Posted on Thu, Nov 18, 2010 : noon
Do you think the current bowl system and BCS is working for college football?
By AnnArbor.com Staff
In his first blog entry at MGoBlue.com, Michigan athletic director Dave Brandon said he "believes in the bowl system and the BCS more than ever. We already have a playoff. It starts with the first game of the season and continues into January."
Do you agree? Take our poll:
Comments
SurlyCommenter
Fri, Nov 19, 2010 : 12:52 p.m.
How can we possibly declare one team to be the national champion if all teams are not given a fair chance to play for it? It's truly ridiculous.
maizenbluedoc
Thu, Nov 18, 2010 : 7:47 p.m.
The BCS system is an unfair system that does not allow the highest ranked teams to compete and prove that they are the best. Boise State is the prime example. Who can say that they could not beat an Auburn, Oregon,TCU, or any other team? No amount of computations or predictions of possibilities of sports people can really determine whether one team can defeat another. The current system is comparable to the prom queen; it's all about popularity and the ability to attract large crowds and make big money for the sponsors. The mindset "we have always done it that way" will prevail. I say unless you can prove you are the best on the field, you aren't.
3 And Out
Thu, Nov 18, 2010 : 6:08 p.m.
disagree with Dave Brandon 100%... in this day an age to use that antiquated "every game is a playoff" approach is not only outdated and unrealistic, it leaves the final rankings still very much in the hands of writers and coaches who vote with their own biases. Yes, I know there is computers in the rankings too...but computers are just spitting out data, they cant reason. This year, there could be 3 or four undefeated teams... who do you pick to play in that mythical NC game? Its stupid to continue this way when a better solution and a more lucrative one could be readily put in place... IMO the best solution, play the bowls out and then pick the top 4 teams and have a 2 game playoff....or play the bowls out and then pick the top 2 teams for a one game NC...the picture will be much more clear as to who the best teams are if they would choose that... especially after the 1 month layoff between the final regular season game and the bowls. This would keep the bowls in tact, give them some meaning without turning them in to a full blown multi team playoff.
Mick52
Thu, Nov 18, 2010 : 5:46 p.m.
Never much favored a playoff system. The weather up north would affect play too much I think. But also, I think Michigan's poor bowl record is due to a very long layoff. I don't a team can retain quality with such a long layoff. Being a traditional Michigan fan, I still prefer win the Big Ten, go to the Rose Bowl, the most important thing winning the Big Ten. I do not care about the national championship either way. It's fraught with problems, debate, and some teams get a part of the nat championship just because their coach retires. I agree with oklablue, I don't think a playoff will happen it will extend the season to too many games.
oklablue
Thu, Nov 18, 2010 : 5:12 p.m.
A playoff would add 3-5 additional games depending on bracket size. In a 32 team bracket it would require winning 4 games to make it to the National Championship Game. An 8 team bracket would require winning 2 games to make it into the National Championship Game. Throw that on top of a 12 game regular season plus most conferences now have an additional conference championship game. That makes for a long season. I do not think it will happen. Remember most of these Universities sell the Student Athlete not the Athlete Student first.
Ben
Thu, Nov 18, 2010 : 3:32 p.m.
I would love to see a playoff instead of the BCS. It would extend the season, it would still give all the teams a real shot, and it would still make money. I think one of the big driving forces against it would be that naming rights would be irrelevant up to a certain point (eg. the AA "Final 16" Game at XXXX Stadium).
Forever27
Thu, Nov 18, 2010 : 3:26 p.m.
Let the conference champs enter a single-elimination tournament. You can still let the rest of the teams play post season bowl games, just make the BCS a tournament of a select few teams instead.
81wolverine
Thu, Nov 18, 2010 : 2:26 p.m.
When you get right down to it, the current BCS Bowl setup is a jury-rigged system that does a poor job determining who is the best team in college football. It was a huge compromise to keep the powerful bowl-interests happy. I don't know why David Brandon feels that the current system is so good. But, at least for the top 8 teams that everyone can agree on, there should be a playoff.