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The Last Man Falls

By bsd987, Section College
Posted on Mon Oct 23 2006 at 6:03 PM EST
More on: (all tags)

Southern Cal will not run the table. But if hypothetically it does, it should not play for the national title.

Not under any condition. Not even if it's the only unbeaten team in the country.

At the midway point of the 2006 season, USC could easily be 3-3, and it still hasn't played anyone good. And even in the most recent of USC's three decided wins, the program struggled, pulling away from mediocre Arizona only after three quarters when the Trojans' superiority in numbers came through.

Alright, Arkansas destroyed Auburn and USC destroyed Arkansas, but both games definitely were anomalies. USC isn't that good and Auburn definitely wasn't that bad.

Yet, USC is in prime position to play for the title if it runs the table, regardless how Louisville and West Virginia (and Rutgers) do in the Big East, regardless who wins the Big Ten, regardless if Auburn or Florida run the table from here on out in the SEC, regardless if Texas runs the table in the Big XII, which it should. And it's a joke.

And now I see everyone else's point: college football needs a playoff system.

This year, the SEC could be the toughest conference ever. Auburn, Florida, Tennessee, and Louisiana State are easily four of the ten best teams in the country, yet each team had at least one loss in the first half of the season. And Michigan and Ohio State could be the two best teams in the country, but Michigan will not get to play for the title, at least not officially, as its season finale against Ohio State will eliminate the Wolverines from any chance.

All six of those schools all can stake a claim to be one of the two best teams in the country, yet only one will likely play for it all, if even that.

Instead, USC or West Virginia or Louisville (or god forbid Rutgers) will get to, undeserving as it may sound.

Luckily, USC will lose, first to Oregon State, then to California, then to Notre Dame, and finally to UCLA. But just the sheer thought of them playing for the title when if they were in the SEC, they possibly wouldn't be bowl eligible, is just pure nauseating.

Now, I'm not saying it is logical for there to be a playoff: I still believe that the financial drawbacks outweigh any advantage it brings and thus the NCAA won't do it, but now I do believe that it would be a good idea in theory.

If only for this year, college football needs a tournament. Invite Auburn, Florida, LSU, and Tennessee from the SEC; invite Ohio State and Michigan from the Big Ten; take Texas from the Big XII; accept Louisville and West Virginia from the Big East, (unless Rutgers somehow wins...., let's not even talk about that); placate Notre Dame by giving them a spot; then allow entry to whatever mediocrity wins the PAC-10 and ACC, and while we're at it, allow the MWC and C-USA champ in as well, since those conferences are decidedly better than the ACC anyway.

That gives us 14 teams, which would allow for Ohio State and Auburn to get first round byes, since, when you think of it, those two should play for the title anyway, but they won't, because Auburn is in a good conference.

And the tournament will take place and so on.

But it won't happen. And so long as we have the BCS, which we will for a long time, a team as mediocre as USC in 2006, Oklahoma in 2003, or Nebraska in 2001 can and will play for the title. It's sad, but it's true.

Yes, Auburn is to blame, laying an egg against Arkansas in one of the biggest upsets in the history of college football, but it has still done more to prove themselves than USC could possibly do.

USC will lose, but it doesn't matter. The thought of them playing Ohio State for all the marbles should be enough for the NCAA to reconsider the BCS.

It's not, but it should.