Now before you start yelling, screaming and spitting on me for such an outlandish second as a result of last night’s snorefest known as Alabama v. LSU II just breathe slowly.
Those were the two best teams in the nation. It just so happened that each defense was incredibly fast and athletic while each offense not named Trent Richardson was allergic to the endzone. Alabama put a definitive stamp on the season with the 21-0 domination and laid claim once and for all that…the BCS works.
Yes, yes I’m aware that LSU beat Alabama earlier in the season and that Alabama didn’t even win its division of the SEC, let alone the conference. Those are true, but the BCS still found the rightful champion it vies for every year.
Here’s the reason why the BCS works (every other reason works, but isn’t close to the top):
Every game matters. In every other sport you lose one game…it’s ok, get ‘em next week, kid. In college football…it could knock you out of the national championship race. Forces every team to be on it’s toes every week whether it’s a rivalry game or 11 nuns they found on a bus. The true champion knows how to win while not on their A-game.
It’s also not just your team’s games that matter…people care about other teams they otherwise wouldn’t. Every team that is above yours in the rankings takes center stage when there’s a chance of an upset. This makes every Saturday worth watching and leaves you with a vested interest.
Not only does every little game matter, but teams are encouraged to take on huge non-conference games so that if they win they will jump up the polls and increase their odds of making the championship game. With a playoff system big non-conference games will go away. What’s the incentive to take on a team you could lose to when all you have to do is schedule creampuffs non-conference and take care of your conference schedule? Losing bad to a non-conference foe could derail your whole season…playing Atlanta State College University of Farmers won’t.
The BCS has gotten it right every time, but in 2004 when there were three undefeated teams and Auburn got screwed. In other years there have been controversy at times, but here’s the key…WIN YOUR GAMES AND YOU’RE IN! In the end you may think the system is against you, but you’re the one who lost on the road to the mediocre team…it’s on you…unless you’re 2004 Auburn…the system did f*** you.
I agree the BCS hasn’t been perfect, but the system is constantly tweaked to become better and more precise to find the two best teams. In the end the BCS has worked over 90% of the time. That’s Dean’s List material; better than Trident gum with dentists; and marriages. People will counter with saying a playoff system is 100%…but is it?
Playoffs in other sports aren’t perfect, either. Last year in the NFL the Seattle Seahawks went 7-9 and not only made the playoffs, but hosted a playoff game. In MLB the NL West routinely has teams barely getting over .500 into the playoffs, but an AL East team winning over 90 games gets to watch the postseason from home. Even the Holy Grail of college playoffs isn’t fool-proof. March Madness is great to watch and 68 teams get in, but there is no way those teams are the best teams in America. The Big Sky winner who went 15-17 is better than a major school who went 20-12? HA!
Let’s say an eight team playoff happened in college football next year…how would it be decided? Will it be the top eight teams in the rankings? You’ll have all sorts of controversy if there is one spot left and seven major teams with two losses. Will it be conference champions? If this is the case why even bother with non-conference games as mentioned earlier?
You’ll have controversy no matter what method is chosen, but that’s the beauty of college football…it’s imperfect. I know this shouldn’t be something to celebrate, but it’s part of the charm. It keeps the sport in the front of the Sportscenter and newspapers…and that’s why the BCS is the best option. Oh, yeah…one more thing…
GO BUCKS!!!
