Tomorrow night, the Florida Gators and Oklahoma Sooners will meet in Miami to decide a national champion for Division 1-A college football. Obviously, the winner of this game has the right to declare themselves national champions.
But, as is the case with every other college football season it seems, two or three other teams will feel they have earned the same right as the winner of the BCS Championship Game to call themselves national champions.
The Trojans of Southern California finished the regular season ranked No. 5 and played the Penn State Nittany Lions, ranked No. 8, in the Rose Bowl. The Trojan defense stifled the Big Ten co-champions early, taking a 31-7 lead into halftime.
Penn State would score 17 points in the final quarter after a scoreless third, but this still would not have been enough to win even if USC hadn't scored a touchdown in the final frame as well. The final score was 38-24 and represented a game much closer than this one actually was.
Southern Cal's domination of a quality opponent in the Rose Bowl, and its domination of the Pac-10 Conference outside of Corvallis, Ore. gives them a legitimate claim to the national championship, at least in my opinion.
The Sugar Bowl champion Utah Utes can also legitimately stake their claim to the national championship. They took a perfect 12-0 record, the only remaining perfect record in 1-A college football, into their bowl game against previously top-ranked Alabama and came away with a perfect 13-0 record.
While Alabama's offensive line was missing key components, surely a team of its caliber who played in the "gauntlet-like" SEC should be able to handle a team that went undefeated through a meager Mountain West Conference schedule.
Since that didn't happen, fans, coaches, and, most importantly, players of the Utes get nothing more than a gold star and a pat on the back when many believe that they could win the crystal ball handed to the championship team.
Further, one of two more teams could also make a strong case for national championship consideration.
The Texas Longhorns, should the Sooners win the championship game, would become the only team to defeat the champions on the season. With a last-second touchdown drive to beat Ohio State in the Fiesta Bowl, the Longhorns proved that they are still one of the premier teams in the nation.
Similarly, if Florida beats Oklahoma, the Mississippi Rebels would be the only team to have beaten the Gators on the season. This combined with a throttling of once-respected Texas Tech in the Cotton Bowl gives the Rebs a strong enough resume to warrant national championship consideration.
I say all that to say this: if four squads can make a convincing case to be the champion in any kind of league, something is wrong with how that league decides its champion, whether we're talking about basketball, lacrosse, college football, golf, or shuffleboard.
The bowl system would be like if the NCAA basketball tournaments got to the Final Four and just called the tournament at that point. We'd be left with four fan bases, four groups of reporters, and four teams debating who the champion is.
Take last year's tournament, for example. Memphis was the best team in the regular season, taking an unblemished record into the Final Four round. If college basketball narrowed its pool of teams down to four and left deciding a champion to a group of voters, Memphis likely would've been the champion.
Of course, college basketball doesn't do this. Memphis and Kansas played each other after winning their respective national semifinal games. This edition of the championship game was particularly exciting, and Kansas came out victorious, not Memphis, the likely champion had a vote taken place with the Final Four teams decided.
Wouldn't it be grand if Texas or Ole Miss played Southern Cal while the winner of the game tomorrow played Utah in national semifinals? Wouldn't it be even better that the two winners of those games played each other to determine an undisputed college football national champion?
The simple answer is yes. The just-as-simple answer to the question, "Will we ever get a system like this?" is, unfortunately, no.
29 comments Last one added 5 months ago — Leave a Comment
Jason Cottier 5 months ago
I am a USC fan, but in my opinion Utah is the National Champion no matter what happens in the "title game". Utah went undefeated, but they didn't play anybody until the bowl game...wrong no matter what confernce you are in conference games are tough. Those guys are gunning for you from the beginning of the season. If USC and Oregon State were in seperate conferences would the Beavs have played them so tough in the game that they upset them...probably not. Florida and Mississippi is the same way. When you are the top dog in your conference everyone in the conference is out to get you, and after some lackluster performances in the SEC the first part of the season Florida emerged as the top dog...placing a bull's eye on them.
Utah was the favorite all season long and has been for a few years now in that conference, so they honestly deserve it...since there is no justice with a playoff everyone will just be left to bitch and fight about it.
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Jonny Solovy 5 months ago
I agree with Jason. I am a huge USC fan as well and I would give it to Utah because they finished undefeated and played several good teams.
If you are looking for the BEST team... obviously then USC is in the discussion for sure and as your article mentions, there are a few other teams who can claim the same. I know the BCS definitely won't change for a while now but I hope they at least realize this year that a plus one or plus 2 system is needed after the bowl games. It drives me crazy how late December and early January were owned by college football... now we have BCS games played after January first... a whole week later. I am fine with having all of the bcs games on jan 1st and 2nd and then the champ. game on the 3rd.. like it used to be. All this is doing is helping people over analyze it and when the game begins on Thur. America, which already hasa short memory, will be the same way and Utah or any other team may not get any love.
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Isaac Luber 5 months ago
USC outplayed us, and as Jonny said is probably one of the best teams in America. However, I have to agree with Jason and Jonny on this one and say Utah deserves it. They had a few quality wins during the regular season, and then came out and basically dominated Alabama in the Sugar Bowl where Utah was thought of as "this year's Hawaii" by many. They are the only undefeated team and they deserve it.
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jason hughes 5 months ago
to start off with..i agree even though i am hard core sec, gators fan, they both have one loss ,why is usc's loss more devastating, oregon state proved to be a great team it was no fluke...., and until the cotton bowl i thought they had a better argument than the gators, however ole miss is for real to and they piled it up on tech also, guess what im trying to say is that this would be a PERFECT year for a 4 team playoff if any year i can remember.
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Kevin McGuire 5 months ago
Surely you do not honestly believe that Mississippi, a 9-4 team, actually would have a legitimate claim to a national championship just because they beat Florida.
Utah is the national champion. Enough said.
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jason hughes 5 months ago
i didid not say that ole miss was one of the top 4 teams , imeant that until the cotton bowl i thought that floridas one loss was to a lesser oppant than usc's one loss but now i think different, that all i was really trying to say ,sorry for the mix up. usc, florida , utah and oklahoma, those are my final four.
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Jason Cottier 5 months ago
See but the thing behind that is that they were both in conference losses...even the weaker conference teams play their in conference games tough. So I really don't think you can count any conference loss more than any other.
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Lou Vozza 5 months ago
The 4 team playoff is a seductive lie. It will create more controversy than it resolves. There will be no peace in college football until there is a playoff with at least 24 teams, including all 11 conference champions.
If you don't believe me, read my blog.
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Edmon 5 months ago
I think four "National Champions" is a bit much. Realistically, you'll have the winner of Thursday night’s game and Utah. I know that sucks for Utah, but my philosophy is that I'd rather keep a great team out than let a mediocre team play for the National Title.
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Brad James 5 months ago
Typical sucky analysis from a BCS proponent.
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Ben Beesley 5 months ago
Horrible philosophy to keep a great team out than to let a mediocre team in. For all we know Oklahoma or Florida are mediocre when it comes to playing in the PAC or another conference. The conference bias is what is killing this great game and is what is killing potential great programs from starting up. Imagine if you had an up and coming program like Boise State in the PAC10. They would get some serious recognition, recruiting would benefit and the program would substantiate. I'm from Utah and this is the second time we have gone this round. The first time the BS committe threw us a bone in Pitt. We thrashed the champ from a major and it was dismissed as the east having a weak conference that year. We chirped about it back here in Utah for a long time about them not giving us a worthy opponent. This time we got BAMA and they made it out like it was gonna be Hawaii all over again. Well it was like Hawaii all over again. This huge win over a powerhouse like BAMA will be huge for Utah in sustaining the program we have BUT... If Utah was able to play on Thursday like these other storied programs are doing and pull off a "upset" that would be exponentially greater than what took place in the sugarbowl. Why could that not have happened.
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Edmon 5 months ago
Brad, I'm about to use the restroom. Want to follow me there and give me your opinion again? I've already said that I agree to disagree. Not sure what you are looking for.
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Edmon 5 months ago
Ben, I would definitely have liked to seen Utah in the National Championship. If they would have been one of the top two, my opinion would not change. I believe conference bias and preseason rankings have plenty to do with the problem.
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Matt Burris 5 months ago
The ONLY reason why so many teams these days try to petition the media to declare them Number 1 is just to spite the BCS system and to hurry up and create a playoff in college football. There's no other reason, because this never happened 5 years ago and beyond. So when fans of Utah, USC, and Texas plus the media do this, keep in mind that they're only doing it because the hate for the BCS gives them the excuse.
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Drew Burton 5 months ago
I agree with the vote for Utah, at the beginning of the year, every team wants to go undefeated, you complete the job and at the very least you should either be crowned the champion or be in a position to play for the championship. I would have no issue if the computers or the voters put the Utah Utes as the National Champion.
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Michael Mohr 5 months ago
I would agree with Utah being on top theres just one thing. They do not play any one thats what effects there ranking i believe if they go another year in undefeated you still wont see them in a title shot. The only thing that would give them that shot is a playoff system. You cant argue with the computer though they played a great season and game against Alabama. My hats are off to them not getting a title shot. But honestly how do you think there defense would stand up against OU or FU. Not very well. Maybe they need to mix the schedules up a bit and play conferences against other conferences that way some people could stop crying and see the truth that honestly utah is not that good.
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Sam smith 5 months ago
You say that Utah's defense couldn't stand up to OU or FU, but that's exactly what people said about Alabama. Nobody gave Utah a shot, but they ended up winning. Now all your saying is "Yea they beat Alabama, but they couldn't beat OU" and if they had a chance and beat OU you'd say "Yea they beat OU, but they couldn't beat FU". What else do they have to do to prove themselves? They KILLED Alabama, who was ranked 1st for a good portion of the season. Utah dominated that game from the 1st possession. They are the ONLY unbeaten team. As far as we know, no one can beat Utah. We know that someone has beat every other team. Utah at least needs to get a chance to prove themselves.
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Cary White 5 months ago
Sorry Sam, but losing by two scores != getting KILLED. Utah did not KILL Alabama by any means. They were better prepared and had a greater desire to win and they played a team that had no depth (and hadn't had any all season) that had just lost the most important member on their team (who will go in the top 5 of the NFL draft this time.) Now, losing 36-0 = getting KILLED. =) Ask Auburn.
Utah deserves all the respect in the world for their season, but people need to quit making too big a deal about their victory over Alabama. Alabama simply had a lucky season and we all know it. No serious injuries, no suspensions (at least until a few days before the bowl....) The only reason they were ever number one is because they were undefeated in the SEC West and had beat some teams that were themselves overrated. And yes, I know that this reveals the very bias that all Utah fans are mad about. They are completely justified.
The truth about Alabama, however, (and Nick Saban said this at just about every press conference all year) is that one bad injury or suspension would have derailed their whole season. They would have been more like 8-4 at the end of the regular season, which is what everyone was expecting out of them.
So, Utah fans, be proud. However, you've got to know that you beat a different team than the one that Florida beat in the SEC Championship. Anyone who knows football knows the the offensive line is probably the most important cohesive group of players on a team and having a good or bad one makes or breaks your success. I'm not making excuses for Alabama's loss, I'm just telling you who you beat - Alabama's third string O-line.
Furthermore, despite Alabama's personnel losses, Utah did NOT dominate the entire game as you claim they did. They went three and out several times and were held scoreless in the 2nd quarter. Sorry, but that's not dominating the entire game.
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Michael Collins 5 months ago
The solution is to include the Mountain West as a BCS conference. I mean Utah, TCU, and BYU are competitive with anybody. If you are the Mountain West commissioner, add Boise State and Houston. With Mike Locksley at New Mexico and bowl teams at Air Force and Colorado State, doesn't that stack up pretty well against some current BCS conferences? The Pac-10 would tell you so.
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Ken Gossett 5 months ago
I'd love to see a playoff system, as would many. The reality of it however, is that the BCS is a money maker, and thats what it all comes down to. Yes, Utah is undefeated and beat up on Bama. The same Utah that only beat TCU due to two missed FG's by TCU in the final moments of that game. The same TCU that lost to OU. The same OU that lost to UT. The same UT that lost to TT. The same TT that got thumped by OU and Ole Miss. The same Ole Miss that beat UF. I think that USC has a legit argument if anybody does, as their loss was early, they finished strong and won Bowl game. Other contenders...
Utah: strength(or rather lack of)schedule hurts their claim, although really good showing in Sugar Bowl. Would love to see the Mtn West get more respect as they are right up there with the majority of BCS conferences. I'd put the Mtn West right after the big 3(SEC, Big 12, Pac 10) in BCS.
UT: they didn't win their conference and barely beat #10 OSU in Fiesta. All of UT's whining isn't enough. They should fall below their present #3 ranking after NCS. UTah and USC should jump them.
Ole Miss: too many losses(4) to be champion, although showed they can play with the big boys. Perhaps a Wild Card in NFL, not unlike the Giants of last year if playoff system in force.
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Cary White 5 months ago
You forgot to complete your circle of insanity by reminding everyone that Ole Miss lost to Alabama.... ;-)
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RAKIM COLE 5 months ago
I AM THE BIGGEST FAN OF THE FLORIDA GATORS I THINK THAT COME TOMARROW THE GATORS WILL PROVE WHY THEY SHOULD BE NATION CHAMPIONSHIP WINNERS BECAUSE THEY HAVE HEART PRIDE ANDS THE SKILLS TO TAKE IT ALL THE WAT IM ROTTING FOR YOU AND WILL PRAY TO GOD THAT THEY TAKE IT HOME 'RAKIM COLE'
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Matt Burris 5 months ago
Was it really necessary to use all caps?
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jason hughes 5 months ago
to lou i think a 24 team playoff would be way to excessive, you would have to wait till st patricks day to watch the national champship game.
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George T 5 months ago
MWC meager? The MWC is the 3rd best conference in the nation right now. Better than the PAC 10, better than the ACC, better than the Big 10, and way way better than the Big East. But if any team from any of those conferences had gone undefeated they would be national champions because the system is rigged.
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Pat Duran 5 months ago
I have faithfully cheered on Utah for ages, being from Utah, but I feel I can honestly say that Utah should be considered for National Champions. Utah is the only team that is undefeated, eight consecutive bowl victories including the decisive win against Alabama which had pretty much a home field advantage. Utah's wins this year were against 6 bowl teams and 4 ranked teams. Now if Utah's name were not known; how many people would honestly say these stats prove this team is #1?
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Ron Johnson 5 months ago
In all actuality, this is kind of twisted. You have to look at it from both spectrums. If Oklahoma wins, then they should get on their knees and kiss the ground they walk on because everyone knows they shouldn't have been there in the first place. The truth is that no one can deny what Utah has done this season. As for USC, that loss to Oregon State still hurts their chances. In fact the teams in question with one loss can all be happy about one thing: the teams they lost to (except for Texas' stunner Texas Tech) went on to win their respective bowl games.
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Michael Mohr 5 months ago
Utah is undefeated yes they beat alabama yes but so did FU. And look at the points they put up against them. I dont think Utah could beat USC, FU, UGA or any other top ranked team. And if they did a playoff system next year and Utah went 12-0 AGAIN and lost the game then we would here that they were not fairly placed playing a team like USC or FU. To get a title shot you have to be the BEST and they are not. Computers dont lie. FU and OU Deserve to be playing each other and will be more exciting than UTAH and FLORIDA OR OU.SORRY.
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Jack Peck 5 months ago
I get a little tired of hearing comments like, "Utah barely beat TCU", OR "Utah barely beat Oregon State" and that makes them less of a team than if they had won by a large margin. Florida had a close game with "OLD MISS" and USC had a close game with Oregon State, but that's ok. Seems everyone is entitled to have a close game except Utah. I can't speak for USC or Florida but Utah had issues with their offensive coordinator. Anyone who watched all of Utah's games would know what I'm talking about. Finally, when the BYU game rolled around the play callers figured out how best to use Utah's offensive potential.
Yes! Utah's schedule wasn't as difficult at some, however, there are advantages and disadvantages. When a team consistantly plays the best teams, that makes them better. For Utah to beat Alabama after such a patsy schedule, according to some, makes their accomplishment all that more impressive.
The poster who suggested a 24 team playoff, after you narrow it down to three teams, then what? Also, has anyone ever considered the logistics associated with a 24 team playoff? One more thing about playoffs, some years there is a concensus #1 and no playoff is needed. Some years there are only two top teams, and the current system works. Some years there would be three teams contesting for the #1. Some years there would be four...you get my drift. There is no easy answer.
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David Phillips 5 months ago
Some kind of different system needs to happen utah deserves the right to play against the top team look what they did 2 bama who knws cuz it will never happen
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Ali Gator 5 months ago
UF is the best team in college football, deal with it!
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Michael Mohr 5 months ago
Utah is not good why cant people see that. You see Utah beating Bama as some kind of ungodly thing, UF beat Bama ok and worse than Utah. Next Year see if Utah would beat Bama next year. DO YOU NOT KNOW THAT BAMA HAS THE YOUNGEST PLAYERS IN COLLEGE FOOTBALL. POINT MADE!!!!
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