Rep. Joe Barton: BCS Is College Football's Biggest Problem

Playoff system would level the field for all NCAA football teams

December 31, 2009 RSS Feed Print
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The one thing that can never be forgotten in this debate is that college football is more than a game; it's a multibillion-dollar industry. That makes it interstate commerce and a legitimate candidate for congressional oversight. And let's not forget that many of the schools getting shut out of the bowl cash bonanza are taxpayer-funded institutions.

The odd thing is that most of those who criticize my bill still bash the BCS, agreeing that it's a flawed system.

In fact, I think you would be hard pressed to find more than a half-dozen people who support the BCS who aren't getting paid by the BCS. When you do talk to one, they will make the same tired argument that a playoff would ruin the current bowl system or cheapen the regular season. Nonsense.

The Little Caesar's Pizza Bowl doesn't have any bearing on the national championship, but it still draws fans from the two schools playing, and those of us who are college football fans still watch on television. This won't change because there is a playoff.

And no matter what playoff format you have, the regular season will still determine the participants. Lose too many games and you're out; win and you're in. The key difference is more teams have a chance at the championship.

The players and the millions of fans who cheer for them each week deserve a fair playoff system. It's time for the backroom wheelers and dealers of the BCS to set up a playoff that is fair and open to all teams. Let's determine the college football champion on the field of play, four downs at a time.

Read why the BCS is a proven winner, by its executive director, Bill Hancock.

Tags:
NCAA,
college athletics

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Joe wrote: "When Boise plays a schedule like either one of those i will be more inclined to consider an automatic bid."

The "strength of schedule" arguement is old, trite, and pointless. So I say, to all those, prove that your argument is sound. Schedule TCU, BSU, U of U, BYU to play the blue-blood schools from these "vaunted" conferences.

Here's the problem. They won't. Not because they can't, but because they are scared to get beat like Alabama was by U of U in 2009 or Oklahoma by BSU in 2007. Like Alabama/Texas were this year by leaning on the protectors of the status quo to force the little guys to play themselves in a different sandbox.

BSU would love to play the blue-bloods of college football, except they don't want to play BSU. If you have any sway with those from the supposed "elite" you might tell them to man-up and pull the tail out from between their legs. Actions speak louder than words.

Texas limped into the BCS championship on a one second wing and a prayer over a weak Nebraska team and you're going to tell America that they "deserve" a chance at the national championship because of strength of schedule?

Texas played two teams this year that are now in the top 25. Nebraska ranked 20 and Oklahoma State ranked 21.

BSU played two teams this year that are now in the top 25. TCU ranked 4th and Oregon ranked 7th.

All the rest should be considered beatable by both teams.

Of the two, Texas and BSU, who had the strength and more grueling schedule?

The answer BSU and not Texas. To boot (no pun intended) BSU played more games than Texas.

But another, more important issue is the money. Being in a AQ conference means, win or lose, big money for the every team in AQ conferences and only because of the association. College football is as much about money as prestige. Why is it that the Texas, Alabamas in the AQ conferences got so good and so big? Could it be from all the seed money generated by their association in AQ conferences? Do you suppose?

Lack luster, bottem feeder teams in AQ conferences automatically cash in on huge money despite a string of 2 or fewer win seasons. Yet non AQ schools get the shaft even though they perform exceptionally better. You BCS promonents are going to tell me that is justified?

David of ID 6:54PM January 07, 2010

Well i guess some assumptions were made since both Tcu andBoise couldnt make it to 14-0. Sorry yall, the Wacky WAC and Mount West are not playing the caliber of teams the major conferances are playing. When you play Oklahoma and Nebraska and Oklahoma State and Tech every year come back and talk to me. That says nothing of Bama, Georgia, Ole Miss. Tennessee or Florida. Florida plays FSU every year, i think. When Boise plays a schedule like either one of those i will be more inclined to consider an automatic bid.

joe crawford of TX 5:08PM January 07, 2010

Roll Tide wrote: "Sorry Boise St, but the other 4 teams played tougher schedules." I am a BSU fan and I like the underdog.

Here's two reason why you're high on helium:

Alabama versus Utah Sugar Bowl 2009, final score Utah 31 Alabama 17. Alabama had a "stronger" schedule yet got it's a-- beat by a non conference, "weaker" conference team.

Who exactly did Texas play this year of any noteriety. Here are the teams Texas played:

Lousiana-Monroe, Wyoming, Texas Tech, UTEP, Colorado, Oklahoma, Missouri, Oklahoma State, UCF, Baylor, Kansas, Texas A&M, Nebraska.

Guess what, BSU could have played any of those teams and beat them by the same, if not, better margin than Texas did. In fact, going into the BCS and bowl season. Of the current top 25 teams, Texas beat Nebraska which is ranked 20 and Oklahoma State which is ranked 21.

BSU, on the other hand, beat Oregon which was ranked 7th.

Also, it's important to note that BSU beat every team on it's schedule what more can it do then that. Also, the blue bloods of college football are scared to death to play BSU, especially Alabama since it's loss to Utah. The blue bloods of college football today are a shell of the powerhouses they once were. Oklahoma, USC, Ohio, LSU are shells of their former selves. Why? Because, the BSU's, U of U's, TCU's of college football are recruiting talent that would otherwise have ended up on Florida, Oklahoma, USC campuses. But, it's also more than that, The BSU's, U of U's, and TCU's, have better coaches who take good player and make them better and are adept at creating team cohesion. Additionally, the little guys are playing with chips on their shoulder. It's a source of pride to slay the Goliaths of football. Note that more and more Goliaths have fallen and will continue to fall in the future.

So know your facts, Roll Tide, the "Good Ole Boy" network has protected colliagiate football bluebloods for far to long. It's getting to the point that the only thing you guys can try and hang a hat on is "strength of schedule". But even that's a slippery slope when BSU beat Oklahoma in 07 and Utah beat Alabama in 09.

I think both BSU and TCU got the shaft by the last bastion of corruption called BCS. The two of them should never have played each other. Either of them should have played Alabama and Texas.

At least then we'd know where the BSU's of college football rank. I suspect that blue blood teams would have been exposed as the frauds they are like Alabama was in 2007 by Utah.

David of ID 1:41PM January 06, 2010

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