How to Fix The BCS: Fix The Rose Bowl

The last few years have presented tremendous BCS controversy. Many people have been complaining about bad matchups. 2007-08 presented us with one of the most lopsided matchups in recent memory with UGA absolutely dismantling Hawaii, and Illinois being thoroughly outclassed by USC.

The common denominator, the Rose Bowl forces bad matchups with restrictions.

Sure the game is played in Pac 10 country, but I don't doubt that USC and the Big 10 want USC out of the Rose Bowl next year. In my opinion, the title game for last season should have been USC vs Florida.

If the BCS is going to be fixed in the future, the Rose Bowl needs to lose the restrictions of Big 10 v Pac 10.

Forget tradition, the BCS has been around for only 10 years.

USC draws a fanbase everywhere they go; just as other programs like Florida, Oklahoma, and Ohio State do as well. USC, however, hasn't played outside of L.A. for a bowl game since their lone outright BCS title in 2005's thrashing of the Sooners.

Although it's not the only bowl with conference requirements, it has drawn the most fire for keeping the Trojans close to home instead of producing the most buzzworthy matchups such as USC vs UGA in 2007.

That would've been fun.

Of all the bowl matchups, the most exciting may have been OSU vs Texas. Without the fifth game OSU would have been out, and the game would never have happened.

Texas would have drawn Cincinnati instead, not exactly an even matchup.

Without the Rose Bowl forced requirements, USC would most likely draw Texas, and Penn State would get Cincinnati. Games that would have been potentially better than USC-PSU and UT-UC.

The Rose Bowl has been around eons longer than the BCS. The game represents tradition and history.

Lately that tradition has been creating bad bowl matchups not only for the Rose Bowl, but it's carried over to the other bowls.

You could blame Ohio State, they have gone 0-3 in bowl games the past three years, as well as losing to USC last season, but what would that accomplish?

Pasadena has tremendous history. In reality almost every team would kill to travel to the Rose Bowl to play in the spotlight of Hollywood.

This article may sound like it's written out of frustration, but consider the following matchups for the 2009 BCS:

Rose: USC - PSU

Orange: Cinci - Va Tech

Sugar: Alabama - Utah

Fiesta: OSU - UT

NCG: UF - OU

Now consider potential matchups in the Rose Bowl eliminated the Big 10 - Pac 10 format:

Rose: PSU - Utah

Orange: Va Tech - Cinci

Sugar: Alabama - USC

Fiesta: OSU - UT

NCG: UF - OU

How different is that?

Pete Carroll's program is one of the best of this era. In my opinion, and the opinion of most people, it's time for the Trojans to meet new BCS competition.

If the Rose Bowl doesn't eliminate their restrictions, it might not happen.

If they do eliminate restrictions the BCS matchups may be more exciting, and could save the bowl system (note: could, not will).