If I was BCS commissioner for a day…

Miller Genuine

In case you didn’t know, the final BCS standings were announced today. This means the BCS bowls have been set. If you don’t recall what the BCS is or how it works, check out this old post.

Let’s face it, the system isn’t perfect. Pretty much everyone knows this, but what’s so frustrating is that people just sigh and think it’s the best we can do. It’s not, and here’s what I WOULD DO if I was BCS commissioner for a day…OK, I’ve got a couple of different ideas, but here goes…

A) This first one is what I call the ‘pipe dream.’ This will never happen, because it’s so convoluted and couldn’t co-exist with current bowl sponsorship deals (which drives the bowl season), but in my ideal world the following system would be in place (Unless you really like reading about the BCS bowl system, I suggest you skip to ‘B.’)

The primary problem with the BCS is that, every year, it assumes that only two teams at the end of the season are viable candidates to be declared the best team in the country. I’m sorry, but a one-size-fits-all approach just can’t work in every situation. Sure, you’ll have years like 2005 when there were two teams clearly above the rest, but you’ll also have seasons like this year where one could logically argue as many as TEN different teams should have a shot in the title game. Therefore, the system must be able to adapt.

Option 1: There are two teams who are clearly above the rest of the others. Both teams are #1 or #2 in each the Coaches’ poll, the Harris poll, and the Computer poll aggregate. The top two teams play and the winner is declared the champion. It’s beautiful, simple, and what the BCS commissioner prays happens every year. (Example: USC vs. Texas in 2005)

Option 2: There is a little ambiguity as to who should play in the BCS Title Game (usually between #2 & #3). We’ll define this by saying that one of the criteria in Option 1 is not fulfilled (i.e., One of the top two BCS teams finished #3 or lower in either the Coaches, Harris, or Computer aggregate poll). In this case, we would move to a four-team playoff of the top 4 teams in the BCS standings. (Example: USC was ranked #1 in the AP and the Coaches poll, but they were ranked #3 overall and left out of the Title Game because of their low ranking in the Computer poll)

Option 3: There is further uncertainty as to who should be in the Title Game. Option 3 can only be fulfilled if Option 2 is also fulfilled, but it goes as follows: If any of the top four teams in the BCS standings qualify #5 or lower in either the Coaches, Harris, and Computer aggregate poll for at least 2 of the 12 total elements, an eight-team playoff of the top 8 teams in the BCS standings will ensue. (I know that was a very confusing explanation, so…Example: This year, Ohio State is rated #1 overall in the BCS but is #3 in the computers; therefore, Option 2 qualifies. Now, we can look at Option 3. BCS #3, Virginia Tech, is #5 in the Coaches poll and #6 in the Harris poll while BCS #4, Oklahoma, is tied for #6 in the Computer poll. This means, the BCS top 4 are at least #5 or lower in three elements, and this year we would qualify for an eight-team playoff).

And, we’d stop there. I know it’s damn complicated, but I think that’s pretty fair.

B) OK, here’s the much simpler one. EIGHT-TEAM PLAYOFF!!

(Sorry, I had to. It’s a classic.)

Come on, people! We’ve got a playoff deciding the champion of pretty much every other professional and college sports league. Why is college football still in the dark age? I would prefer to only include the top eight teams in the BCS standings in the playoff, but I know conference commissioners and the general public like to piss-and-moan that the de facto playoff nature of the college football regular season would disappear. So I propose the following (to make those sponsors happy too): Return to the 11-game regular season, and have an eight-team playoff. The six BCS conference champions get automatic bids. The two remaining spots would be filled by at-large teams based on merit — highest ranked team gets in. No silly two team per conference limit. Keep the rule that non-BCS conference teams finishing at least #12 get an automatic bid (except limit it to one team per year, and their slot would use up an at-large bid) — it’s fun to have an underdog crash the party once in a while. Do seeding in the tournament based on BCS rank (that means if the Big 12 champ really stinks, but the second Pac-10 team that gets in has a higher rank, the Pac-10 team gets a higher seed for being a better team, but the Big 12 champ still gets into the playoff). We can do home field advantage for the playoffs (where the higher seeded team will get to play on its home field), or, if you’re really partial to the traditional BCS bowl sites, we can just use regional home field advantage like the NCAA basketball tourney does (e.g. — If USC was the #1 team, they would get to play their games at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, CA.). Three weeks of magical football occurs, and a champion is declared.

Come on, how would the fans not LOVE THIS!? Vote Miller Genuine as BCS Commissioner — I’ll make it happen, baby!