The Impending Collapse of the Bowl Championship System: A Comprehensive Critique

The Bowl Championship Series (BCS) has been the de facto system for determining the college football national champion in the United States since 2006. However, in recent years, the BCS has come under increasing criticism for a number of reasons, including its perceived unfairness, its lack of transparency, and its failure to always produce the best possible matchup. In this article, we will provide a comprehensive critique of the BCS, arguing that the system is no longer fit for purpose and should be replaced.

Death to the BCS: Totally Revised and Updated: The Definitive Case Against the Bowl Championship Series

by Dan Wetzel

4.2 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1136 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	256 pages
Paperback	:	178 pages
Item Weight	:	11.5 ounces
Dimensions	:	6 x 0.41 x 9 inches

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The Unfairness of the BCS

One of the most common criticisms of the BCS is that it is unfair to certain teams. For example, teams that play in weaker conferences are often at a disadvantage in the BCS standings, as they do not have the same opportunities to play against top-ranked opponents. Additionally, the BCS relies heavily on computer rankings, which are often criticized for being biased against certain teams and conferences.

In 2004, the University of Utah finished the regular season with a perfect 12-0 record, but was left out of the BCS National Championship Game in favor of a team that had two losses. This decision was widely criticized as being unfair, and it led to a number of changes to the BCS system. However, even after these changes, the BCS has continued to be criticized for its unfairness.

The Lack of Transparency

Another major criticism of the BCS is that it is not transparent. The BCS standings are calculated using a complex formula that is not fully disclosed to the public. This lack of transparency makes it difficult to understand how teams are ranked and how they can improve their chances of being selected for a BCS bowl game.

The lack of transparency also makes the BCS vulnerable to manipulation. For example, in 2009, it was alleged that the University of Alabama paid a BCS official to influence the rankings. This allegation led to an NCAA investigation, which ultimately found no wrongng. However, the incident raised serious questions about the integrity of the BCS.

The Failure to Produce the Best Possible Matchup

One of the main goals of the BCS is to produce the best possible matchup for the national championship game. However, the BCS has often failed to achieve this goal. For example, in 2012, the BCS National Championship Game featured two teams from the same conference, which resulted in a lackluster game.

The BCS has also been criticized for its reliance on computer rankings, which can sometimes lead to inaccurate results. For example, in 2013, the BCS rankings placed Baylor ahead of Ohio State, even though Ohio State had a better record and had defeated Baylor head-to-head. This decision was widely criticized, and it ultimately led to Ohio State being selected for the national championship game over Baylor.

The BCS has been a controversial system from the start, and its critics have only grown louder in recent years. The BCS is unfair, it is not transparent, and it often fails to produce the best possible matchup for the national championship game. It is time for the BCS to be replaced with a more fair, transparent, and accurate system.

There are a number of alternatives to the BCS that have been proposed, including a playoff system, a plus-one system, and a ratings percentage index (RPI) system. Each of these systems has its own advantages and disadvantages, but they all have the potential to be more fair, transparent, and accurate than the BCS.

The time has come for a change in college football. The BCS is no longer fit for purpose, and it is time for a new system to be put in place.

Death to the BCS: Totally Revised and Updated: The Definitive Case Against the Bowl Championship Series

by Dan Wetzel

4.2 out of 5

Language	:	English
File size	:	1136 KB
Text-to-Speech	:	Enabled
Screen Reader	:	Supported
Enhanced typesetting	:	Enabled
Word Wise	:	Enabled
Print length	:	256 pages
Paperback	:	178 pages
Item Weight	:	11.5 ounces
Dimensions	:	6 x 0.41 x 9 inches

FREE