BCS at it Again - Robs Michigan of Title Hopes

Should Florida be playing Ohio State in the BCS National Championship on January 8, 2007? Absolutely not. In the eight years since the BCS was introduced to college football, there has not been one year where there hasn’t been a bit of controversy, such as when undefeated Auburn was left out of the national championship 2 years ago, and this season is no different. Two weeks ago, Michigan looked like it was set to have a great chance of playing in the National Championship in a rematch against rival Ohio State, a rematch on a neutral field that would be a game for the ages. Now they are left trying to get pumped about playing in the famous Rose Bowl, but it is no BCS Championship game. Somehow Michigan got robbed and will not be playing against Ohio State in Glendale, Arizona even though their lone loss came to favored National Champion Ohio State and that they are the consensus 2nd best team in the nation.

First of all, the naysayers say that if a team can’t win their own conference, then they should not be playing for the national title. There is no rule for the BCS that says winning your conference is a requirement for national championship eligibility. Also, when the team that does win your conference is the undefeated, number one team in the country and you only lost to them by three points. So overall, this is not a huge strike against the Michigan Wolverines.

Second, the critics say that Florida played the tougher schedule throughout the year. The fact is that Florida playing Central Florida and Division I-AA Western Carolina, and that beating very down Georgia and Florida State teams should say something. Sure, Florida and Michigan both had one loss, but which sounds better a 10 point Florida road loss to Auburn or a 3 point Michigan road loss to the number one team in the country Ohio State. Also, the BCS rewarded Florida for finishing its season later than the Wolverines. There is no way that Michigan should be penalized and lose ground in the standings for ending its season two weeks earlier and not losing another game after the Ohio State loss.