BCS facing problems in 2008

The final BCS poll is still months away. But I can already see at least one controversy looming in the not too distant future.

Before jumping into what’s coming up, let’s take a look back at what’s already happened. It’s no secret the BCS is an imperfect system. The examples below are proof of that.

Last year LSU was the best team in America. But they were also the first two-loss champion in the BCS era. Late season losses by No.1 Missouri and No. 2 West Virginia aided LSU’s ascent to the top of the polls. But how do you explain Les Miles’ bunch hopping over Georgia and a one-loss Kansas team? LSU also jumped Virginia Tech. But that was justified due to the Tigers lopsided regular season verdict over the Hokies. Of course the Bayou Bengals stomped Ohio St. in the National Championship Game. But they took a circuitous route in getting there.

Auburn my have gotten the rawest of BCS deals in 2004. Tommy Tuberville’s undefeated squad was excluded from the Orange Bowl that season. However, USC and Oklahoma had unblemished records heading into the bowl season, too. USC won the title, Oklahoma got embarrassed, and the Tigers never even got a shot. Almost five years later and Tuberville is still seething about this one.

USC was the AP’s National Champion in 2003. LSU was the BCS Champion. The Trojans, Tigers, and Oklahoma Sooners all had just one loss at the conclusion of the regular season. Yet, USC was the odd man out in the BCS. They were ranked No. 3. USC was denied a shot at the title and LSU wound up beating Oklahoma in the Sugar Bowl. The AP removed itself from the BCS criteria after this debacle.

The most undeserving participant in a No. 1 vs. No. 2 game might be the 2001 Nebraska Cornhuskers. When No. 2 Tennessee lost to LSU in the SEC Championship Game, the door was left open for the Huskers to back their way into the Rose Bowl. Nebraska had just been destroyed by Colorado, 62-36, a week earlier. Plus, Nebraska didn’t even win its own division in the Big 12. They finished the season on a two-game losing streak when Miami trounced them in the Rose Bowl.

Speaking of the Hurricanes, they were denied a shot at the crown in 2000. Miami beat Florida St. in the regular season 27-24. However, the Canes finished one spot behind the Noles at No. 3 in the BCS. Oklahoma got past FSU in the Orange Bowl to claim the National Championship. But the controversy didn’t end there. You could also make an argument for No. 4 Washington getting a shot at the Sooners since they beat Miami 34-29 that year. By the way, Miami, FSU, and Washington each had only one loss at the end of the regular season. And round and round we go.

Anyway, as we fast-forward back to the present time, the smart money is on the BCS having some more problems in about six months. So that begs the question, “What could possibly go wrong in 2008?”

How about Ohio St. and USC’s match-up on September 13th.

Is it plausible that the best regular season game of the year (as it stands now on paper) could be the root of this year’s biggest BCS problem? For the first time in the age of the BCS, could the National Championship Game be a rematch of a regular season game?

Before tackling the topic, let’s flash-back to 2006 when Michigan and Ohio St. were playing “The Game of the Century”. The Buckeyes were No. 1 and the Wolverines were No. 2. Both teams were 11-0. Their game would decide the Big 10 Champ and at least half of the National Championship picture.

There was also the chance that no matter who lost, the same two teams could’ve faced each other in the National Championship Game seven weeks later.

Aside from deciding the Big 10 Champ, such a game would’ve rendered the previous one meaningless. College football has the most important regular season in all of sports. There’s something inherently wrong with losing “The Game of the Century” only to come back and win the National Championship a game later.

It also would’ve meant a team coming off a loss that didn’t win its conference would be playing for the championship. Sort of like Nebraska five years earlier. And why should a team have to beat another, in successive games, to prove that it deserves the title? What are we to conclude from Michigan and Ohio St. finishing the year 1-1 against each other in their final two games? That game wouldn’t have solved a problem, it would have created one.

Fortunately, for the sake of college football, that scenario never played out. Yet, two years later history could be close to repeating itself. Albeit, USC and Ohio St. play much earlier in the year than Ohio St. and Michigan did. And the Buckeyes and Trojans aren’t playing for a conference title either.

As a college football fan, ask yourself, “Do you really want to see a rematch of a game that’s already been played?” USC and Ohio St. should be as close to full strength in mid-September as they’re going to be all year. Injury woes won’t likely set in for a few weeks. Both teams should be fresh. Plus, you don’t have to worry about a long lay-off between games like you would in a bowl game. These two teams should just be hitting their respective strides.

I’m all for re-runs when it comes to Seinfeld, Curb Your Enthusiasm, and 24. But I’ve got to draw the line somewhere. And that’s with college football. Other than a rematch in a conference title game, the same two teams shouldn’t be playing each other twice in the same year. And there’s a chance we might see that happen this January.

As a matter of fact, the last time we saw a rematch in the Championship Game the BCS didn’t even exist. Florida beat Florida St. 52-20 in the Sugar Bowl after the 1996 season. It was a far cry from their classic regular season match-up in Tallahassee when the No. 1 Gators lost to the No. 2 Seminoles 24-21.

In my opinion, the regular season showdown between the Buckeyes and Trojans is as good as it’s going to get. It’s not an elimination game, but it should be if a rematch is on the horizon. There’s no way the loser should have the privilege to face the winner in a potential National Championship Game. That would really up the ante for both teams, their fan bases, and for the rest of the college football season. Don’t you think?