If ever there was a year in college football that demanded a playoff, this is it. There is so much parity among the top 10-20 teams that no amount of voting by whoever votes on bowl placement will satisfy anyone except the powers that be at the NCAA office.
Last year this cry for a playoff went up, just as it will this year. Certainly the end of the bowl season last January was not satisfying.
NCAA President, Myles Brand, described the playoff versus BCS slotting this way at the end of 2007:
"Certainly, the media is unhappy and a number of the avid fans are unhappy, and they express it. But their unhappiness is not translating to a lack of interest. So I don't think it's as major a problem as some people think it is."
Interest in college football is enormous, and fans will suffer through a lackluster system to watch their team, but does this mean a flawed system should take precedence over what could be a much better and more equitable one? Brand doesn't think this is a major problem? Division 1-A is the only division without a post season tournament in football. This vacant hole in sports appears to be all about money, money which flows to the various bowls, sponsors of which do not want any change.
Doesn't anyone believe a bowl hosting playoff games would make even more money?
This is a perfect year for a playoff, but fans will once again be at the mercy of partisan voters and maybe computer voters and bowl officials lobbying for a name team over one with a better record.
There will be no college football playoff system. A playoff system would reduce the overall revenue to the teams and NCAA. Therefore, we are stuck with the current flawed system.
Posted by: Ron | October 14, 2008 at 09:36 AM