Sick of BCS controveries? Me too.

Ever since 1998, when the BCS began, people have been calling for its downfall.  Perfect examples of legit cases for controversy are USC of 2003, Auburn of 2004, Michigan of 2006, and we'll even throw in Boise State of 2006, for good measure.  There's many more to note, but these have been the most recent as well as the most controversial.  So, clearly, we have people across the country who aren't all that happy with the current system.  Every year seems to produce some level of unrest.  I have long had a solution to this problem that seems to be holding College Football back from becoming an even more popular sport. 

I keep watching Gameday every November and December, waiting to see if my idea will come out of the mouth of Corso, Herbstreit, or Fowler.  But no.  It hasn't happened yet, so I'm letting the cat out of the bag.  It's time to reveal my proposal to the world, along with my rebuttles to the pessimists out there who seem to feel as if nothing can "save" the sport.  

I propose that FBS(Div. 1A) College Football should go to a tournament.   The NCAA football tournament could begin realistically as soon as 2009.  The only thing holding back the tournament for next season (2008), would be schedule conflicts and schools contract's with each other.

Now, most people who like the tournament idea are lobbying for 4 teams to be involved at most.  I say, put 8 in.  You would still use the BCS rankings to rank the top 8 squads in the country.  Many people already would be arguing one of these points. 

1) Eight teams are way too many; that's just unrealistic to make teams play a possible 16 games(if that team plays in a conference which has a championship game - something I think should be mandatory).  You are right, 16 games is unrealistic to ask of teams, especially considering that these are student-athletes and they are still involved with their academics.  That's why you make teams play 10 game regular seasons instead of 12.  DII and DIII do it.  And they still have larger tourneys than just a mere 8 teams.  If a team were to make it to the championship game in my format, they would have to play a total of 14 games - the same as it is in today's format.  High school teams can play up to 15 games in Alabama (and several other states) if they make it to the state championship!  Are you telling me that they can do it in high school, but when they get to college, they are too young? 

Let's look at it this way; instead of Florida playing Western Kentucky and Troy during its season, it now can substitute those games for 1, possibly 2, top tier teams.  Who doesn't want to see the top teams play each other instead of playing "lesser" opponents (sorry, Troy U. - I actually like this club, and think they will stun some people by the end of this year; they're way under rated)? 

2) What happens to the teams ranked 9 and 10 in the BCS?  Well, those teams should've won another game; you're always going to have a team who isn't getting in.  Look at the 66th team in NCAA Basketball.  C'mon, Syracuse last year had no shot of winning the whole thing.  The whole reason you pick the top 8 instead of only 4, is for this argument exactly.  The Boise State's and Utah's would actually get a shot.  What wouldv'e happened last year if Boise State would've been able to play, say USC, in the semis?  Who knows?  It's rather simple.  Take the champions of the ACC, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, Pac 10, and SEC, just like we do in today's format.  They get the automatic BCS bids, just like today.  Now, we still have 2 "at-large" bids into this tourney.  If Boise State or Utah goes undefeated, give them a shot.  If not, give the other major conference teams a shot, or whomever is ranked 7 & 8.  The fact is, is that you're not going to have an undefeated team who has played at least a decent schedule get snubbed. 

3) But, what about the bowls and all of the long time traditions that allow College Football to be so great?  Great question, but yet simpler answer.  Continue to use the bowls in the tourney games.  Let all of the rather unknown bowls go on as usual; the papajohns.com bowl, the meineke care care bowl, the GMAC bowl, etc.  There are 7 total games that would be played in this new 8 team tournament.  Right now, the Sugar, Fiesta, Rose, and Orange are the "big-daddies", with a seperate BCS title game being played at rotating sites.  The 8 team tournament can add two more of the prestigious and traditional bowl games to the mix, say the Cotton Bowl, Peach Bowl, or Gator Bowl to name a few.  Let them reserve the rights to have their bowl game be involved with the BCS Tournament - that way the NCAA gets its money, and the Bowl boosters get more publicity for their city and bowl game.  Let's be honest, who wouldn't watch this tournament.  With the addition of these 2 bowls to the recent "big daddies", we now come to a total of 6.  Simply allow the BCS title game to continue to be be "the game" between the top 2 teams, yet this time they have truly earned their spot in the title game.  Winner takes all. 

4) What about Athletic Directors and boosters raising more money for these "extra" games?  I've heard this used as an excuse not to do the tournament idea before, and I'm not buying it.  If you had a shot at that much publicity, plus a true national championship, you would fork over the cash.  Plus, with the elimination of the 2 "preseason" games, you don't have to pay off the mid-majors.  Save the money you pay them to come beat them up on your turf (unless, you're Michigan, where you pay the team and lose to them).  ESPN reported that Alabama will be paying $600,000 to Western Kentucky next year to have them come to Tuscaloosa.  Coach Saban and A.D. Mal Moore, save the money and use it when your team makes this top 8 tournament.  It's money better spent.

With this system, every game is still very important.  One little slip-up and your shots at being a top 8 team could be down the drain.  

In this 8 team tournament, everyone wins.  NCAA gets its money, which we all know is a key selling point.  Fans continue to get great regular season competition, bowl games, plus a tournament.  Coaches and their teams get the chance at being the undisputed heavy weight champion of the college football world.  No one loses (except for the people who have to rename the FBS and FCS, because both will have championships).

So, when you see Kirk Herbstreit "invent" this idea in November on Gameday; remember where you heard it first - bleacherreport.com.