Read the arguments from Loyal Homer and Babe Ruthless about whether or not the BCS national championship game truly answered the question “what is the best team in college football?”
When it was originally conceived in the late 1990s, the BCS was supposed to settle, without much disagreement, which team was the best in college football at the end of a season. The original attempt to answer the question refused to unsettle the bowl system. Years later a BCS National Championship Game was added to the schedule. The game was designed to circumvent conference bowl tie-ins, allow successful conferences to have the opportunity to allow more than one team make it to the BCS, and establish a game to definitely determine which team is college football’s best year in and year out.
Obviously, disagreement persists about how effective the BCS is at determining the sport’s best team on a yearly basis.
Some seasons the BCS appeared to create the game comparing college football’s two best teams. However, it seems just as many seasons were unable to deliver a definitive champion.
This season was no exception from controversy in the BCS championship game matchup. While Alabama – or any team that wins the SEC according to some – was clearly deserving of a shot, and Texas – despite playing an extremely soft schedule – seemed to deserve a shot, an argument can also be made for Texas Christian. TCU finished the season undefeated, but from a lesser known conference in the Mountain West. Likewise, Boise State finished its season undefeated and can also understandably make an argument for a shot at the national title.
Cincinnati also came into the BCS bowl season undefeated, but the uncertainty surrounding the team and the coaching situation prevented the Bearcats from realistically entering the conversation.
In short, five undefeated teams seem to have had a legitimate shot at playing in the national title game. At the season’s conclusion now, there are still two unbeaten teams atop the polls. Therefore, it is fair to ask – and for The Sports Debate to answer – Did the 2009 BCS National Championship game really determine what the best college football team is at the end of the season.
Babe Ruthless will argue the game did determine the best team in college football and that the “haves” in the sports have for a reason. Loyal Homer will argue that the game did not do its job this season due to the multiple unbeaten teams at the end of the season and the sordid history of the game.
While the entire history of the BCS is relevant in this debate as evidence, concentrate the primary elements of each argument on the 2009 BCS season and championship game. If you are able to provide ample evidence to support your argument I guarantee only one undefeated debater is left standing tomorrow.
