I am departing from the normal routine this morning to talk about something that leaves me puzzled, The BCS Rankings. How does Rutgers end up ahead of Arkansas in the BCS Rankings? I mean no disrespect to a team who is having its best season in decades, but Rutgers has yet to show the same firepower against the kind of teams that Arkansas has. The Razorbacks have played against two Top 10 opponents and is undefeated in the rugged SEC. They beat Auburn (no. 6) at Auburn when Auburn was ranked number 2!
Rutgers does have two ranked opponents (both in the Top 10) left on their schedule, while Arkansas still has two more. Every week in the SEC, somebody plays a ranked team close. Ole Miss did it Saturday against Auburn. Arkansas clobbered that same Ole Miss team a couple of weeks ago. Don’t count on easy victories over Kentucky or Vanderbilt either. Kentucky just trailed 12-7 at the half at Florida before losing 26-7. Vandy has scared or beaten its share of teams too including a victory over then-ranked Georgia in Athens on October 14.
Why, then, is Rutgers ranked ahead of the Hogs? In the BCS Ranking, while the “human” rankings have Rutgers 14th or 15th, the “computer” has Rutgers ranked 8th. Are you kiddin’ me? That puts Rutgers ahead of Texas, conference rivals West Virginia and Louisville, and finally, Tennessee. Wow. Now listen to this. That “computer” has Florida ranked 4th. That’s great for an SEC team. Who did Florida lose to? Oh yeah, it was at Auburn. Where are they ranked in the “computer?” Uh, Auburn is ranked 7th, three spots behind the team whom they beat. Huh?? Who did Auburn lose to? Arkansas. Where are they ranked? The Hogs are ranked 14th in that “computer” poll. That is seven spots behind the team they beat on the road.
What does all this mean? It means a computer computes based on certain variables, and because 18 to 22 year old kids play the game on Saturday (or Thursday, Friday, or Sunday), their are too many variables for a computer program to consider. And, it looks as if some variables are left out, at least for some teams. Generally, you can tell if a team is good by which teams they beat. But, their is always the possibility of upsets, teams not playing the way they should, the rigors of conference play where teams play each other every year, fierce rivalries, etc. But I have to admit, I am not sure how the computers computed an 8th ranked Rutgers.
What I really want to say is this. Let’s get rid of the BCS system and settle it on the field. I want NCAA College Football Division I-A Playoffs. It is the only proven, best way to settle who is number 1. I have heard, all of the arguments. However, I simply point to NCAA College Football Divisions I-AA, II and III . They do it, and have written the book on it. No more controversies because a “computer” cannot compute based on common sense. Put the winners of 8 conference championships in the pools with 4 or 8 at-large teams based on AP Rankings. Play first round games on campuses rewarding conference champions for their hard work. Then start playing semi-finals on neutral sites. I would say we do not include bowls in the playoffs, but we create a new kind of atmosphere much like the NCAA Division I Basketball Tournament. Then use the bowls for all teams who win 7 or more games. Then, the bowl environment returns to rewarding good teams who had good seasons.
About this BCS system, “Can Somebody Please Explain This to Me?”
