BCS Tomfoolery

This latest BCS standings came out tonight. The surprise of the evening is Michigan retaining the #2 position although they suffered a loss to #1 Ohio State. Many media experts are already laying the foundation for an Ohio State v. Michigan national title game. Although Michigan played Ohio State close yesterday, I don’t think they deserve a rematch because Ohio State ended all speculation as to who the better team was in the big game. Ohio State proved they’re the better team. Now it’s time to give another team a shot at the Buckeyes. Although I’m not a #3 Southern California fan because I think the Pac-10 is weak, but they have just as much right to challenge for the title. I even think #4 Florida, whose survived a tough SEC schedule should have their chance at the national title. Every year the media falls in love with two teams and know matter what happens, i.e. one of them loses or plays easy competition, they try to force that match-up down the public’s throat as the best possible scenario for the national title game.

Honestly, all this is speculation. College football needs a playoff system, especially when they’re four or five good teams from tough conferences who deserve a title shot. It’s not prudent to allow the media to pick who should play for the national title because half of them biased because affiliation, geography, or lack of information about the teams and their opponents. It’s really hard judging a team based on box scores and team reputation. Around this time every year I start lobbying for an eight team playoff. A say eight because it could allow for most of the major conferences to send at least one representative, and allows a few at-large teams from big and small conferences to fight for the national title. Alternatively, you could let voters, i.e. like the existing BCS, vote for who the top 8 teams are. Let’s settle it on the field as opposed to what coaches and reporters think. I don’t want to hear arguments about affecting player academics because we’ve all seen the graduation rates of some of these division I colleges. Below is my proposed Conference Champions tournament. It guarantees six positions for the six big football conferences and two at-large positions for deserving non-conference champion teams or schools from the mid-major Division I schools.

Conference Champions Tournament Top 8:

1. ACC: Boston College or Georgia Tech
2. Big 12: Nebraska or Oklahoma or Texas
3. Big East: Louisville or Rutgers or West Virginia
4. Big Ten: Ohio State
5. Pac-10: Southern California
6. SEC: Florida or Arkansas
7. At Large: Norte Dame or Michigan
8. At Large: Boise State or Wisconsin

BCS Top 8:

1. Ohio State Buckeyes
2. Michigan Wolverines
3. Southern California Trojans
4. Florida Gators
5. Notre Dame Fighting Irish
6. Arkansas Razorbacks
7. West Virginia Mountaineers
8. Wisconsin Badgers