December 3, 2006
Another Bad Year For The BCS
The goal of the BCS is to match up the two best football teams in the country and let them play for the championship, something not always done in the old bowl system. When it works (as in the 2005 season), it works great. What happens when there’s a lot of contention over who those two best teams are, though? Well, you can look to 2003 (”split” USC/LSU championship), or 2004 (undefeated Auburn left out of the title game), to see how bad things can get.
2006 is going to be one more of these years. Ohio State can’t “prove” they’re national champion unless they defeat Florida in the Championship game. If Florida doesn’t make it into the game, questions will be asked about the 2006 champion in the same way they were asked about 2003 and 2004. Even worse, if Michigan defeats OSU in the championship game and is crowned the BCS champion, we may see another “split” championship, as Michigan and OSU would each have beaten each other, and Florida may get the nod as the #1 team in one of the final polls. The Big Ten is criticized as being down this year, and if Michigan and OSU split their games, it only adds to Florida’s stature as “escaping” the tough SEC with only one loss.
And given the “poll” process as a selection, you have another worry. Voters may be discounting Michigan simply because they don’t want a rematch, so Michigan fans may have a legitimate gripe if they’re excluded from the game (particularly if they then go to the Rose Bowl and destroy USC, the team that jumped them into the #2 slot, and Florida beats OSU). Voters should be trying to determine who is truly the second-best team in the nation to play OSU, not fudging their ballots to ensure that Michigan doesn’t get a shot.
Only two scenarios can save 2006. If Florida makes it into the game and loses to OSU, we have a relatively clear champion. Or, if OSU plays (and beats) Michigan, and Florida loses their BCS bowl game. We’ll have to see how the polls play out today, but there’s going to be “spin” either way.
Anyone else think the heads of the BCS are very, very upset at USC today?
Below The Beltway linked with Florida Passes Michigan To Reach No. 2
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[...] Further thoughts from Brendan Loy and Brad Warbiany, who points out that this is likely to be another bad year for the BCS no matter who makes it to Glendale. Bookmark to: [link] [...]