Thus, I was on hiatus for a solid 4-month span with a grueling schedule and virtually no time for sports writing creativity. And I have to admit, it’s rendered devastating circumstances. Not to get too emotional here, but I feel like a piece of me was stripped for nearly half a year. The ideas and opinions were there, but the lack of material was profoundly dissatisfying.
So much has happened since September: The entire NFL season and the undefeated season possibilities for not one, but two teams; the NBA and the rise of its scintillating young rookies and a Los Angeles powerhouse; MMA business decisions and unforgettable bouts that have shaped the sport in unprecedented fashion; the rise of one of the greatest athletes in sports history that nobody seems to talk or even know about (Jimmie Johnson); A begrudgingly likeable New York Yankees team with a World Series title; the start of college basketball; a World Cup draw; a potential boxing bout for the ages; an MLB offseason premiering one of the most historic trades the sport has ever seen; the tragic death of Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry; and the transgressions of a Tiger.That leaves me in a difficult position for a comeback. Despite the lack of material, I’ve unequivocally analyzed each and every one of the previous topics in more depth than the casual onlooker within the past few months. However, it seems as though nothing is more fitting for a monumental comeback at this point than The Yearly Debate – a debate that should never occur, primarily because the BCS is the most appalling postseason system in sports. With BCS bowl games right around the corner, this season is no different.
If anything, this year’s college football season swings the argument in favor of the playoff advocate more than ever. To put this in perspective, let’s first take a look at how we got to this year’s National Championship game.
From one end of the spectrum, we had a stout Alabama team stunningly defeat the defending champion Florida Gators in impressive fashion; something we hadn’t seen delivered to a Tebow-lead Gators team in what seemed like eons. On the other end, we witnessed a sloppy Texas Longhorns team down 12-10 to Nebraska with 1:44 left in the Big 12 championship game. One kickoff out of bounds, one personal foul, and one of the most bizarre displays of game/clock management ever displayed culminated in 13-12 Texas victory and an Alabama-Texas Citi National Championship game.
And now we’re here. A matchup that no one outside the fanbases of Texas and Alabama care to see: an undefeated aberration from a weak Big 12 conference versus the evil team that defeated Tim Tebow and forced him to tears.
To make matters worse, every conceivable element of excitement is absent from the National Championship picture due to the BCS format.
No national figure in Tebow; no promising Cinderella stories for Cincinatti, TCU or Boise State; no Terrelle Pryor; no Jeremiah Masoli or his lethal and mesmerizing Oregon offense. Instead, those teams will be playing each other in prestigious, yet lesser bowl games that reward far more teams than necessary.
Around this time of year every college football season, new variations of supporting a playoff format arise within The Yearly Debate. Coincidentally, what would make up one of the most exiting 2009-10 college football postseasons fits a picture-perfect 8-team playoff.
Let’s try the most logical approach and ascend from eight to one according to the AP polls, bracketing those teams in traditional playoff format.
#1 Alabama vs. #8 Ohio State
Let’s start by giving Alabama the utmost credit here. They do obtain the 2009 Heisman Trophy recipient in Mark Ingram, an NFL-caliber receiver in Julio Jones and a quarterback in Greg McElroy peaking at the right time. He’s thrown six touchdowns and no interceptions in his last four games, including a 12-for-18, 239-yard, 128.2 passer rating performance against the Gators in the SEC championship. Oh, and they’re first in total defense (256.9 Yds/G; 13 Pts/G). Is any team in the country more balanced than the Crimson Tide? It’s tough to dispute. But if there was one team to pull the Golden State Warrior-like 8-seed upset in this imaginary playoff, it would be a team led by Terrelle Pryor. Either that, or it would go down in flames and Alabama would win by 30. Let’s just say this game would be more intriguing than the National Championship product we’ve received.#2 Texas vs. #7 Oregon
Texas’ quality wins/ wins vs. ranked teams this season: #20 Oklahoma (October 17), #14 Oklahoma State (October 31), #22 Nebraska (Big 12 Championship). Fast forward to the present, and the only ranked teams they’ve defeated this year are #20 Nebraska and #21 Oklahoma State. Their remaining schedule? Louisiana Monroe, Wyoming, Texas Tech, UTEP, Colorado, Missouri, UCF, Baylor, Kansas, Texas A&M. Unquestionably the weakest schedule of the top-8 excluding non-BCS schools.
Strength of schedule may have put Texas in the title game, but it’s exactly what’s keeping Oregon out. The Pac-10 evolved into one of the toughest conferences in the country with an early Cal surge, Stanford, Oregon and Oregon State all surpassing USC, and Oregon prevailed with a 10-2 record. The Ducks offense is now in full swing with Jeremiah Masoli and LeMichael James playing at their highest levels, and the return of LeGarrette Blount has reestablished a smash-mouth element to the Oregon spread scheme. Match that up against an untested Texas defense, and we have ourselves solidification for a playoff.
(Quick Masoli rant: He’s the most exciting quarterback in college football, hands down. His game management and leadership qualities are immaculate, he attains the competent arm in crucial passing situations, and his improvisational skills in the spread offense are as fascinating as any quarterback’s in college football. Yes, I know Tim Tebow runs the spread in Florida, but I take more enjoyment in watching Oregon than any other team solely because of Jeremiah Masoli. I can’t say the same of Tebow. If I’m an NFL GM, I’m salivating if he’s untaken in the fifth round. Holy Moly, it’s Jeremiah Masoli!!! Sorry, I had to do it.)#3 TCU vs. # 6 Boise State
#4 Florida vs. #5 Cincinnati
Ok, I know what you’re thinking. These are the actual matchups of the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl and the Allstate Sugar Bowl, respectively. Am I the only one guffawing here?
THESE ARE THE ACTUAL MATCHUPS!!! THE PLAYOFF SYSTEM IS ALREADY HALFWAY ASSEMBLED AND YOU DON’T EVEN KNOW IT!!! GET YOUR HEADS OUT OF THE SAND BCS!!!
Furthermore, the Fiesta Bowl doesn’t solve anything when we have two non-BCS schools opposing one another. It will be an intriguing contest nonetheless, with Boise State’s potent offense and TCU’s prominent defense clashing, but this game will leave an inevitable taste of exasperation when all is said and done.
The Sugar Bowl should be exciting in more ways than one: Tim Tebow and the Gators will produce the assured excitement, and Cincinnati could pull the defying perfect season as a non-BCS squad without their season-long coach. Just don’t count on the latter. Giving Tim Tebow a lengthy layoff following one of the most heartbreaking losses of his life probably isn’t such a fortunate circumstance.
So that concludes our bracket. Some exciting matchups to ponder, and this only includes the first round. Imagine the aura of college stadiums once these teams advanced to the later rounds. Imagine the hype over premier players as they lead their teams to glory on the actual playing field. Imagine the conclusive fulfillment in witnessing a team win the National Championship.
Now, some may be wondering how Georgia Tech and Iowa aren’t concluded in this tournament. This is one of the biggest arguments the BCS advocates make for the current system: If you include 8 teams, won’t the 9th and 10th teams be controversially excluded? What if they had the same records as the 7 or 8-seed?
Too bad. We’ve seen it already when NASCAR jumped from 10 to 12 drivers in the Race for the Chase. It’s pointless. Those 11-12 spot drivers are never going to win a title. I’m sorry, but it’s the truth.
Schools are excluded in the same way from BCS bowl games in the current system. Wouldn’t we rather have that controversy than the present hullabaloo over computer systems controlling games rather than play on the field? Plus, did any of you know or even care to know that Iowa and Georgia Tech are facing one another in the FedEx Orange Bowl? My point exactly.
Which takes us to the final segment. We can argue and dispute all we want, but the fact is – whether a playoff system is the superior option or not – schools are receiving far too much revenue from bowl games than they would in a playoff. The BCS created an irrevocable situation since its incarnation, and despite Congress’ possible involvement in the potential of a changeover, the situation would be extraordinarily difficult to mend in the near future.
This may be true, but the most significant aspects of college football are the players, coaches, students and fans. Nothing would vindicate the gratification and excitement of those individuals more than the implementation of a playoff system.
That’s a tough one to debate.
