The Do Over Bowl was no bueno.Once again, the BCS system proved to be a colossal failure.The hype and interest level for a national championship game was the lowest it has been in a while. TV ratings for a game of this magnitude were dismal.If you weren’t an SEC fan, the thought was “Who Cares?”If you were, it most likely didn’t matter; your team was probably not playing anyway.
Once again in the all-SEC matchup, LSU had no offense and Alabama’s players proved they could kick field goals.LSU won the SEC championship and Alabama won the last game.Who’s the champion?Certainly not the current BCS system.
Thankfully, there is talk of a new playoff system. The prospect of a move to a mini-playoff — a four-team, three-game, “plus-one” format that all 11 conference commissioners and Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick are willing to toss over has heated up the possibility and boosted demand.
NCAA President Mark Emmert fueled anticipation when he endorsed the concept last week. Leaders in college football seem to now be willing to listen to what the fans have been clamoring for — a real national championship game. It is probably safe to say that even SEC fans feel its time for a change.
Conference Commissioners met recently in New Orleans, where playoff talk was a hot topic.BCS Executive Director Bill Hancock said many scenarios were presented as possibilities. Many as in more than 50. But one way or the other, prepare for a Final Four starting with the 2014 season. The plus one format creates a four-team playoff, or two national semi-final games, with the championship game played a week later.
Emmert has stated that he would support the four-team playoff system as long as the field doesn’t grow.
“The notion of having a Final Four approach is probably a sound one,” Emmert said.
He stressed the issue that a playoff involving more teams would face serious issues such as wear and tear on players’ bodies and ending the current bowl system that fans enjoy and that benefits many football programs.
Several years ago the powers that be in college football wouldn’t even listen to talk of a playoff system. A four-team tournament would certainly be a great place to start.
This year we would have LSU, Alabama, Oklahoma State and Stanford in the final four.As a one seed, LSU would face No. 4 Stanford. And two-seed Bama would take on the No. 3 Cowboys.
Even if the Tigers and Tide wound back up in New Orleans, there would be no question of who deserved it.
A decision must be reached in July when television negotiations take place for programming. No change is no longer an option. Just quit talking about it and do it.It’s getting old.
