Conference Realignment: Is the BCS to Blame for the Madness of Realignment?

Lately it seems like every team wants to switch conferences because the one they're currently in is no longer good enough. When most teams switch nowadays, you hear the words "automatic BCS bid" thrown around the most.

That's because the majority of the teams that are trying to upgrade in conferences are moving mainly because they want a automatic shot at a BCS bowl.

The BCS bowls include the National Championship Game, Sugar Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, Orange Bowl and Rose Bowl. These are the biggest bowls in the country, and they not only put your team in the national spotlight, but also pay out the most money to your program.

But who would have ever thought that the BCS would eventually play a big part in changing the college football landscape?

“I don’t think any of us are happy that the BCS is one of the contributing factors to conference realignment,” BCS Executive Director Bill Hancock said Monday after a meeting of conference commissioners and university presidents. “It’s certainly not the only (factor), by any means. The BCS was never intended to be a divisive event. To the extent that the BCS can be a part of lending stability to the conferences, I think that’s what everybody would like to see.”

Big 12 commissioner Chuck Neinas already believes that the BCS will drop the automatic bids altogether after the 2013 season when the new contract is up.

That move of course would make any team think twice about which conference they want to switch to.

Teams like Houston, Air Force, SMU, Central Florida, Navy and Boise State all have interest in possibly leaving for the Big East, with hopes of receiving a BCS automatic bid. Although there are other reasons for switching conferences, like better competition, more spotlight and, of course, more money.

“It’s not for this group to put the brakes on anything. That’s not this group’s charge,” Hancock said. “My view on realignment is schools have changed conferences forever. And it will probably continue. But I don’t think anybody ever imagined that when the BCS was created, that the BCS could ever be a contributing factor in realignment."

Is the BCS to blame for conference realignment? Who knows? They can't be completely to blame. There are many factors for why schools switch conferences, but lately it seems like the BCS has played a huge part in realignment.

It will be that way until the system is fixed.

Randy Chambers is a B/R Featured Columnist that covers College Football and the NFL. You can contact him @Randy_Chambers or [e-mail]

Bleacher Report is your home for college football for the 2011 season. From scores, news, analysis, live blogs and updates on your favorite teams and the big national games every week, keep it on Bleacher Report for the very latest in college football news.