Why is the BCS Still Around? Maybe it Works
Despite the considerable amount of criticism directed at the BCS system from the broadcasters, coaches and fans alike, the system has its share of supporters.
According to its proponents, there are good qualities that the BCS has over a playoff system.
Under the ruling system of the BCS, a single defeat can be very damaging to a team's chances of gaining entry into the national championship.
This makes every game more meaningful.
With a playoff, the top teams could be in a position at the end of the regular season to rest their players, a common practice in the NFL.
More importantly, every game is so meaningful that USC cannot lay an egg in September at Oregon St.
The Texas OU Rivalry is an effective playoff game on the way to the national title.
Every game in the SEC could end a team's claim for the title.
With the BCS, a team in the championship race must show up to play every week, making every game more compelling.
Supporters and advocates of the BCS also point out that although the BCS attracts much controversy on the selection of the top two in rank because the BCS guarantees that both of these teams will definitely be playing with each other during the national championship game.
In 2005, the two undefeated teams: USC and Texas won every game.
These two teams faced each other during the national championship.
Under the old system, USC would have gone to the Rose Bowl, as winner of the Pac 10 and would have played the Big Ten champion.
Texas would have played in the Fiesta Bowl.
This would have led to a split national championship, or worse, voters actually deciding the champion since the teams did not have the opportunity to play.
The BCS still rakes in huge ratings and cash, giving university presidents even less incentive to change the system.
Two BCS games are on New Year's Day, a national holiday, which helps the fans travel to games.
An NCAA playoff system could also conflict with the NFL playoffs which play games on Saturday throughout January.
University presidents also cite final exams for the student athletes.
This concern seems hollow though since football players practice and work out every day and still travel up to eight weekends a year.
The governing organization of all sports in college, NCAA, does not acknowledge an official system identifying its FBS (Division 1-A) champion.
Instead, a selecting organization chooses the FBS champions.
119 FBS universities (there are now 120 with Western Kentucky recently added) signed a contract in 2007 sanctioning BCS as the organization that would select the champion.
The contract is only binding to its signatories making the rest of the selection organizations unaffected.
All universities are tied with this process despite arguments raised from the fans and media.
According to its proponents, there are good qualities that the BCS has over a playoff system.
Under the ruling system of the BCS, a single defeat can be very damaging to a team's chances of gaining entry into the national championship.
This makes every game more meaningful.
With a playoff, the top teams could be in a position at the end of the regular season to rest their players, a common practice in the NFL.
More importantly, every game is so meaningful that USC cannot lay an egg in September at Oregon St.
The Texas OU Rivalry is an effective playoff game on the way to the national title.
Every game in the SEC could end a team's claim for the title.
With the BCS, a team in the championship race must show up to play every week, making every game more compelling.
Supporters and advocates of the BCS also point out that although the BCS attracts much controversy on the selection of the top two in rank because the BCS guarantees that both of these teams will definitely be playing with each other during the national championship game.
In 2005, the two undefeated teams: USC and Texas won every game.
These two teams faced each other during the national championship.
Under the old system, USC would have gone to the Rose Bowl, as winner of the Pac 10 and would have played the Big Ten champion.
Texas would have played in the Fiesta Bowl.
This would have led to a split national championship, or worse, voters actually deciding the champion since the teams did not have the opportunity to play.
The BCS still rakes in huge ratings and cash, giving university presidents even less incentive to change the system.
Two BCS games are on New Year's Day, a national holiday, which helps the fans travel to games.
An NCAA playoff system could also conflict with the NFL playoffs which play games on Saturday throughout January.
University presidents also cite final exams for the student athletes.
This concern seems hollow though since football players practice and work out every day and still travel up to eight weekends a year.
The governing organization of all sports in college, NCAA, does not acknowledge an official system identifying its FBS (Division 1-A) champion.
Instead, a selecting organization chooses the FBS champions.
119 FBS universities (there are now 120 with Western Kentucky recently added) signed a contract in 2007 sanctioning BCS as the organization that would select the champion.
The contract is only binding to its signatories making the rest of the selection organizations unaffected.
All universities are tied with this process despite arguments raised from the fans and media.
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