Good-Bye BCS, Hello Playoffs

Dec 11, 2013

After 15 years of controversy, the archaic BCS system is being shut down after this season and replaced with a four-team playoff system. However, as much as fans hate the BCS system, the computers got it right this year with undefeated No. 1 Florida State facing No. 2 Auburn in the Vizio BCS National Championship Game in Pasadena, Calif on Jan. 6.  

Florida State has been crushing their opponents with their top ranked defense and star quarterback Jameis Winston. Despite dealing with a media circus after being cleared of rape charges from a fellow FSU student, Winston has played lights out and is widely considered the next Heisman trophy winner.

Critics have argued that the ACC is not the powerhouse conference it once was when Miami and Florida State dominated everyone. Yes, FSU’s schedule is relatively weak compared to other top teams, but they have blown their opponents out of the water. This season, FSU is averaging 53 points a game and the only team who has scored more than 17 points against the stingy Noles defense is Boston College, who put up an impressive 34 points.

Auburn’s season is much like a fairy tale – they were on the outside looking in and were hoping to secure a BCS bowl bid after losing a heartbreaker against LSU early in the season. Then ‘The Prayer’ against Georgia happened, followed by the ‘Kick Six’ against the three-time defending national champions, Alabama in the Iron Bowl.

Before the conference championship games, Auburn trailed Ohio State in the BCS rankings and needed them to lose to Michigan State in order to jump to the coveted two spot. The Buckeyes lost to the Spartans and dropped five spots to no. 7 in the BCS standings. Meanwhile, Auburn finds itself in the national championship game for the second time in four years.

Had Ohio State not been upset by Michigan State in the Big Ten Championship Game, they would most likely be facing Florida State. Some critics and experts argued that the Buckeyes didn’t deserve to be in the BCS Championship Game due to a weak Big Ten conference. The Buckeyes finished their regular season undefeated – winning 24 straight games dating back to last season –  and No. 2 in the BCS computer rankings behind Florida State.

In recent years, the BCS has been not-so-subtly favoring the SEC powerhouse conference. The past seven national champions have been from the SEC with Alabama winning the last three titles. Alabama’s national title hopes ended after their improbable loss to Auburn on a missed field goal returned for a touchdown in the final seconds. 

This year, there are no teams from smaller conferences crashing the BCS bowl games in its final year. Northern Illinois had a shot at getting an at-large bid for a BCS bowl game but their loss to Bowling Green in the MAC championship killed that opportunity. Previously, the BCS was generous to teams from mid-major conferences like Boise State, TCU, and Utah to name a few.

Even though the BCS got things right in its last year, not many people will be sad to see it go. A four-team playoff format is a step in the right direction and will give other deserving teams an opportunity to prove themselves on a national stage.