Two things are certain about college football: the BCS model is all but dead and a playoff plan is all but set in place. What remains is how the teams will be selected and who will be included. And secondly, there is a lot – and I mean A LOT – or money involved.
The BCS bigwigs are set to meet in Chicago on June 13 and 20. And according to Matt Hayes at the Sporting News, the topic of discussion will be about a four-team playoff - more importantly, how will the four semifinalists be chosen.
Writes, Hayes:
"The SEC and Big 12 currently favor a best four teams model to the new playoff, and the Big Ten, Pac-12 and ACC favor a model that incorporates conference champions. The looming fight over the face of the new postseason will last through the next two BCS meetings in Chicago on June 13 and 20."
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Regardless of what happens and how it shakes out, there is ton of money to spread around. ESPN holds the BCS contract through 2013. A new TV contract for whatever happens to the BCS is expected to be huge, with ABC, FOX and NBC battling to get into the college football mix. The Pac-12, which just recently signed a $225 million-per-year TV with ESPN and FoxSports, will likely cash in big, allowing even Washington State more money than expected.
The ironic thing about the changes with the BCS is that, to me at least, it fixes nothing. The complaint has been all along that the system is rigged in favor of the major conferences and the major teams within those conferences. A playoff, some argued, would be fairer and would allow the Boise States of the world equal access to a national championship.
Well, not really. The playoff system being discussed gives preference to players in major conferences – SEC, Pac-12, Big 10, Big 12 and maybe the ACC. The Big East? Nah. Mountain West? Nope. Independents? Not really. Under one model that may eventually be adopted, a team that didn't even win their conference championship could still play in the national title game.
Yes, the playoff system is what fans have been clamoring for. And yes, we all know that the BCS has been a good-ole-boys network from the very beginning. They just haven't admitted as such out loud. Now, with a playoff plan nearly set in place, they are doing nothing more than placing their good-ole-boys network out in the open for everyone to see. And creating a few more games to put on TV so they can line their silk pockets with even more money.
That much is certain.
Under one plan being considered, teams like Oklahoma in a major conference, could make it to the NCAA title game without even winning their conference championship.
