ShareThisBy RAY McNULTY
Tuesday, November 21, 2006
As a college football fan, I'm brimming with anticipation over the most compelling Ohio State-Michigan showdown ever.
Fierce rivals going toe to toe in their traditional season finale.
Both undefeated.
No. 1 versus No. 2.
It is this year's "Game of the Century." But if Michigan loses on a last-second kick Saturday at "The Horseshoe" - if it's a can't-miss classic filled with drama - would I want to see a rematch in the national championship game? As a college football fan, probably not.
I'd rather see some other worthy challenger get a shot at the title.
That, however, is where the shortcomings of this ridiculous, wrong-headed system are exposed. That's where the BCS (Bowl Championship Series) too often produces BSC (bull-spit championship.) But until somebody forces the university presidents to adopt a playoff - and, apparently, the fans aren't willing to do what it takes to get what they want - we're stuck with the BCS polls and bowls.
We're stuck with championships decided as much by pseudo-expert voters and computer geeks than by football players and coaches.
We're stuck with a flawed format that pays no heed to fairness.
So what's the best we can hope for now? I'm rooting for Rutgers to run the table, remain unbeaten and stake a claim to the title bout with the Ohio State-Michigan victor.
Do I think an unbeaten Rutgers is better than all the one-loss teams from other BCS conferences? No.
Do I think an unbeaten Rutgers would pose more of a threat to the Ohio State-Michigan winner? No.
Do I think an unbeaten Rutgers deserves the chance to play for the championship? Yes.
Because Rutgers plays in the Big East, which, contrary to what some dim bulbs believe, is as much of a BCS conference as the Big Ten, Pac 10 and SEC.
Fact is, the Big East has three teams ranked among the top 10 in this week's BCS standings - same as the Big Ten.
The SEC has two.
The Pac 10 has one.
The Big 12 and ACC have none.
So let's stop all this silly talk about the Big East not belonging in the BCS. Rutgers, West Virginia and Louisville could compete in any league - and, yes, that includes the grossly overrated SEC.
Which brings us to the BCS mess that would be created if Rutgers loses one of its last three games.
Especially if its lone loss comes Dec. 2 at West Virginia.
At the moment, there's a real chance as many as eight teams from BCS conferences could finish with one loss: Arkansas or Florida; the Notre Dame-Southern Cal winner; Rutgers, West Virginia and Louisville; Wake Forest; Wisconsin and the Ohio State-Michigan loser.
And in the absence of a playoff, there's no fair way to determine which one-loss team gets to play for the championship.
The BCS has created a frustrating scenario in which Wisconsin, Wake Forest and Louisville probably will be shut out, and it's possible to make as strong an argument for the SEC champion as for the Big East champion, or the Notre Dame-Southern Cal winner as the Ohio State-Michigan loser.
Still, I'm rooting for Rutgers to go unbeaten . . . and not merely because it's a great story.
I'm rooting for Rutgers because Rutgers going to the championship game - or being deprived of the opportunity - would cause an uproar that might force a playoff.
And as a college football fan, as much as I'm looking forward to Ohio State-Michigan, I'd be more excited about a playoff.
Especially this year.
E-mail Ray McNulty at ray.mcnulty(at)scripps.com
