Saturday, November 28, 2009

Life's Not Fair, The BCS Should Be

A lot of people talk about what is wrong with the BCS. Most people say it's a joke and there needs to be a playoff system. I myself am a BCS playoff system with bowl games for the lesser teams kind of guy. Personally I don't care about the BCS and if it never changes I would be fine with that. But I heard an argument not too long ago that if they are going to keep the BCS, why not just make every conference a BCS conference? Some of you might think this is crazy, but is it?

Think about it. First of all, non BCS teams are 3-1 all time in BCS bowl games. Utah has won two BCS games beating Pitt 35-7 in 2005 and Alabama 31-17 in 2008. On a geographical note there are 16 states who don't have a BCS team and another 9 that have just one BCS team. Football should be widespread enough that fans everywhere can see their teams in the BCS games. Perhaps the most important thing to contribute to this theory is the fact that the BCS committee has decided that strength of schedule does not count towards the BCS poll. So therefore Texas can schedule UTEP and Florida can schedule Florida International year in and year out and still be ranked in the Top 5. BCS teams are playing the same schools as non BCS teams, so why should it matter what conference they are from.

This leads me to my next argument. TCU deserves a shot in the BCS National Championship game. Not over Florida, they have won 22 straight games, are the defending National Champions and are the clear cut number 1 team in the nation. TCU doesn't deserve it over Alabama because in order for the Tide to get there they will have beaten that number 1 team. That only leaves one team for it to be and yes that's right, that is the Texas Longhorns.

Take a look at the two teams. Both are 12-0 and have played great seasons.

Both teams have Heisman type players in Colt McCoy and Jerry Hughes (yes I am a firm believer that defensive players should win more Heisman trophies.)

Both get excellent play from their quarterbacks. Colt McCoy from Texas has 3328 yards 27 touchdowns, 9 interceptions and a QB rating of 152, while Andy Dalton from TCU has 2484 yards 22 touchdowns 5 interceptions and a QB rating of 156.

Both teams score quite a few points. Texas is at 43 points per game while TCU sits at 41. On the other side of the ball Texas gives up 15 points per game while TCU gives up just 12.

But the thing that sticks out most to me is the schedules that each team has played this year. Throw out the fact that they both beat Wyoming by a combined 66 points. But look at the fact that TCU beat two BCS conference teams in non conference play (Clemson and Virginia) this season while Texas scheduled none. Also the fact that TCU beat three top 25 opponents in Clemson, BYU and Utah, while Texas defeated just two in Oklahoma and Oklahoma St. And for those of you who are quick to write off the BYU win, remember that BYU scored more points and beat Oklahoma before Texas did. And Texas beat Oklahoma without their starting Quarterback, Tight End (leading receiver) and Left Tackle. 12-0 looks good either way but when you break it down and look at how each team got there, it looks like TCU had the tougher road.

In no way am I trying to downplay the season that Texas has had this year. I feel like Texas deserves to be right where they are but I also feel that TCU deserves it more. But let me ask you a question. Take away the names from both of the resumes that I just gave you and tell me which one do you think deserves it more? You'll have a hard time not picking the Horned Frogs.