December 8, 2008

The Bowl Championship Series saves face

Posted: 08:54 AM ET

Sports Anchor Rafer Weigel

The most controversial outfit in all of sports may have silenced its critics for the first time in a long time. The Bowl Championship Series—that kooky college football ranking system run by guys like the comic book nerd in “The Simpsons” has—at one point—upset every fan from Boise to Baton Rouge.

But this time, “the worst system … ever” actually got it right when it lucked into a dream match up between Florida and Oklahoma for the National Title.

All hail! A Bowl Championship Series we can finally relate to.

For the hare-brained system this was a no-brainer.

Oklahoma's 62-21 route over Missouri for the Big 12 title and Florida's 31-20 win over Alabama in the SEC Championship ranked them No. 1 and 2 respectively.

And for the first time in a long time, most will agree - meaning when the two finish with each other on Jan. 8th - we may actually have a "controversy-free" National Champion.

It turns out a blind squirrel really can find a nut sometimes.

Now before everyone goes all Judge Judy and throws the book at me, make no mistake—we need a playoff in college football. Our President-elect even says so!

And this still won’t satisfy everyone. Texas fans will look at the Sooners versus the Gators match up and call it “Sooner-Gate.”

The Longhorns are still longing after the BCS bumped them out of the Big 12 Championship in spite of beating Oklahoma earlier in the year.

But, those BCS computers—fair or not—factor in when you beat someone as well as by how much. Texas beat Oklahoma on a neutral sight on October 11. But Oklahoma’s more recent routes over Texas Tech (who beat Texas) and Oklahoma State make them the hotter team right now. Are they better? That’s debatable. Unfortunately, the Longhorns’ three less impressive wins down the stretch didn’t help them gain back the ground they lost in that last-second loss to Tech.

Saturday’s performances didn’t help them either. Had Missouri pulled off the upset the Horns could have hooked their way in to an invitation to the title game. Instead they’ll get Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl.

But whom Texas should really be mad at is its own conference for using the BCS as its third tiebreaker. The SEC doesn’t do that.

But the change the Big 12 should make is to eliminate the North and South divisions and just take the two best teams for the championship. How great would it have been to see a hungrier more focused Texas team take on their Red River Rivals a second time?

With Oklahoma and Texas both in the Southern division we will go down this road again.

But for now, this year’s National Championship looks like it will have everyone outside of Austin drooling with anticipation. It will no doubt be a big turnaround from last year, which pitted LSU against Ohio State when many felt it should have been USC and Georgia.

And while bowl “purists” will surely give themselves a big pat on the back for this one, it still doesn’t permanently silence the debate for an 8-team playoff. Imagine if we could throw Texas back in the mix along with USC, Penn State, ‘Bama and unbeaten "Cinderellas" Boise State or Utah. It would college football-palooza!

But for now, go ahead purists and do your victory dance. Your bizarre system did not fail you.

This time.

Posted by: Bowl Championship Series, College football, Sports Anchor Rafer Weigel
Filed under: Sports

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Stephen Coney

December 8th, 2008 9:30 am ET

Well great googily-moogily!! It almost looks like LOGIC was used this year. it wasn't. But we can pretend like it was as we watch the games!

Rob_swm

December 8th, 2008 10:44 am ET

We have this crazy thing in Canadian University Football called "the playoffs". Hopefully you guys down south can get one eventually.

In Ontario the teams are seeded like the NFL playoffs. The school in town here, Queen's went 8-0 for the first time ever and got a first round bye. But I wasn't too sure about them even though they were 'ranked' 2nd in the whole country.

They ended up hosting a home game and lost to Ottawa by 10 points. If it was the US, Queen's probably would've been voted into the title game. LOL.

Charlie M

December 9th, 2008 2:55 pm ET

So let me get this right, you save face by putting a team who lost at home, to an unranked team... in the national championship game... and that's saving face? I'm tired of the deep pockets of the BCS, I'm hoping for the days when the peach bowl was the peach bowl, not the "insert large company who now needs a bailout" bowl.

drew

December 9th, 2008 4:47 pm ET

cnn what is the record for most bad gov. in history blagojevich/bad ceo's gm-ford-banking. if sport is work -work is sport why do we shoot our owe foot or both , or have dogs fight . maybe tomorrrow

Sherry

December 10th, 2008 10:31 am ET

Go Oklahoma!

Merlin1272

December 10th, 2008 11:31 am ET

I agree that there should be a playoff system in division-I college football. The BCS system always leaves out teams that go undefeated and have stellar years basically because their school doesn't have the big dollar backing... i.e. Big 12 or SEC... conferences have. I'm a huge football fan no matter what level and enjoy a close, hard fought game. I'm currently paying close attention to the Division II championship as a very local team (UMD Bulldogs... 14-0) are playing for that championship this weekend (Dec, 13th). DII uses a plafoff system and only the best team wins... so why is that not a workable system in DI?.. Even the NFL uses a playoff system... can you imagine the mess it would be if the NFL adopted the BCS style of system?....Ughh

joesaid

December 10th, 2008 4:55 pm ET

So the best match up is OU vs Florida? Until Florida beat Alabama the game to watch would be Alabama vs OU, before that Alabama vs Texas. Why is it not Utah vs Boise, they are the only undefeated teams. Why do a handful of whoevers decide who plays for the championship amoung seven teams with one loss each. It's not right, never has been right and will never be right. But how does it get changed???????????

December 10th, 2008 10:32 pm ET

No Controversy? lol
What about all those USC fans who think Pete is God's right hand and should automatically be granted BCS Champ Game entry just because Arnold got shafted out of being President simply because he wasn't born on US soil and because Hollyweird actors know more about politics than anyone else?

...just my two bits that used to be two cents until a Democrat named Carter invented inflation.

m coats

December 11th, 2008 7:25 am ET

The deal with CC and the Yanks is ok as long as when the Yanks go belly up and coming crawling to Congress for a bailout Congress says NO. This type of money being spent is what got us in trouble before. So please don't have the bail outs spread to sports. I hate to say it but I could see the owners of the Yanks going to Congress and asking for a Bail Out.

m coats

December 11th, 2008 7:34 am ET

What do I think of the CC and Yanks Deal??? Good as long as the Yanks don't ask for a Bail Out like the Auto Big Three did because they pay their employees too much. No Bail Out in Sports Please.

Wac Wyckoff

December 11th, 2008 7:58 am ET

Sorry Rafer, I do not need an overblown Natl Champ Game that hurts the smaller Bowl Games. Not everyone wants it changed. LEAVE IT ALONE!!

Richard W

December 11th, 2008 10:19 am ET

Anyone who believes that a "playoff" system will produce less controversy simply doesn't understand sports fans. A system is still needed to decide who gets into the playoffs and that will generate just as many arguments as the current BCS system. Besides, that's how sports fans (and especially sports announcers) get their jollies – controversy! Lastly, at a time when the nation is involved in two war fronts and our economy is tanking big time, the last thing we need is advice from an inexperienced President-Elect or a new law from a disgruntled Texas lawmaker.

luke

December 16th, 2008 8:17 am ET

ou! go sam!

Layne P

December 18th, 2008 10:21 pm ET

I think Richard W said it best, It just a game in the long run so please do not lose your good night sleep as if any one can these days !!!!

Alice Rueda

December 23rd, 2008 7:45 am ET

Robin I Just Wanted To Wish You A Merry Christmas And A Happy New Year.I Enjoy Watching You And Your Staff Every Morning,All Of You Are Always Smiling And Happy So That Makes Me Happy.May God Bless You All,Here Is A Bible Verse For You All.Phillipians 4-13 Alice Rueda

Craig

December 27th, 2008 9:56 am ET

Oklahoma sucks! I hope Florida beats the crap out of them...proud Texas fan!

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