BCS Listened, America: New Formula to Be Used Beginning Next Year (Humor)

Recently, a national survey was conducted to measure the American public's attitudes and perceptions toward the NCAA Bowl Championship Series (BCS), the system used to determine a national champion at college football’s highest level, known as the NCAA Division I-A Bowl Championship Football Division Bowl Football Series.

The findings of the study are insightful and timely, as the BCS routinely comes under fire this time each year from traditionalists who believe that the NCAA should determine its champion based on methods similar to those used in every other sport. Methods which include having the teams play against each other to see who wins and...actually, that’s it, that’s the only other method.

Among the study’s findings was the surprising revelation that statistically “every single person in America" thinks the current BCS system is a bad system. Asked how they would describe it, responses included the following:

• “Extremely ridiculous" (48 percent)

• "Idiotic/misguided" (16 percent)

• "Downright un-American" (10 percent)

• “I just stopped paying attention years ago” (eight percent)

• “Seriously messed up" (seven percent)

• "Evil, pure evil" (six percent)

• Other (five percent)

When asked if they had considered alternative solutions or ways to improve the system, an overwhelming nine out of 10 said that they and some buddies had come up with "at least one" better solution at some point in the last two weeks without really thinking about it. The survey had a margin of error of +/- three percent.

In response to the report, BCS officials made a rare acknowledgement of public concerns and immediately announced that beginning after the 2009 season, there will be a new formula in place to determine the BCS champion. They are confident this will "remove any questions about fairness and equity," and "restore the game of college football to its long history of honor."

The new formula is as follows:

• In 2009, USC and Oklahoma will play in the BCS championship game.

• In 2010, Florida and Ohio State will play in the BCS championship game.

• In 2011, Notre Dame and LSU will play in the BCS championship game, the winner to share a piece of the championship with USC.

• In 2012, Boise State and Florida will play in the BCS championship game, with Florida being named BCS champion regardless of outcome.

• This formula will be repeated every four years, and reevaluated after five years.

A statement from the BCS offices read: "All of the athletic directors, university presidents, coaches and boosters from the teams involved, have agreed to and embrace this new system.”

It went on to say: “We believe that this new system will remove any confusion or controversy with regard to how the true college football champion is selected and hope to continue to strengthen those traditions that really matter to college football."