One Final Rant Against the BCS (for tonight at least)

"No more than two teams from a conference may be selected, regardless of whether they are automatic qualifiers or at-large selections, unless two non-champions from the same conference are ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the final BCS Standings." This was taken directly from the BCS's own explanation of their system. Think about this clause, seriously think about it. Should this even be necessary? Doesnt the mere fact that this has to be included and that we sit one upset away from it becoming reality put into perspective the stupidity of the entire system? Yes, if LSU loses to Georgia in Saturday night's SEC Championship game, then we will likely face a situation in which LSU maintains a top-2 position, facing Alabama in the BCS Championship game. But the reality is that we dont need this to happen in order to face a situation in which controversy will ensue. Assuming LSU wins, the situation is fairly simple. Does Alabama get in as #2 despite losing at home to LSU? Probably. Totally unfair considering the weakness of the SEC beyond LSU, Bama, and Arkansas (now completely out of the picture, I hope), but likely to happen given the fact that perception is reality when it comes to BCS standings and the perception is that the SEC is king. In reality, Oklahoma State should go if they beat Oklahoma and win the Big-12. Oklahoma State would have 1 loss, on the road, right after a devastating tragedy hit the school. More importantly, they would have won the other top conference in FBS. Two one-loss teams. Two conference champions. The best two conferences. It should be simple. But then again, Montee Ball should be the unanimous winner of the Heisman Trophy and yet Trent Richardson of Alabama is going to run away with that crown as well. Now let's say that LSU gets upset. The likely situation is that LSU and Alabama stay at 1 and 2. The SEC would then have found the sole exception to the two-team cap on a conference's BCS representation and likely would bump a worthy Boise State (who beat Georgia, in Atlanta), Michigan, or potentially even Stanford out of the running. But if common sense prevails and Oklahoma State gets their chance, then what happens? Well, either Alabama or LSU would be left not only out of the BCS Championship but out of the BCS altogether. If LSU stays in the top 2, at least you can argue that they beat Alabama, played the tougher schedule, and won the division. But likely the move would be made by LSU as Alabama sits on the sidelines at #2 and unlikely to move back considering all 5 teams over the course of BCS history to sit out the final team while ranked in the top 2 have held their ground. In that case, Alabama goes to the national championship game and LSU goes to the Capital One Bowl. All this while LSU beat Alabama in Tuscaloosa, played non-conference games against Oregon and at West Virginia, and won the SEC West outright. But they would be headed to Orlando. Any way that you roll the dice, the situation that this weekend presents spells controversy. The BCS just invites it each and every year. But while controversy is to be expected, that last situation, one that if you really think about things, is fairly likely, spells absolute disaster for the BCS. College football fans should be rooting for Georgia to give us a chance to see potential chaos come to fruition. Only when the rules get in the way of a beloved SEC power will the BCS powers that be get things right. They will never go to a playoff unless they have to and if either LSU or Alabama is left out of the BCS altogether, that might just be the situation that gets the ball rolling.