Is It Time to Give the Little Guys a Chance at a National Championship?

(Photo by Steve Dykes/Getty Images)

There are 120 FBS teams in college football. Of the 120 schools only 66 schools start the season with a realistic chance to play in a BCS game.

The 66 schools are all members of the 6 BCS conferences. Looking at those numbers closer, it could be fair to say only 15 teams really has a chance to play for a national championship.

Does college football past hurt its future? Should every team have a chance at a national championship?

These are only a few questions that should be answered before this season ends and before the title game is set.

Should every team in college football have a chance to win a championship?

As stated above only 15 teams each year have a realistic shot at a national championship. Out of 120 schools these 15 teams get extra credit for a number of reasons each season.

In the SEC these schools are Florida, Alabama, Tennessee, LSU and Georgia. The ACC has only two schools Virginia Tech and Miami.

Only USC has a shot in the Pac-10 but UCLA, Washington and California could get in to the conversation at some point. The Big Ten has Ohio State, Penn State, and Michigan and Notre Dame is the only independent who can win a championship.

The Big-12 features Oklahoma, Texas, and Nebraska. The Big East so far does not even have a team that would be allowed to play for a title; West Virginia is the closest. These schools have all won championships or played for one in the last 29 years.

Over that time only 4 teams not in the list above have won a national championship. Clemson, BYU, Georgia Tech and Colorado were all able to overcome the odds and won a title.

Since 1990 when Colorado and Georgia Tech spilt a national title has a team from outside this select group won a title. During that time 6 teams have gone undefeated and not won a title.

Auburn has done it twice albeit the 1993 team was under sanctions by the NCAA and unable to play for a title.  The 2004 Auburn team was not in trouble with the NCAA and was not allowed to play for a title.

Utah has also had two undefeated teams in both 2004 and 2008 but has not played for a title. Tulane (1998), Marshall (1999), and Boise State (2007) have all defeated every team they faced but could not play for a title.

At what point should a team join the 15 teams allowed to play for a title. Why is college football the only sport where a dream season is not rewarded?

Do not use strength of schedule as an excuse

Every year a team is skipped over for a chance to play for a national championship because nationally it is assumed they do not play a tough schedule or in a tough conference.

The reality is a good football team is a good football team. To make a case let’s look at the combined win/loss records of the opponents of the teams left undefeated at this point in the season.

Iowa: opponents combined win/loss: 30-18

Florida: opponents combined win/loss: 20-16

Texas: opponents combined win/loss: 20-18

Alabama: opponents combined win/loss: 22-22

TCU: opponents combined win/loss: 19-19

Boise State: opponents combined win/loss: 18-20

Cincinnati: opponents combined win/loss: 17-20

Except for Iowa, the top teams are basically playing .500 or sub .500 football teams. Say what you want about Iowa struggling against some teams they have only played one team with a losing record overall.

Over that same point Florida has played one team with a losing record and three teams with .500 records. Alabama who most think is the best team in college football has played two teams with losing records and two teams with .500 records.

Texas has played two losing teams and one .500 team. TCU has played one team with a losing record and four teams that are just .500 teams.

Boise State has played two teams with losing records and two .500 teams. Cincinnati has played two losing teams and one .500 team.

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