Bad BCS Moon Rising

There is a nasty controversy on the horizon in college football. But that's nothing new for the BCS!

Thanks to the 6 conference monopoly that begrudging allowed this system, the 6 conference champions are guaranteed a spot in the top bowls, no matter how bad those conferences are. This means that that whoever stumbles their way to the top of the Big East, Cincinnati or Pittsburgh, gets in. And despite their best efforts, someone will eventually win the chaotic ACC. So that will result in two teams lower than #18 playing in the BCS.

It gets worse.

The Pac-10 is not helping. It is so top heavy- a couple of good teams and a lot of really bad teams, that Oregon State can run the table and win their first Rose Bowl bid since the mid 1960's. That puts a third low-ranked team (likely around #20) into the BCS. Ouch.

Then, there are the BCS busters. One team between Utah, Boise State, and, possibly, BYU will finish in the top 12 and get an automatic bid to one of the four BCS bowls. This minor break with the monopoly is well deserved and past due, but it does lock up one more precious spot.

So what's the problem?

Look at this week's top 10 in the BCS:

1.Alabama

2.Texas Tech

3. Texas

4. Florida

5. Oklahoma

6. USC

7. Utah

8. Penn St.

9. Boise St.

10. Ohio St.

If the season were to end with these standings (with Utah and Boise State both undefeated):

A. Alabama and Texas Tech would play for the championship (I think it will be Florida and Oklahoma, but we'll ignore that for now)

B. Penn State would play in the Rose Bowl

C. Utah would get an at-large berth

D. There would only be 3 at-large spots left between Texas, Florida, USC, Oklahoma, Boise State, and Ohio State.

Look at that list again.

Only 3 teams between Texas, Florida, USC, Oklahoma, Boise State, and Ohio State get to play in the BCS.

Wow.

The Bronco's undefeated season would go unrewarded.

The Buckeyes can forget about yet another Fiesta Bowl.

If the Gators are a lock, then someone between the Longhorns, Trojans, and Sooners is going to be awfully disappointed.

And this does not begin to address the possibility of a non-conference-champion playing in the BCS title game. Oh yes- it could happen. We could even see two non-conference-champions in the title game. I won't spin your head further with those scenarios.

Fight On,

Hans

PS: Bad Moon Rising was originally released on the Green River album by CCR (1969). If you already knew that, then you must be living somewhere in the Sacramento Delta . . .

Hans