College Football 2012: Pac-12 Leaders Take Huge Step Toward Ending BCS

We're now less than two years from the expiration of the BCS system as we know it, and schools are gearing up to figure out what's next for the world of college football. The plus-one and four team playoff models are sitting firmly on the table as the Pac-12 becomes next on the list of conferences that has agreed to opt for that route going forward.

While Michael Crow, the Arizona State president, is pushing for the ultimate reform in the way of an expanded eight team playoff, the league ultimately agreed that four would be a solid number to investigate going forward.

For those of you rooting for an end to the BCS, this is great news because it puts three of the power conferences—the Pac-12, Big Ten and SEC—in agreement on discontinuing the BCS in its current form. With those three leagues working to get the Big XII, ACC and Big East on board it seems that change is now inevitable in terms of how college football determines its champion.

Don't worry though—Bowl games aren't completely dead. The Pac-12, along with the Big Ten partners want to keep the Rose Bowl atop the perch of the almighty Bowl games. Not only do they want the game to retain its prestige but the leagues do not want anyone else taking that trip to Pasadena. In recent years we've seen TCU and Texas in the Rose Bowl and, if the traditional Rose Bowl parties get their way, that will not be happening again.

As talk about the playoff and its possible inclusion of eight team continues, this writer truly hopes four is the cap for the system. Expansion will make the playoffs less about a true champion and more a spectacle for fan enjoyment. More is not always better when it comes to picking a champion.

Obviously the debate between advocates of a playoff vs plus-one vs BCS championship will rage for many years to come until a new system is selected but for now the four team playoff OR the plus-one format seem to be the best compromises to appease people hellbent on a massive playoff and those firmly against the idea.