Farewell to the BCS

This is officially the end of the BCS era of college football. In 2014 we go to a four team playoff with the four teams determined by a selection committee. Good luck with that.

We were never fans of the BCS, but not for the obvious reasons. In our view, the BCS got it right more times than not in matching the top two teams in a game. Obviously, not without controversy. Auburn and USC have the best cases. But for the most part, it worked.

Our biggest beef with the BCS (aside the idiotic moniker, which we will explain later) is that it ruined New Year's Day. We realize now that television would have eventually done that, but the BCS accelerated things.

New Year's Day used to mean some parades in the morning while we cooked some sort of hangover curing concoction for breakfast. Then we had the Cotton Bowl along with some bowl games in Florida with good matchups. The Rose Bowl was mid-afternoon can't miss viewing. Then the Sugar and Orange Bowls capped off the night.

That was always a fun day for college football fans.

We were always a fan of abolishing the BCS for the reasons mentioned above, not to get a FOUR team playoff. That's just ludicrous. Four creates more controversy than two. Just look at this year.

Florida State, undefeated, would be in. Then everybody else has at least one loss. OK, a one loss Auburn as SEC champ gets in. Then what? Michigan State and Baylor are one loss champs of the Big 10 and Big 12 respectively. Alabama and Ohio State are one loss teams that are not conference champs. Two loss Stanford is really good. You make the call.

Eight teams is the way to go. In our opinion anyway.

We will leave you with this: BCS. Bowl Championship Series.

What a misnomer. There never was a series. Ever.

We always called the "BCS National Championship Game" the "BCS Trophy Bowl". Because that's what it has always been. A bowl game for the BCS trophy.

Next year, the controversy will not go away. It will just take a different form.

We still love college football.

BCS Trophy Game: Farcicle

Alabama and Notre Dame will play for the BCS trophy on Monday night, farcically labeled the National Championship.  Good for whichever team prevails.  But if you watched the Cotton Bowl, you saw the best team in the country right now.

Texas A&M is the best team in college football right now.  Were they the best throughout the entire?  Probably not.  But this was a team that started the season with a new coach and and a redshirt freshman at quarterback.  It took some time to gel.

The postponement of their season opener hurt, as we discussed earlier.  And the coming four-team playoff would not remedy the situation, as we broached that subject as well.

Congratulations to the Aggies on a great season.  Johnny Manziel comes back.  But not all of the starters do.  Don't expect a BCS trophy game contender next year.  Not that it can't happen, just don't expect it.

The college football post season is broken.  Steps are being made in right direction. But we aren't there yet.

The Demise of New Year's Day

New Year's Day used to be one of our favorite days of the year.  And it had nothing to do with a new year, but all about the college football bowl games.

Multiple games being played at the same time.  For at least 12 straight hours.  It was nirvana for fans of college football.  Then, it all changed.  Sure, there are still some good games on NYD.  But there is not that sense of accomplishment from switching channels, trying not to miss a scoring play or turnover from any of the two, three or four games being played simultaneously.

Now, we get four or five games on January 1, then the rest of the BCS games spread out over the next week until it all culminates with the BCS trophy game. Meh.

We understand television and television money rule the game now.  So much so that game attendance doesn't even matter.  It's all about household viewership and advertising money.

So far, we have not seen much of the two games played after January 1.  Some by design, some by circumstances.  But we would have been glued to our TV sets had these games been played a few days ago.

Yeah, we're getting older.  Pining for days past.  Doesn't mean we resist change.  Just change that is more of a regression than a progression.  Looking forward to the 2014 season and the end of the BCS and the beginning of a new playoff system for CFB.

In the meantime, get off of my lawn, you kids.

College Football 2012

Now that the 2012 College Football regular season has come to close, we are now subjected to the worst post season in all of sport.  While the regular season brought much excitement, including the emergence of Johnny "Football/Touchdown/Heisman" Manziel, the post/bowl/silly season brings many yawns including a New Year's Day game matching up Northwestern and Mississippi State.  Mark your calendars for that one.

We could go off on a lengthy rant about the entire bowl process (which somehow excludes the second most prolific offensive team in Louisiana Tech) but we will focus here on the BCS Trophy game and the upcoming four team playoff starting in two years.

While we are no fans of the current system, it seems to get it right most years just by sheer luck.  This year, not so much.  We are not convinced that either of the teams (Notre Dame and Alabama) are the best two teams in the country.  There is circumstantial evidence to back this up.  However, there is no concrete evidence to argue otherwise.  Notre Dame is undefeated playing a schedule that did not include any cupcakes.  Alabama won the SEC, which many argue is the best conference in the nation.

We think any among Oregon, Texas A&M, Stanford, Kansas State, Florida and LSU could beat either of those teams on a neutral field at any given time.  Or not.  It's that close.

So, things would be better if we had the four team playoff in effect this season, right?

In the words of Lee Corso, "Not so fast, my friend."

Sports Illustrated had a mock selection committee pick the four playoff teams here.  Very interesting read.

But are you comfortable with a final four of Notre Dame, Alabama, Oregon and Florida? We're not.  While that would provide for three very interesting games, leaving out Stanford (who beat Oregon), Texas A&M (who beat Alabama), Kansas State and LSU just seems wrong to us.

The four team playoff is a step in the right direction.  But it is not that much better than what we have right now.  We say either go all in with an eight team playoff, or keep it as is, or maybe scrap the whole thing and go back to the old way and end everything on January 1.

Oh yeah, and you kids get off of our lawn.

We Love BCS Chaos

Here in the Cheap Seats, we don't have a dog in the BCS hunt.  Sure, we have our likes and dislikes,  but we are D-II.

However, if we do have a rooting interest, it is chaos.  The games on 11/17/2012 did not disappoint.

The BCS has lucked out more times than not in getting the right matchup for the BCS Trophy Bowl.  This year, their luck may have run out.

There are still games to be played.   The college football gods may still smile upon the BCS.  But as things stand right now, it's a no win situation.

If Notre Dame defeats Southern Cal next week, they will finish undefeated and earn a spot in the BCS Trophy Bowl.  But who might they face?  Probably the winner of the SEC Championship game.  Either of which would have at least one loss.  Right or wrong, that's probably how it plays out.

If Notre Dame loses to USC,  then what?  Then the SEC champion is almost assured a spot.  After that, who knows.

Either scenario creates a bunch of angry people.

This year, the new four team format might not be the answer.  But it would be an improvement.  Who in their right mind would want to play Texas A&M right now?  A two loss team with no shot.  But might just be playing better than anyone else in the country right now.

The FBS postseason is broken.  It is the best regular season in all of sports.  Could have the best of both.