The championship used to be decided by 2 teams playing against each other - however, there were valid arguments that maybe 1 or 2 other teams could have been worth of playing for the whole thing
Then they expanded to 4 teams - then there were valid arguments that maybe a 5th or 6th team that may have lost a game early, was now on a tear, and could legit be the best team(s) at the end of the season and could be worth having in. I think about if this system was around during Johnny's Heisman year, we would have been on the bubble, but maybe not a "guaranteed" in - many would say we should get a real shot of going all the way. I also remember when Texas A&M was snubbed for Notre Dame, which had just lost its game to Clemson in the conference championship 34 to 10...spare me the Alabama controversy.
Now we have 12 teams. Let's be honest, this was to make sure that no matter what, the true top 6 teams or so that deserve consideration as the best team of the year have the ability to play for it all. In my opinion, the other 6 teams are there to provide good football games and potentially some upsets and/or complete surprises. Conference champions feel like a good metric to use to help fill those spots, along with other high-ranked teams. That's also why I am okay with Tulane and JMU getting in. They are given a chance to be somewhere they would have never been able to dream of in either of the old systems. Everyone in spots 9-12 should just be happy to be invited to the party.
The bowl games really suck to watch and have always felt like lame consolation prizes outside the BCS bowls. At least now we get way more fun football where the games will mean something. These teams and coaches at Notre Dame and Texas are embarrassing and sad to watch them throw their hissy fits. Neither of them is in the top 6 by a long shot and would have never sniffed a conversation or felt a certain way with the old methods. Now, they believe they are legit contenders? Give me a break. Just be happy to be talked about at this point, but don't expect anything for losing bad games or your only "tough" games in the instance of ND.
Rant over.
Then they expanded to 4 teams - then there were valid arguments that maybe a 5th or 6th team that may have lost a game early, was now on a tear, and could legit be the best team(s) at the end of the season and could be worth having in. I think about if this system was around during Johnny's Heisman year, we would have been on the bubble, but maybe not a "guaranteed" in - many would say we should get a real shot of going all the way. I also remember when Texas A&M was snubbed for Notre Dame, which had just lost its game to Clemson in the conference championship 34 to 10...spare me the Alabama controversy.
Now we have 12 teams. Let's be honest, this was to make sure that no matter what, the true top 6 teams or so that deserve consideration as the best team of the year have the ability to play for it all. In my opinion, the other 6 teams are there to provide good football games and potentially some upsets and/or complete surprises. Conference champions feel like a good metric to use to help fill those spots, along with other high-ranked teams. That's also why I am okay with Tulane and JMU getting in. They are given a chance to be somewhere they would have never been able to dream of in either of the old systems. Everyone in spots 9-12 should just be happy to be invited to the party.
The bowl games really suck to watch and have always felt like lame consolation prizes outside the BCS bowls. At least now we get way more fun football where the games will mean something. These teams and coaches at Notre Dame and Texas are embarrassing and sad to watch them throw their hissy fits. Neither of them is in the top 6 by a long shot and would have never sniffed a conversation or felt a certain way with the old methods. Now, they believe they are legit contenders? Give me a break. Just be happy to be talked about at this point, but don't expect anything for losing bad games or your only "tough" games in the instance of ND.
Rant over.
