Why the Bcs Should Implement a Playoff System
Peter O’Hara
11/19/09
ENGL 101-26
Dr. Winner
Paper #4
Why the BCS should implement a playoff system In five out of the last ten seasons in Division One college football, there has been an undefeated team that did not get the opportunity to play for a national championship, and three of those times they were beaten out by a one-loss team. Also, in nine of the last ten seasons, there have been more than two teams with the same amount of losses as a team that got the opportunity to play for a national championship. The BCS, Bowl Championship series, is the current format used to determine the champion of Division 1-A College Football. The Bowl format consists of 32 bowls, including four bowls dubbed the “Championship Bowls” plus one “National Championship Game”. They include the Rose Bowl, Orange Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, and Sugar Bowl. Every year they rotate as to which one will also host the “National Championship Game”, in addition to their own game. The teams themselves are ranked through a laid-out, but faulty, computer system. Through a multitude of components ranging from the number of losses a team has to their strength of schedule, these teams are ranked 1-25, with the top two being selected to play in the “National Champion Game”. This system also selects one or two at-large teams from a non-BCS conference to play in one of the Championship Bowls, depending on the other BCS conference champions. The BCS has been widely criticized in everywhere from bar rooms to congress. This unfair system is stealing the integrity and morals of the game right out from under our noses. The following documented argument will show that the BCS needs to implement a playoff system to join the rest of college sports, solve the money issue, and most importantly, eliminate the controversy. All college sports have a playoff to determine their champion and the BCS is part of college football. Therefore, the BCS should have a playoff to determine their champion. Not one other
11/19/09
ENGL 101-26
Dr. Winner
Paper #4
Why the BCS should implement a playoff system In five out of the last ten seasons in Division One college football, there has been an undefeated team that did not get the opportunity to play for a national championship, and three of those times they were beaten out by a one-loss team. Also, in nine of the last ten seasons, there have been more than two teams with the same amount of losses as a team that got the opportunity to play for a national championship. The BCS, Bowl Championship series, is the current format used to determine the champion of Division 1-A College Football. The Bowl format consists of 32 bowls, including four bowls dubbed the “Championship Bowls” plus one “National Championship Game”. They include the Rose Bowl, Orange Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, and Sugar Bowl. Every year they rotate as to which one will also host the “National Championship Game”, in addition to their own game. The teams themselves are ranked through a laid-out, but faulty, computer system. Through a multitude of components ranging from the number of losses a team has to their strength of schedule, these teams are ranked 1-25, with the top two being selected to play in the “National Champion Game”. This system also selects one or two at-large teams from a non-BCS conference to play in one of the Championship Bowls, depending on the other BCS conference champions. The BCS has been widely criticized in everywhere from bar rooms to congress. This unfair system is stealing the integrity and morals of the game right out from under our noses. The following documented argument will show that the BCS needs to implement a playoff system to join the rest of college sports, solve the money issue, and most importantly, eliminate the controversy. All college sports have a playoff to determine their champion and the BCS is part of college football. Therefore, the BCS should have a playoff to determine their champion. Not one other
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