BCS Rankings: Uncovering the Frauds of the BCS

What is the BCS? The BCS is the national title game as a rematch of a game already played earlier this year.

The BCS is four out of the top 10 teams not going to a top-tier bowl. The BCS is a moneymaker.

The BCS, in short, is a fraud.

The BCS is compiled of three different scores—the Harris Poll, USA Today Coaches Poll and computer rankings. That’s right, one-third of a team’s BCS score is based upon how other coaches, who are randomly selected, view them.

Recently, Alabama coach Nick Saban put Oklahoma State at No. 4 in his vote, behind LSU, his own Alabama team, and Stanford.

This coming just after Oklahoma State defeated rival Oklahoma (ranked No. 10) 44-10 while his Crimson Tide sat at home after not qualifying for a chance to play in the SEC title game.

It is obvious the only reason Saban did this was to improve Alabama’s chances at retaining their No. 2 ranking and secure a bid to play LSU (again)—this time in the national title game.

Many believe Oklahoma State should be the team playing for the title. Many believe Alabama already had their opportunity at LSU. Many believe the BCS system is not the way to handle a sport we all love.

Aside from the, “Who’s No. 2” debacle, the BCS has also made a mess of some great bowl games.

Arkansas (No. 6 with losses to LSU and Alabama), Boise State (No. 7 and only one loss on a missed last second field goal to TCU), Kansas State (No. 8 with losses to Oklahoma and Oklahoma State) and South Carolina (No. 9 with losses to Arkansas and Auburn) were all left out of BCS bowl games.

Virginia Tech (No. 11) got an at-large bid to the Sugar Bowl, even after getting demolished by Clemson in the ACC Championship Game. A Clemson team that South Carolina defeated 34-13 just a week prior.

Virginia Tech has no wins against ranked opponents this season.

The other team in the Sugar Bowl, the Michigan Wolverines, got a spot because they did not have to play in the Big Ten title game. Michigan has one win against a ranked opponent this year.

Not to say these two teams are not good teams, because they are, but I believe there are more deserving teams out there. In fact, according to the BCS itself, there are more deserving teams out there.

So why are more deserving teams not getting bids? The answer is easy—money.

BCS bowls are more concerned with making money than putting the best teams on the field. Selecting teams like Virginia Tech and Michigan, who have much bigger fanbases than Boise State or Kansas State, will produce more people attending the actual game and purchasing memorabilia.

The BCS punishes players, coaches and fans of more deserving teams in order to make money. It is a shame, and it is a fraudulent system.