How The BCS Poll Would Affect a Playoff

CraytonSep 2, 2010

Updated (9/7)

The big winner last week was Boise State, which jettisoned into the No. 2 spot in the BCS by virtue of their last second victory over Virginia Tech.

Consequently, Miami has taken the poll lead for the ACC crown. The Big East, which suffered losses by its top two members, Pittsburgh and Cincinnati, finds unranked West Virginia leading the conference charge.

TOP NEWS

TCU is sitting pretty at No. 5 but, with plenty of Big 12 teams in the Top 14, it looks like the BCS will pass them over if they don't sneak past Boise State.

For those of you that remember last year's series, this year we'll examine various playoff proposals and their implementation given the week-to-week BCS and conference standings.

Conference and division leaders will be determined by the least number of losses in conference or by BCS rank if head-to-head is insufficient. Note: A game between two teams that has not yet been played is not counted as a loss for either team.

Please comment on (1) which proposal you think is the best, (2) the pros and cons of certain proposals, and (3) how different proposals compare to each other.

Proposal A

This is the current BCS model. The top two teams playoff in the National Championship, while BCS champions and at-large teams fill four other bowl games.

No. 1 Alabama - No. 2 Boise State (National Championship)

No. 6 Florida - No. 7 Nebraska (Sugar Bowl)

No. 3 Texas - unranked West Virginia (Fiesta Bowl)

No. 4 Ohio State - No. 8 Oregon (Rose Bowl)

No. 12 Miami - No. 9 Iowa (Orange Bowl)

Proposal B

Keeps the BCS model and adds two additional play-in games. Here is how the 10 BCS teams are chosen.

No. 1 Alabama - No. 6 Florida (SEC Championship Game)

No. 2 Boise State (Mid-Major Champion)

No. 3 Texas - No. 7 Nebraska (Big 12 Championship Game)

No. 4 Ohio State (Big Ten Champion)

No. 8 Oregon (Pac-10 Champion)

No. 12 Miami - No. 20 Florida State (ACC Championship Game)

unranked West Virginia (Big East Champion)

*No. 5 TCU - No. 13 LSU (BCS Play-In Game 1)

*No. 9 Iowa - No. 10 Oklahoma (BCS Play-In Game 2)

The 10th BCS spot goes to the highest ranked team, after these games, that is not yet in a BCS bowl.

Proposal C

Takes the idea of nationwide play-in games and creates one great game between two National Title hopefuls. The Top two teams remaining still play in the National Championship Game.

No. 1 Alabama - No. 6 Florida (SEC Championship Game)

*No. 2 Boise State - No. 4 Ohio State (BCS Play-In Game)

No. 3 Texas - No. 7 Nebraska (Big 12 Championship Game)

Proposal D

This is the first true playoff. It matches conference champions that finished in the Top five in two BCS bowl semifinals. A fifth BCS bowl is also added.

No. 1 Alabama - No. 4 Ohio State (Sugar Bowl)

No. 3 Texas - No. 2 Boise State (Fiesta Bowl)

Proposal E

This couples Proposals C and D. Two border-line playoff teams play-off in December and the top four champions go into the semifinals.

No. 1 Alabama - No. 6 Florida (SEC Championship Game)

No. 2 Boise State (Mid-Major Chapion)

No. 3 Texas - No. 7 Nebraska (Big 12 Championship Game)

*No. 4 Ohio State - No. 5 TCU (BCS Play-In Game)

Proposal F

Takes the Mountain West proposal and adds some selection flexibility for the non-playoff BCS bowl.

No. 1 Alabama - No. 5 TCU (Sugar Bowl)

No. 3 Texas - No. 6 Florida (Cotton Bowl)