The NCAA Should Implement a Playoff System to Determine Its Division I Football Champion - Coursework Example

Dec. The NCAA should implement a playoff system to determine its Division I Football Champion (BCS) Introduction TheBCS Division of NCAA Division I Football, has had many problems almost from its inception. In the beginning, the Bowl Championship Series was created to bring about a definitive champion in Division I College Football. It worked well only for a short time before controversy began to set in. It began when teams like Boise St. and TCU started becoming prominent and dominant teams in their respective conferences. These teams began complaining of not having a shot at the prized BCS title. Teams from the Big 12, Big Ten, ACC, Pac-12, and SEC generally will get into the BCS title game over teams from the other conferences. The other, non-BCS, conferences have considered this unfair for many years now. Over 100 players were polled on Aug 11, 2010, by ESPN the Magazine whether or not they preferred the current BCS system or a playoff system. In the poll, the 135 players overall agreed o a 62.2% to 37.8% margin that they preferred a playoff system over the current BCS system. One of the players stated that he preferred the playoff system, since every level of football he played in there were playoff tournaments at the end of the season. As the years go on people who watch college football, have been craving a playoff system. Everybody from sports analysts, sports talk show hosts, journalists, and others. History The BCS was established in the year 1998 to help determine an undisputed national championship in Division I Football. The year of its formation, the Big 12, the Big Ten, the Big East, the ACC, the Pac-10, and the SEC Conferences pledged to have their champions play under this system while keeping the 100 year old bowl system intact. Six years later, the C-USA, the Sun Belt, Mid-American, Mountain West, and Western Athletic Conferences pledged to play under this system as well (Alder). Differences There are many differences between the BCS system and the potential playoff system. The BCS and its many flaws are trying to hold on to an antiquated system. While, some of those who favor the playoff system say that major college football is missing out on the money that would be brought into the schools through the excitement of a post season tourney. At the same time, others in favor are claiming the system is unfair and should be settled on the field. BCS Supposedly, the BCS creates a playoff atmosphere throughout the entire season. So untrue, creates more chaos. Too many teams have been robbed at a chance for the title. Although, the BCS still maintains the current Bowl system which has been around since the 1950s. Also, it may create a National Championship, but just because you have better statistics during the season does not mean a team deserves to be in title game. And, about as often as an undisputed champion is crowned, so is a controversial champion. For example, in 2008 Texas, Texas Tech, and Oklahoma tied atop their division in the Big 12 South, instead of a two game playoff to determine the winner since neither beat the other 2, they determined that Oklahoma (a higher profiled school) should go to the Big 12 Championship Game, even though they lost to Texas who lost to Texas Tech. Oklahoma lost to Florida in the BCS title game. There is also the possibility that one game could eliminate a team. That is bogus. So if you lose one game, your season is ruined? Why bother playing and just named two teams to the championship game and just play one game? There’d be less injuries then. That is right, either. And definitely smaller non-BCS schools are at a disadvantage. But you never know, during the 2009 season Oregon lost to Boise St. in week 1. That Boise St team rolled to a perfect 14-0 season. Playoffs Playoffs are said to diminish the value of the regular season. How? It only proves that losing one or two games doesn’t eliminate a team so quickly. An already-long season would be extended. Not really, would keep the players fresh and no worried about one particular opponent for a month or more. And it even wouldn’t take away from academics, teams are not playing on a Tuesday or Wednesday. Furthermore, the better team would ultimately be decided in head-to-head competition. This format works for all the other levels of college football. Therefore, this would not only generate more excitement into college football, but it would bring in millions of dollars. This would limit the amount of controversy involved in deciding the champion. Also, a lot of fans would like to see a warm climate face a cold climate team on the cold climate team’s home turf. For example, Oklahoma facing off against Boise St. at Bronco Stadium on their blue turf. Playoff Proposal Bleacher Report earlier this year proposed an 8 team format to the playoff system. Liz Youngblood suggested a format which involved the top 8 BCS teams: 1. LSU 2. Alabama 3. Oklahoma St. 4. Stanford 5. Boise St 6. Oklahoma 7. Arkansas 8. Oregon Her match ups were LSU vs. Oregon, which would face the winner of Stanford vs. Boise St. and Oklahoma St vs. Arkansas facing off against the winner of Alabama vs. Oklahoma. Her first round ended with LSU vs. Boise St. and Oklahoma St vs. Alabama. Youngblood predicts that it still would come down to LSU vs. Alabama. My proposal is vastly different. The Bowl Games would still be played, but would encompass teams who did not make the playoffs. I don’t just go by the BCS standings, however, they are used to determine the wild card (at large berths) into the tournament. The top 11 spots go to the Conference champions and the other 13 go to the top BCS teams in the nation. This is a 24-team tournament proposal, which expands upon the model of the NFL playoff format. The conference championships would happen the week before the playoffs. The first round byes would be given to the top 8 Conference champions. The teams included in this model are the champions from the SEC (LSU), Big 12 (Oklahoma St.), Pac-12 (Stanford), ACC (Virginia Tech), C-USA (Houston), Big Ten (Michigan St.), Mountain West (TCU), and Big East (Louisville). The remaining 3 conference champions and the top 5 at-large will host round one. First Round Match-ups: 9 N. Illinois (Mid American Champ) hosting 24 Clemson, winner faces 1 LSU 10 Arkansas St. (Sun Belt Champ) hosting 23 Nebraska, winner faces 2 Oklahoma St. 11 Louisiana Tech (WAC Champ) hosting 22 Baylor, winner faces 3 Stanford 12 Alabama hosting 21 Michigan, winner faces 4 Virginia Tech 13 Boise St hosting 20 Wisconsin, winner faces 5 Houston 14 Arkansas hosting 19 Georgia, winner faces 6 Michigan St 15 Oregon hosts 18 South Carolina, winner faces 7 TCU 16 Oklahoma hosts 17 Kansas St., winner faces 8 Louisville In this model the most likely round 2 match-ups: 1 LSU hosting 24 Clemson, winner faces 8 Louisville- 17 Kansas St winner 2 Oklahoma St hosts 23 Nebraska, winner faces 5 Houston- 20 Wisconsin winner 3 Stanford hosts 22 Baylor, winner faces 6 Michigan St - 19 Georgia winner 4 Virginia Tech hosts 21 Michigan, winner faces 7 TCU - 15 Oregon winner Here’s the third round: 1 LSU hosting 17 Kansas St, winner takes on 4 Virginia Tech - 7 TCU winner 5 Houston hosts 23 Nebraska, winner faces 3 Stanford - 6 Michigan St. Semifinals: 1 LSU hosting 4 Virginia Tech for a title game berth 6 Michigan St. hosts 23 Nebraska for a title berth. The title game would be played 2 weeks later in a Bowl game, the last bowl game of the season at a neutral site. LSU would be the home team beating Michigan St in a well fought game crowning them undisputed champion. The home teams would definitely have the advantage, especially the cold climate teams. This is a feasible system. It, actually, works in other levels of college football. However, one of the open dates would need to be removed for this playoff system to complete on the same time table for the last game to be a bowl game in the same place as the current title game. It’s not really a matter of if it will work, but when will it be implemented to bring about a higher stream of revenue to college football. Works Cited Alder, James. “Bowl Championship Series: BCS vs. Playoffs.” About.com. About.com, n.d. Web. 30 Nov. 2011. ESPN the Magazine. “College football playoff confidential: More than 100 players weigh in on college footballs biggest question: BCS or playoff?” ESPN.com. ESPN, 11 Aug. 2010. Web. 30 Nov. 2011. Lunsford, Andrea, John J Ruskicwicz, and Kieth Walters. Everythings an Argument. 5th ed. Bedford/ St. Martins, 2010. pp. 376-377. Print. Wetzel, Dan. "Wetzels playoff plan: Money talks." Rivals.com. Yahoo!, 07 Dec. 2009. Web. 30 Nov. 2011. Youngblood, Liz. “College Football Predictions: Forecasting BCS Playoff.” Bleacher Report. bleacherreport.com, 2 Nov. 2011. Web 30 Nov. 2011 Read More