Further evidence of the disaster that is the BCS bowl system

[andrewjackson]

Fox is pulling out of negotiations to continue to broadcast four of the BCS bowl games in the next cycle which runs 2011 to 2014. It is expected that ESPN will get the rights to the Sugar, Orange, Fiesta, and BCS Championship bowl games. ABC has the rights to the Rose Bowl through 2014.

One of the biggest problems, in my opinion, with the current system is that all those big bowls other than the Championship game have been devalued to the point where few people are interested in watching them and therefore broadcast them.

It's obvious that the current system is worse than a playoff system that uses the big bowls but I think its worse than the old system for keeping interest across the bowls. Under the old system with somewhat traditional alignments you could have had all these games:

Texas Tech 11-1 (at large) against Utah 12-0 (MWC) in the Holiday Bowl
Alabama 13-0 (SEC) against Texas 11-1 (at large) in the Sugar Bowl
Florida 12-1 (at large) against Cincinnati 10-2 (Big East) in the Fiesta Bowl
Penn State 11-1 (Big Ten) against USC 11-1 (Pac 10) in the Rose Bowl
Oklahoma 12-1 (Big XII) against Miami 10-3 (ACC) in the Orange Bowl

Lots of those teams would still have a chance to win the National Championship and I would want to watch lots of them to make up my own mind on who should win.

NOTE: I'm just extrapolating some records and standings. I know there are other teams that have chances to win these conferences and the Big XII in particular is way up in the air. I'm sure things will work out differently and your mileage may vary but look at how much more fun this could be.

[gotribego26]

Even Obama realizes it is disaster - or is surrounded by folks that make it a talking point for him. I can't imagine a president investing much in this - but I think he could crate some pressure to move things along - it will be interesting to see if he really does prod the NCAA to make some change.

I hope they do create some compelling matchups in the lessor bowls - I'd love to see the loser of Alabama Florida play the play a Big 12 South team (assuming the champ games is a Big XII south team against the winner of Alabama/Florida) .

[TheCalvinator24]

The only thing I see "wrong" with your pairings is that Oregon State is likely to win the Pac-10. Not USC.

[Appa23]

I hope they do create some compelling matchups in the lessor bowls - I'd love to see the loser of Alabama Florida play the play a Big 12 South team (assuming the champ games is a Big XII south team against the winner of Alabama/Florida) .

On sports radio last week, they were discussing how similar the 1971 season and the 2008 season were for college football, and how there was a de facto playoff in 1971.

As of mid-November, there were 5 undefeated teams: Nebraska, Oklahoma, Alabama, Auburn, and Georgia. Auburn beat Georgia. Then, Auburn-Alabama played and Nebraska-Oklahoma played. The winners (Alabama and Nebraska ) played in the Orange Bowl for the national championship, and Oklahoma and Auburn met in the Sugar Bowl.

It would be interesting to see Texas Tech and Alabama/Florida winner play and Texas against the Bama/Gator loser. Plus, maybe the latter would serve as forewarning for the title game. You may recall that in those 1972 bowl games, the Big 8 beat the SEC teams like they had caught them stealing.

[BigDrawMan]

Fox is pulling out of negotiations to continue to broadcast four of the BCS bowl games in the next cycle which runs 2011 to 2014. It is expected that ESPN will get the rights to the Sugar, Orange, Fiesta, and BCS Championship bowl games. ABC has the rights to the Rose Bowl through 2014.

One of the biggest problems, in my opinion, with the current system is that all those big bowls other than the Championship game have been devalued to the point where few people are interested in watching them and therefore broadcast them.

It's obvious that the current system is worse than a playoff system that uses the big bowls but I think its worse than the old system for keeping interest across the bowls. Under the old system with somewhat traditional alignments you could have had all these games:

Texas Tech 11-1 (at large) against Utah 12-0 (MWC) in the Holiday Bowl
Alabama 13-0 (SEC) against Texas 11-1 (at large) in the Sugar Bowl
Florida 12-1 (at large) against Cincinnati 10-2 (Big East) in the Fiesta Bowl
Penn State 11-1 (Big Ten) against USC 11-1 (Pac 10) in the Rose Bowl
Oklahoma 12-1 (Big XII) against Miami 10-3 (ACC) in the Orange Bowl

Lots of those teams would still have a chance to win the National Championship and I would want to watch lots of them to make up my own mind on who should win.

NOTE: I'm just extrapolating some records and standings. I know there are other teams that have chances to win these conferences and the Big XII in particular is way up in the air. I'm sure things will work out differently and your mileage may vary but look at how much more fun this could be.

1.Bowls were started to be an economic development aid for suthren vacation towns.
2.There is too much support behind this idea for a true playoff system to supplant it.The best that cqn be done is a hybrid.
3.the peahens 3 minute editing time is up.
4.You meant to say Pitt 10-2, and not Cincinnatta as Big East champs.

[ne1410s]

ESPN is paying 125 million, per year, for BCS rights. 2011-2014