Taking the BS out of the BCS

Teach recently made a post questioning the BCS and the bowl games, and rightfully so. It is a disaster and the bowl games seem to be played only for the money. However Teach's answer to the BCS offered nothing but sarcasm and a little laughter. So how can we fix the BCS, does anyone have a suitable replacement that will suffice all the teams and the sponsors? I believe I do.

Things the NCAA would need to enforce, to make this possible:

• Cut the season down to 10 games, which would allow players time for finals and allow open dates for the playoffs.


• Make each conference have a championship game, the winner would be the playoff team for that conference.


• The bowls would need to stay to keep the sponsors happy and the history in tact.


• The independents would need to join a conference.


• Have all the teams start and end their season in the same week, with the conference championships being played on the same date or weekend.

With eleven different conferences (ACC, Big 10, Big 12, Big East, C-USA, Sun Belt, SEC. MAC. Mountain West, Pac-10, WAC) in the fold, the highest ranked team that didn't win the conference championship would make the playoffs as a wild card. The teams would be seeded as they are in the coaches poll. The wild card would be seeded after all the top 25 conference champs; i.e. this year 8 of the 11 conference champions are ranked, and 3 are unranked. Texas, being the highest ranked team that is not a conference champ would be the ninth seed. If all of the conference champs are ranked, the wild card would be the 12th seed. The four highest ranked conference champs would receive a bye. The playoffs would begin the second week of November, with the higher seeded team hosting the game. In an effort to give the student athletes the same amount of time they have now to study for exams, so it wouldn't be an issue. All the teams that fall short of the playoffs that are eligible, could still play in a bowl game. The teams that lose in the playoffs play in the BCS games (Rose Bowl, Fiesta, etc. etc). The playoffs would be done by the beginning of December, with only the championship game left to play. The championship game would be played on the same date that it is now. Had this been effect in 2008, this is how the playoffs would look:

[For a better look at the bracket, click here. ]

It really is a shame we are at the minimum 5 years from a possible playoff, the contract between ESPN and the BCS isn't up until 2014. But with Utah proving they are deserving of a shot at the national championship and colleges making their voices heard, we might be able to gain enough leverage before the next contract comes into question. I believe my answer provides every team with an actual shot at the championship, keeps the bowls alive, and offers the same(if not greater) financial incentives to colleges.