship until they have a chance to play every other undefeated team.
Auburn did nothing wrong this season. Every time they took the football field, they left victorious. Still, they weren't even given the chance to win a national title. There is nothing they could have done, short of running up the score, to help themselves. Winning is no longer enough, and the ability to run up the score is a poor criteria to use.
Even the 12-0 Utah squad deserves a chance. In denying the Utes the right to prove their worth, college football joins the ranks of figure skating and gymnastics in the category of sports that are decided not by points, but by the opinion of someone who never sets foot on the playing surface.
When debates on this topic are sparked, there seems to be a lot of confusion. There are several things to consider. All the bowl games these days generate a lot of revenue, football teams can't physically play more than once a week and how many teams would get in anyway?
There are simple answers to each of these questions.
Take the top eight teams in the final AP poll. I know there will be controversy over who gets the 8th spot, but at least the controversy will be over number eight instead of number one. If there are ever nine undefeated teams at the end of the regular season, deal with it then. These top eight teams are given seedings and play a three week tournament. The winner is your national champion. Keep all the other bowls. Cut the five week layoff that many teams have before a bowl game to more like a week or two and start the tournament two weeks before the new year. Then just have New Year's Day for the real National Championship.
It really is as simple as that.
On January 4th, the USC Trojans demolished Oklahoma. The top two teams in the nation duked it out and by the end of the first half there was no question who the best team was. But there's still a problem. Two other Division 1A schools finished the year undefeated. Say what you want about USC's dominance over their entire season, they shouldn't win a national championship until they have a chance to play every other undefeated team.
Auburn did nothing wrong this season. Every time they took the football field, they left victorious. Still, they weren't even given the chance to win a national title. There is nothing they could have done, short of running up the score, to help themselves. Winning is no longer enough, and the ability to run up the score is a poor criteria to use.
Even the 12-0 Utah squad deserves a chance. In denying the Utes the right to prove their worth, college football joins the ranks of figure skating and gymnastics in the category of sports that are decided not by points, but by the opinion of someone who never sets foot on the playing surface.
When debates on this topic are sparked, there seems to be a lot of confusion. There are several things to consider. All the bowl games these days generate a lot of revenue, football teams can't physically play more than once a week and how many teams would get in anyway?
There are simple answers to each of these questions.
Take the top eight teams in the final AP poll. I know there will be controversy over who gets the 8th spot, but at least the controversy will be over number eight instead of number one. If there are ever nine undefeated teams at the end of the regular season, deal with it then. These top eight teams are given seedings and play a three week tournament. The winner is your national champion. Keep all the other bowls. Cut the five week layoff that many teams have before a bowl game to more like a week or two and start the tournament two weeks before the new year. Then just have New Year's Day for the real National Championship.
It really is as simple as that.
posted by Joe Siple | 7:23 AM
0 Comments:
Post a Comment
<< Home