The End Of A Era

That is how you suppose to end a era, The BCS era ended on a high note this year when Florida State beat Auburn at the Rose Bowl stadium  34-31. Florida State won their first national championship title since 1999, when they was the second team to win a title once the BCS was incremented back in 1998. The Bowl Championship Series was created to try to make things easy when it came to deciding the best team in college. Before the BCS came along a team had to finish undefeated to be seen as the number one team in college. That was the only way to decide the best team in college football, but the problem was when they had two or three undefeated teams left at the end of the year. That is why 11 times since 1960 there have been more then one team who has claim the number spot in a college season.

Sixteen years is how long the BCS has been in affect. When it first came on the scene it was welcome with open arms from the sports world, that lasted all but five years. It all stem from how the teams was picked to be ranked in the BCS rankings. Most people did not understand the computer system and how it work. So much that ESPN had to hire people who only job was to figure out the BCS computer system and how it worked. I'm still not quite sure how the computer picks the teams. Which is why we had games like in 2003 when Oklahoma play LSU in the title game after they lost to Kansas State in the Big 12 championship game. The following year there was three undefeated teams at the end of the season ( Auburn, Boise State, Utah) and either one of them played in the national title game. Two other times there was undefeated teams who did not play in the national championship either because they played in non automatic BCS conference. Which had people shaking their head at the system, because that is why they put it into play to get the best teams against each other and not have the confusion of who was the best team in college. Even with the BCS system in place it seem like the non automatic conference had no chance of making the title game no matter how many games they won.

The BCS title game was not just full of controversies, it also gave us some great moments. Like in 2003 when Ohio State beat the mighty Miami Hurricanes in double overtime to win the Big Ten one and only BCS championship. Or like in 2005 when the legend of Vince Young was born when he led the Longhorns down the field for the winning touchdown on 4th down from USC 9 yard line. Cam Newton and Tim Tebow both finished off great regular seasons with National title wins. Through all the good games there have been some stinkers also. When Ohio State went to back to back national championship just to get beat down by Florida one year and LSU the following year. How about the year that we had to watch the rematch of two SEC teams when Alabama went against LSU in 2012. That resulted in the first ever shut out in BSC history when the Tide won 21-0, and was the only time that two teams from the same conference faced off in the BCS title game.

There are a lot of people who are happy the BCS is going away and that college football is finally going with a playoff system. The BCS era showed us how dominant the SEC conference was. The conference won nine championships out of the 16 years. That was the most out all the conferences in college football. The Big 12 and the ACC both tied for second with two titles each. The Big Ten and the Big East ( which is now the AAC) each won one championship. SEC also went to the title game 11 times the only conference even close to that was the Big 12 who went 7 times.

I can't wait until next year when the playoff system is in place, cause now instead of a computer we have a human committee who will decide the rankings for the four teams. Let's hope that the playoff system does not go down the same road as the BCS did when it was in affect. So even though I did not like the BCS a little part of me is sad to see it end. Just like all those undefeated teams who watched their chance go by because of a little O computer I guess.