Read Sports Geek’s argument and Loyal Homer’s argument about whether or not the presence of five undefeated teams in the Bowl Championship Series is good or bad for the BCS.
Last season, the BCS foundations shook after Utah stunned Alabama in the Allstate Sugar Bowl and finished the 2008 season with an undefeated record of 13-0. As the only undefeated team in the country, many felt that Utah was snubbed when it was denied entry into the BCS National Championship Game, and then subsequently finished the season as the second-ranked team, behind the one-loss Florida Gators, despite the fact that the Utes had not lost a game all season.
Instead having a clear-cut national champion, as the NCAA may have been able to claim in previous seasons to help justify the BCS format, there was actually a team with a legitimate claim to refute the recognized BCS national champion.
Well, if 2008 was bad, just imagine the media frenzy that will take place in 2009. Although Texas and Alabama are universally recognized as the top two teams in the country, there are FIVE (that’s right, I said FIVE) teams that closed the season undefeated. Because of the BCS matchups, those five teams are GUARANTEED to produce AT LEAST two undefeated teams after the bowls conclude, with the possibility of a third depending on the outcome of the games. In addition to the ‘Bama-Texas Citi BCS national championship game, undefeated TCU plays undefeated Boise State in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, and undefeated Cincinnati takes on the one-loss Florida Gators at the Allstate Sugar Bowl.
Just because the potential exists for post-BCS drama, though, does not mean BCS organizers are necessarily hiding under their desks. In addition to the potential for drama, the presence of so many undefeated teams in the BCS this season brings the potential for some very exciting matchups. Thanks to the BCS format, TCU and Boise State will actually have the opportunity to play in one of the biggest bowl games in college football. Before the BCS was formed there was no guarantee that those two teams would have had the opportunity to compete in a high-profile bowl game, let alone be featured against each other as one of the premier matchups of the postseason.
Which brings us to our question of the day: Is the fact that five unbeaten teams will enter the BCS bowl games this postseason a good thing for the Bowl Championship Series format, or is it a bad thing?
Opponents of the BCS format will undoubtedly be voicing their disapproval that so many undefeated schools could be excluded from a chance at the National Championship game, but they cannot deny the excitement-factor that exists thanks to the matchups we will all be treated to as a result of the BCS format in place.
Loyal Homer will take the position that having five unbeaten teams eligible for BCS play is a bad thing, Sports Geek will argue that it is actually good for the BCS, and Bleacher Fan will be left to simply sit and ponder the very shocking (and depressing) fact that the Rose Bowl and Orange Bowl have become the two LEAST intriguing ‘major’ Bowl Games of the postseason!
