6:54 AM
Football
By Jason B Cunningham
Other than the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision, every other division of college football has a playoff system. It is time for the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision, formerly known as Division 1-A, to adopt a playoff system; otherwise, the coaches, players, and alumni of certain institutions should never argue about who deserves to be in the BCS National Championship Game.
As a former NCAA Division III football player, I can appreciate the value of a college football playoff system. During my years at Oberlin College, I followed every minute of the Division III playoffs, even though my college did not make the playoffs while I attended in the 1990's. After the Division III playoffs concluded, there was no argument concerning the legitimacy of the National Champion, for it had already been decided on the gridiron.
My younger brother, who graduated from the University of Toledo, played in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision; however, at that time, it was still referred to as Division 1-A. While my brother attended the University of Toledo, his team did qualify for some bowl games. So, I do have some knowledge of the "real" NCAA football!
Approximately ten years ago, the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision created the BCS (Bowl Championship Series). The BCS was supposed to crown a true National Champion for the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision, but the controversy has not subsided. For example, it is hard to imagine why the University of Texas is not facing the University of Florida, next Thursday, in the BCS Championship Game, as opposed to the University of Oklahoma, who lost to Texas earlier in the season. Both Oklahoma and Texas have only lost one game this season. Therefore, I guess the BCS is not perfect; in reality, it is far from it. Will we ever see a mid-major conference team in the BCS Championship Game? I doubt it, if the NCAA keeps the current system in place.
I propose that the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision adopt a playoff system. The NCAA does not need to eliminate any bowl games, but there should be sixteen teams invited to participate in the "True College Football Bowl Challenge." Fifteen games will be played to decide a National Champion. The winner of the tournament needs to win four games. The playoffs can begin the last week in November and end around January 8.
Before I go, I must tell how to pick the teams for the "True College Football Bowl Challenge," unlike the BCS. I would still give the PAC-10, Big Ten, SEC, ACC, Big 12, and Big East Champion an automatic bid into the playoff tournament; however, the ten remaining teams must be the next highest rated teams in the country. In fairness, I propose that the conferences be evaluated every three years. For example, if the Big Ten or the SEC is surpassed in quality by a mid-major conference, then the mid-major conference would receive the automatic bid for the next three years. Of course, the Big Ten or SEC has the opportunity to win back the automatic bid within another three years.
Other than the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision, every other division of college football has a playoff system. It is time for the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision, formerly known as Division 1-A, to adopt a playoff system; otherwise, the coaches, players, and alumni of certain institutions should never argue about who deserves to be in the BCS National Championship Game.
As a former NCAA Division III football player, I can appreciate the value of a college football playoff system. During my years at Oberlin College, I followed every minute of the Division III playoffs, even though my college did not make the playoffs while I attended in the 1990's. After the Division III playoffs concluded, there was no argument concerning the legitimacy of the National Champion, for it had already been decided on the gridiron.
My younger brother, who graduated from the University of Toledo, played in the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision; however, at that time, it was still referred to as Division 1-A. While my brother attended the University of Toledo, his team did qualify for some bowl games. So, I do have some knowledge of the "real" NCAA football!
Approximately ten years ago, the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision created the BCS (Bowl Championship Series). The BCS was supposed to crown a true National Champion for the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision, but the controversy has not subsided. For example, it is hard to imagine why the University of Texas is not facing the University of Florida, next Thursday, in the BCS Championship Game, as opposed to the University of Oklahoma, who lost to Texas earlier in the season. Both Oklahoma and Texas have only lost one game this season. Therefore, I guess the BCS is not perfect; in reality, it is far from it. Will we ever see a mid-major conference team in the BCS Championship Game? I doubt it, if the NCAA keeps the current system in place.
I propose that the NCAA Football Bowl Subdivision adopt a playoff system. The NCAA does not need to eliminate any bowl games, but there should be sixteen teams invited to participate in the "True College Football Bowl Challenge." Fifteen games will be played to decide a National Champion. The winner of the tournament needs to win four games. The playoffs can begin the last week in November and end around January 8.
Before I go, I must tell how to pick the teams for the "True College Football Bowl Challenge," unlike the BCS. I would still give the PAC-10, Big Ten, SEC, ACC, Big 12, and Big East Champion an automatic bid into the playoff tournament; however, the ten remaining teams must be the next highest rated teams in the country. In fairness, I propose that the conferences be evaluated every three years. For example, if the Big Ten or the SEC is surpassed in quality by a mid-major conference, then the mid-major conference would receive the automatic bid for the next three years. Of course, the Big Ten or SEC has the opportunity to win back the automatic bid within another three years.
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