The powers-that-be have decided that only undefeated teams can play for the national title. Had Ball State not lost in its conference, Ball State and Boise State would have played in the "B.S. Bowl" to see who would advance to play Utah, the higher ranked team.OK, that headline and accompanying story are not true.
But these headlines are true:
Oklahoma Loses to Texas but still Advances to National Title GameThe Bowl Championship Series is a joke. This year screams for a playoff. The reasons the power-that-be at the BCS give for not having are ridiculous and everyone knows it (even them, I suspect). How great would an eight game playoff be this year? Just look at the top eight teams:
Texas Tech Goes 11-1, Beats 3 Ranked Teams; Will Not Play in a BCS Bowl
[Insert here your own ridiculous but true BCS headline]
1. Oklahoma 12-1Do all of these teams have a legitimate claim that they could contend for the title? Of course! You can't tell me that No. 8 Penn State has less of a legitimate shot of being national champions, having lost one heartbreaker in the final seconds, than Southern Cal. who lost one upset game to Oregon State (who Utah and Penn State trounced). Everyone in the top eight, except Utah (editorial comment: GO UTES!), has a loss. The differences between the teams, in a statistical sense, is very slight.
2. Florida 12-1
3. Texas 11-1
4. Alabama 12-1
5. USC 11-1
6. Utah 12-0
7. Texas Tech 11-1
8. Penn State 11-1
So, let's put it on the field! A playoff would look something like this:
Oklahoma v. Penn StateMy prediction? The "final four" would be Penn State v. Florida and Texas (I know, heresy to vote against my team) v. Alabama. National Champions? Penn State, of course! Joe Paterno gets dowsed by Gatorade and dies on the field after winning his final national championship. (Poetic, I know.)
Florida v. Texas Tech
Texas v. Utah
Alabama v. USC
But it's a purely an academic exercise. We'll never know.
End the BCS! Let them play!
