The BCS Messes Up Again

On Sunday night, the BCS made its bowl selections. Coming in, we already knew that three undefeated teams were not going to make the National Championship Game. Everyone expected the winner of the SEC championship would face Texas, even if they managed to win the Big 12 with a miraculous last second field goal. This left out Cincinnati (a BCS conference champion), TCU, and Boise State. Nobody likes this system and everyone argues for playoffs for these occasions since three teams did everything right and were still not given their shot. That, however, was not the big issue for me this year because I knew this was going to happen. I may not like it, but I was prepared for it. What bothered me a lot was the Fiesta Bowl selection.

The Fiesta Bowl, to be played on January 4, will be played by TCU and Boise State. Both teams have proven themselves this season and both deserve a BCS spot, but the fact that the two non-BCS teams have been pitted against one another is absurd. This completely defeats the purpose. The point of the BCS systems for teams like TCU is so that a non-BCS team that has proven itself throughout the season gets a chance to play against the best of the BCS teams. It's a chance for them to prove themselves to the rest of the country. By putting TCU and Boise against one another, the BCS has completely devalued the Fiesta Bowl.

In 2008, Utah, a non-BCS team, managed an undefeated season and received a spot in the Sugar Bowl. They met SEC runner up Alabama and crushed them 31-17. No one thought Utah could compete against one of the best teams in the country and they dominated from start to finish. The game gave legitimacy to Utah's entire season and most of all it gave them respect. What does a Fiesta Bowl win do for either TCU or Boise State? Both teams had a legitimate claim for a spot and now won't even get a chance to justify that claim.

Non-BCS teams don't get much respect over the course of a season. While they may go undefeated, many claim it is merely because of a weak conference schedule. That's what makes the bowls so important. It gives teams a chance to compete against the best BCS teams and prove that they are just as good. Both TCU and Boise State are great teams, but what can they claim at the end of the season? They have been cheated out of a chance to compete for a national title and now won't even get a chance to justify their season.