In October, the high pitch for college football pandemonium rages loudest. The Longhorns make the drive from Austin to square off against the Sooners as the Texas State Fair welcomes fall to the Lone State State. It is here that if you can eat it, well they can fry it. Fact. By now, I'm in full research mode. The teams are in mid-season form and the conference races begin to take shape. As we march through the "meat of the schedule" for most teams, we are preparing ourselves for the most hyped event in the game. An event that has overshadowed the game of college football by leaps and bounds. Yes, I am speaking of the BCS rankings.
I wrote about it earlier this season here. But, something strange begins to happen at this point in the season. If a team loses a game, they're toast...usually. Of course, when Alabama lost their first game, the SEC and BCS honks laid out every reason as to why they could and possibly still should receive an anointing to play in the BCS title game should the season shake out in that fashion. Week by week, the unbeatens fall, and interest begins to wane. This takes us through November and into rivalry week around the Thanksgiving holiday. Certainly, there is excitement surrounding these games, but many of them do not matter, as the vast majority of teams have 1, 2, 3 or more losses. There is nothing left to play for except some school pride, which rarely carries over to the bowl games, as these are merely glorified exhibitions in locales that encourage alums to attend over students. Oh, these Bowl Directors also could care less about doing what is just and right. They are only interested in who travels well. Fact.
What college football offers at this point is a slow, deflating balloon effect upon itself. Week after week, the BCS delusional talking heads (Rece Davis, Mark May, and Craig James) endlessly spin the concept and results of a dysfunctional system. Chris Fowler is the smartest man in this room via video feed. He says what the other employees of the Mothership won't: that TCU will be the latest victim of being judged "unworthy" according to the mystery formula that concocts the results which, this season spit out Auburn vs. Oregon for all the marbles. In fairness, TCU will get to face Wisconsin in the Rose Bowl, a nice consolation prize, no question. But, they will be disappointed, and my prediction is they will get throttled by the Badgers. There is nothing to play for here. What we need, what would be fair, is obvious. We have three undefeated teams remaining. How do you just pick two of them? And before you come back to me with "But Tony, TCU doesn't play the schedule that (insert big school bias here) does," I just have one question for you: Why the hell are they ranked 3rd then? Make it two questions. Why are they ranked ahead of Wisconsin, Stanford, Ohio St, Oklahoma, Arkansas, Michigan State, and LSU? Let's not have the cutoff be between the 2nd and 3rd ranked teams, capiche?
I propose a 12 Team playoff, with the top 4 teams receiving a bye. Those teams are
1. Auburn 2. Oregon 3. TCU 4. Stanford Enjoy your week off fellas. Well deserved.
You like the opening weekend of March Madness? Brace yourself for December Delirium. Let's complete the field. Utilizing the BCS standings which, would be very good at overall rankings as opposed to selecting two teams for the title game, the top 8 are automatically in my post-season format. The next four teams in would be:
5. Wisconsin 6. Ohio State 7. Oklahoma 8. Arkansas.
Congrats, each of these schools would be hosting a first round playoff game on campus. Can you imagine the buzz?
Here is where the BCS gets it wrong every year. In my world, simply winning your conference title (looking right at you Va Tech and Connecticut) does not automatically get your ticket stamped into the playoff. We are faced with filling 4 at large berths. Were it me, in order, they would be the following:
9. Michigan State 10. LSU 11. Oklahoma State 12. Boise State
Now, we would be treated to the following riveting win or go home scenarios:
12 BSU @ 5 Wisc
11 Pokes @ 6 Buckeyes
10 LSU @ 7 OU
9 Sparty @ 8 Arky
Now, these games are intriguing. Ratings would skyrocket as something would be on the line. Instead, we will be treated to the normal slate of bowl games at season's end, which usually end up boring us to tears as we watch helplessly from our couch, covered in Cheeto dust. Naturally, the winners of the games above would travel to the campuses of the top four teams in this playoff and, upon conclusion of those four games, deliver to us our final four of college football, if you will. Another "Ratingspalooza" which is being stymied by the BCS a$$hats. The last four standing could settle it on a neutral field the first two weeks of January. Only politics, perceived greed, ignorance, and fear of change is preventing this from happening. We all deserve so much better than the results the BCS provides us in its current format. Every. Game. Counts. Man, I wish that were the case.
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