Trouble Brewing for BCS...Again

There have been four watershed victories already this season by teams in non-BCS conferences that could make for some serious pains for the BCS system as we get into December:

1. Boise State's home victory over Oregon

2. TCU's road victory last weekend at Clemson

3. Houston's two victories against Oklahoma State and Texas Tech

Each of these three teams has a real opportunity of running the table and Boise, in particular, who's already ranked #5 in the USA Today poll, has to be considered a national title contender considering their schedule (@ Hawaii 10/25) and the schedules of LSU (@ Georgia 10/3, vs Florida 10/10, @ Alabama 11/7), Alabama (@ Ole Miss 10/10, v LSU 11/7) and Florida (@ LSU 10/10, v Georgia 10/31) and Texas (v Oklahoma 10/17, @ Oklahoma State 10/31, v Kansas 11/21). One, if not all of these teams ranked ahead of the Broncos could conceivably take at least one loss in the coming two months.

For the past several years, the BCS has 'allowed' access to non-BCS schools who finish in the top 12 of the final BCS rankings. But in years, potentially like this one, where more than one non-BCS school fits the criteria, the BCS still 'must take' just one.  So with 5 BCS games and 6 of the 10 teams 'automatically' qualified from the six BCS conferences, plus one 'must take' school, that leaves just three 'at large' picks to fill the remaining spots.

So let's be honest: picking Houston or TCU to fill the other side of your BCS bowl dance card doesn't sound like reality, regardless if one or both finish undefeated.

A playoff is certainly 'out' for at least the next four years. In lieu of that, here's to taking the best 10 teams regardless of conference affiliation to the BCS dance party. Let the howling begin.