Big Crappy System

It's the 10th anniversary of Deja Vu All Over Again for College Football and there wonderful system called the BCS. Every December since the BCS began in 1998, the argument to get rid of the BCS and start a playoff system begins and ends the same way. A playoff system is not going to happen with all the revenue bowls bring in, and I'm okay with that. I like the other Bowls, plus there's a football game on everyday, which is nothing to complain about. So instead of complaining let me discuss the end of the College Football season, because everything in sports is flawed (Not including the NFL Office Patriots of 2007).

OSU/LSU
At the end of the season we can only hope the Championship game is between two high level teams that won their conferences, and it is. Hey, it could be the '01 Nebraska team that couldn't even win their conference championship, in the championship. LSU has been a favorite for this game ever since the preseason rankings, and it's clear that they are the best 2 loss team in the nation. Throughout the year, both teams remained in the top 12 of the AP rankings, and LSU spent the entire season in the top 10. Beginning with week 5 there was only 1 week that both these teams weren't in the top 5 in the country. So, with regards to the BCS Championship Game, there is really little complaining that could be done. On the other hand though, there are some issues with the remaining games on the BCS docket.

Where's Missouri? And I don't mean geographically.
Well actually maybe I do, as it does sit in between the states of Illinois and Kansas, the two teams that squeezed Missouri out of the BCS picture. How can a team be ranked #6 in the BCS, get passed over for a BCS game by a team ranked #8? And to make matters worse, #6 beat #8 11 days ago pretty easily for the right to play in their conference championship game. Kansas did have a better record than Missouri, but that was because Missouri beat Kansas and played an extra game. If Kansas had beat Missouri and lost to Oklahoma in the Big 12 Championship game, I wonder what would've happened.

After digging deeper you see that Missouri played a decent schedule, whereas Kansas played everyone except a high school team. You can't blame Kansas for getting lucky with an easy Big 12 schedule, but you can blame Kansas for playing: Central Michigan, SE Louisiana, Toledo, and Florida International as their first 4 games. They outscored those 4 opponents 214-23. I'd say that is kind of 1 sided. Missouri actually went out and not only played teams, but beat Illinois, who is in the Rose Bowl and beat Ohio State, and a team from the best conference (SEC) Ole Miss.

Highest BCS Ranked Team not in BCS Bowl
5 California '04
5 Oregon '05
6 Kansas St '99
6 Tennessee '01
6 Texas '03
6 Missouri '07

This list does not include Kansas State '98 who was ranked 3rd, but no rule was in place where the BCS #3 automatically gets a BCS Berth. Also take into account the fact that starting last season there are 10 BCS teams, and 4 BCS At-Large Berths (As opposed to 8 BCS teams, and 2 At-Large Berths). It may be a while before we see a higher ranked team excluded from the BCS Bowls, so for now Kansas gets the honor of getting smashed by Virginia Tech in the Orange Bowl, and Missouri gets to beat up on Arkansas in the Cotton Bowl.


4th and Goal
(Random College Football Thoughts)
If Oklahoma kills West Virginia in the Fiesta Bowl, and LSU/OSU is a crappy 13-10 like game there will be a split National Champion. Every BCS conference needs to have a Conference Championship Game, or not, as long as all 6 conferences DO THE SAME THING. I would've liked to see USC/Hawaii play in the Rose Bowl, but as long as Hawaii's in a BCS bowl you can't complain. BCS is so messed up Congress looked into what they were doing in '05, no use of steroids or HGH was found, although it probably could've used it. There were 24 different teams in the AP Top 10 this year including Rutgers, Louisville, and Penn State. The last of those 24 top 10 teams, the only undefeated team in the nation, Hawaii. A little early Bowl talk (Look for my column discussing all the bowls latter this month)...best non New Years Bowl is ASU/Texas in the Holiday Bowl. Best smaller Bowl, BYU/UCLA both good teams that no one knows about. Final thought which could determine the BCS Champion, Ohio State is 0-8 vs. SEC teams in Bowls and the SEC is 3-0 in BCS Championship Games, so now you know who's gonna win, maybe?