Read the debate intro and the argument from Loyal Homer that the BCS is suffering when it has too many successful, unbeatens teams.
‘Tis the time of year to be merry. The BCS has a LOT to be merry about, too. Especially with five unbeaten teams in the 2009 BCS – that’s right, a record FIVE unbeatens!
It is easy to say that too many unbeaten teams make it difficult to identify the two best that must participate in the BCS championship game. To me, this argument is a non-starter. How can too many good teams possibly be a bad thing?
The BCS ultimately is a media product that depends greatly on popularity. If the product is bad – that is, if the matchups are terrible and not worth a fan’s time – the BCS will struggle. The BCS has nothing to worry about this holiday season, as it can rest easy on the strength of a full slate of top rate teams taking over primetime.
Before exploring the many ways so many good teams are a positive thing for the BCS, it is impossible to ignore the fact that the BCS definitely has drawbacks for some fans. There are too many games, there is not enough parity among conferences, the BCS has no respect for traditional bowl alliances… and it isn’t a playoff system, either. But, the BCS does succeed at drawing eyeballs to its games. Even the fans that protest the existence of the BCS and lament its fairness tune in for great matchups.
The BCS is more than just the national championship game. It is a coalition of five bowl games – one of which is the national championship. Each game is a prime time game designed to draw the maximum amount of exposure. It is for exposure and ratings that the games are spread so thin throughout the “bowl season.” I am the first to stand up and shout about how annoyed I am with just five bowl games on New Year’s Day and nine more spread out beyond. However, the BCS also facilitates maximum exposure for the participating schools, and usually a slate of can’t miss games for college football fans.
The BCS also has the mandate to maximize ratings for each participating school. The dispersal of the games makes sense. And, the added boost of five unbeaten teams makes every game better. The Sugar Bowl features the once mighty Gators of Florida with leading “Crysman” candidate Tim Tebow (sorry, it is just too difficult to resist that joke) and the unbeaten/heart-beat-away-from-the-national-title-game Cincinnati Bearcats. The Fiesta Bowl features favorite Boise State and the impressive Horned Frogs of TCU. Both teams are worthy of respect, and both teams are undefeated, and it is a great football matchup featuring TCU’s stingy defense and Boise State’s pass-happy offense. Then we have the national championship game which is the game we all expected between the SEC champion – it just so happens that team is Alabama – and the Texas Longhorns. While Texas is coming off of a near-disaster performance against Nebraska in the Big XII title game, Alabama nearly lost to Auburn. Both teams are unbeaten, but both have scrapes and blemishes. The matchup is appropriate for the national championship, as both teams won well respected conferences that feature several prominent national programs.
The BCS thrives on attention. It’s an age old truth in sports, politics, life, entertainment, etc. – the human mind is fascinated by, and attracted to, controversy (are YOU watching the Tiger Woods saga unfold?). No other aspect of any other sport delivers controversy like the BCS. Fans talk about the BCS during the offseason, they complain about it year round, they log on to chat forums, write emails and letters to sports reporters, and so much more. College football fans are passionate, and college football fans are vocal. The BCS gives an outlet to both characteristics, a trait that maintains the BCS’ appearance on headlines throughout the year. Whether the BCS makes a simple tweak to the formula or allows non-BCS conferences greater impact during the selection process, it gives fans, media, coaches, and even academics a great deal to think – and argue – about throughout the year.
Remember, the main goal of the BCS is NOT to identify the proper national champion. The mission of the BCS is to make money. The better the teams, the money people watch. A bunch of undefeated teams is ideal for the BCS.
