+1 is a step in the right direction so i'm all for it. if the NCAA and college presidents have shown anything, it's that they fear change so hopefully installing a +1 is the baby step to a playoff.
I agreed that it won't happen next year...and maybe this will be a stepping stone for the 8 teams playoff which will eventually become a 16 teams playoff in another 100+ years or so. If you really think about it though, the +1 will be just as controversy as the bcs systems now. Picking the #2 team is just as debatable as the 3rd and 4th team (#7 and #8 would be slightly less controversy cuz they would have a slightly less chance of upsetting #1 and #2...slightly). 16 teams is the way to go, but I don't think even my great grand kids will get to see that. Oh, and on a side note - if the +1 was implemented last season......USC would not have made it. It would have been: OSU vs LSU UF vs Meeechechoke then UF vs LSU in the Championship game and of course LSU would take sweet revenge on the gators. BUT USC would blow away Notre Damsel in the Rose Bowl and the freakin' retard AP would split the title again...just a thought. :hihi:
A +1 system won't end controversy. There will still be endless complaints and disagreements over how the 4 teams are picked and seeded. Who would you have picked last year, keeping in mind that Florida wasn't even the consensus #2 team and many people actually wanted a rematch of Ohio State and Michigan. If the first three are Ohio State, Michigan, and Florida (and you wouldn't even get agreement about THAT), who would be #4? Would it have been USC? LSU? Boise State?
Personally, if we were picking 4 last year, I would have picked OSU, Florida, USC, and Boise. I think you simply HAVE to exclude teams that didn't win their conference. It's the only reasonable and OBJECTIVE way to really wittle down the teams to a manageable number to choose from. If people could at least agree on that criterion, I think a fair bit of the controversy would subside, at least as to a +1 system. It simply stands to reason that if you are not the best team in your conference, you ought not even merit consideration as the best team in the country. I recognize that this will put good teams in some hard-luck situations, like with michigan last year who lost only one game, on the road, against a very good team, in a nail-biter. But I say "tough noogies". Lots of teams have unfavorable schedules or don't get the lucky bounce needed to win. It's part of the game.
The top conferences (SEC, Big 12, Big 10) would probably be interested in a playoff format because they want to prove their argument on the field. Other conferences prefer having the title game decided by the media because they're afraid it's likely to be the only opportunity to win a title. Obviously no credit is given for strength of schedule, actually playing a conference championship game, or getting routinely battered each week by top-quality opponents. Nebraska used to play a weak schedule, win the Big 8, and when they occasionally defeated a Florida school in the Orange Bowl, the were automatically crowned champions due to their undefeated status. How many have they won since the Big 12 championship and BCS games began? As good as USC is, they also benefit from the lack of a playoff system. Anybody that claims they play a tough schedule and get battered each week is simply dreaming. Unless they complete screw up, they can waltz right into the championship. In essence, they simply need to go through the motions and if they win one game at the end, they're the champs. Although I would love to win more titles, I wouldn't want to downgrade our schedule just for a shot at the title. I've always believed "to be the best, you should beat the best". That means all season...not just one game.
The last polls before the bowl games last year had Oklahoma (Big XII champ) ranked above USC. This just adds to the controversy. 2 schools each champ of a Major conference, identical records, 1 gets in, 1 stays home. Also, Louisville (Big East champs, yes it is still a BCS conference) had fewer losses than either of those 2 schools. Another controversy tossed in the mix. And don't forget Notre Lame (who for whatever reason gets special auto bid to BCS) also had the same record as OU and USC. Yet another controversy. This system won't fix anything. IMO it's not any better or worse than the current one. All they're doing is MOVING the arguement. Other examples: In '04, 3 unbeatens (from big conferences) they all get in, then you have 4 more schools with 1 or fewer losses all looking for 1 spot. In '03, 3 1-loss teams get in, then EVERYONE ELSE in the top 10 had identical records. In '05, 2 unbeatens, then you have to go all the way to #17 to find a team with more than 2 losses (4 1-loss teams) In '02, you have the only season of the last 5 years with very little controversy. 2 unbeatens, then Iowa and Georgia each with only 1 loss. (maybe slight controversy with Boise being the only other 1-loss team). In the last 5 seasons, the system would have really worked only once. So why is everyone so happy about this?
Oh NO. There is a big, BIG problem. The most well known, most succesful, most beloved and revered team in all of college football history is not on board! I'm talking about the Irish of course. You see Coach Weiss is a leader......a pathfinder, a true visionary. Why pursue any BCS bowl wins when you can absolutely OWN the Commander In Chief Trophy? He's on pace now to set the record. Wake up CLM! CCW is already 2-0. Honestly, what's the point in winning another NC when so many other teams have them now? That's what CCW is telling Irish boosters. So CCW saw all the comments regarding +1 and he thought it was a direct hit on the Irish program. As you know, he's already added the Coast Guard to their schedule and the details of their game against the Salvation Army at HOME are almost worked out. To really boost their SOS and to satisfy that +1, he's contacted the government. There's a chance they'll be able to add the newest Div1 Team which will be a combined special forces team (Recon, Seals, Rangers, Delta Force) and that's AWAY. Yes, the Irish are back! FWIW, I agree that many of the play off or +1 scenarios really just move the argument, not satisfy them.
