9 Reasons You Should Stop Complaining About the BCS

A college football season without BCS chaos isn't a college football season at all. Week 12 was an exhilarating reminder of why the sport is the healthiest it's ever been. For the first time since October 2008, three top-5 teams went down, either severely crippling or completely ruining their chances of winning the national championship. That predictable unpredictability is why we love the sport, and why the BCS is the best system for it. No, the BCS isn't perfect, but it has ushered college football into an era of unprecedented success while effectively determining the best team in the land each season. Think there's a better alternative? Think again. Here are 10 reasons why you — along with almost every college football writer and talking head on TV — should stop complaining about the BCS.

1. The BCS has generated more interest in the sport

   The topsy turvy 2010 season, in which Cam Newton led Auburn to the national championship amid allegations of accepting money in exchange for his commitment, didn't prevent college football fans from spinning the turnstiles. More than 37 million people attended FBS games last season, according to NCAA.org, a new record. The postseason was equally as successful, as more than 1.8 million people attended the 25 bowl games, an average of 51,806 per contest. The national championship game, which featured two teams that weren't "traditional powers," earned the highest rating in the history of cable television. College football has grown to new heights during the BCS era despite the disillusionment created by controversies.

2. The BCS is a cash cow

   Also in 2010, college football earned more than $1 billion for the first time, with a vast majority of BCS schools receiving a profit. Each team earned more than $1 million per game on average, totaling $15.8 million per team for the entire season. Although non-AQ schools received less money on average — which makes sense given that they invest less money into their programs and generally have smaller fan followings — TCU and Boise State received $20 million and $14.5 million in revenue respectively, hardly modest sums.

3. There has never been a better ranking system

   The BCS was designed to remove some of the human bias that plagued the polls in years past. While the Harris Interactive Poll and Coaches Poll comprise two-thirds of the BCS rankings, the computer rankings, which comprise the remaining one-third of the formula, serve to keep the human element in check by evaluating oodles of data. It should be recognized, however, that human voting has improved through the years as more games have become available to watch on television or online, and information has become easier to procure because of the internet.

4. The BCS is infinitely better than the old system

   Remember when BYU beat a 6-5 Michigan team in the Holiday Bowl to win the 1984 national championship? It's a forgettable moment in college football history because it was such a farce. During that season, the Cougars didn't beat one team that finished in the top 20. Such undeserving teams would never be crowned the national champ in the BCS system, which isn't rigidly locked into bowl tie-ins. A team must have a good resume to garner consideration, and, as a result, each BCS champion has been widely regarded as the best team in the land.

5. The BCS is inclusionary

   Few teams have benefited more from the BCS than Boise State. Currently one of the game's preeminent programs, it received full Division I-A (now FBS) just 15 years ago. In that time, a succession of coaches ending with Chris Peterson has built the Boise State brand and forged its identity as college football's David. Despite playing in a non-AQ conference with an inferior schedule to its AQ counterparts, it has twice played in — and won — one of the sport's most prestigious bowls, the Fiesta Bowl. Had they remained undefeated during the 2011 regular season, they undoubtedly would've played for the national championship, even though they've played and defeated just one non-AQ team. Now, they're on the cusp of joining an AQ conference, a distinction they've certainly earned — emphasis on earned. Of course, TCU and Utah boast similar stories of success.

6. The BCS preserves the importance of the regular season

   You've heard the cliche: "In the BCS, every game is a playoff." It's true. Because you don't know how the season will unfold, one loss for a national title contender can be devastating, which is why every game is important. In an eight-team playoff, in all likelihood, teams could afford to lose one or even two games during the regular season and still have a shot at winning the national championship.

7. The BCS preserves the bowl tradition

   A playoff would diminish the importance of the New Year's Day (and after) bowl games, the sport's greatest tradition. To Big 10 and Pac 12 teams, for example, reaching the Rose Bowl is a prestigious honor, and just slightly less coveted than reached the national championship game. When SEC teams aren't winning the national championship, they're thrilled to be collecting Sugar Bowl trophies — and then celebrating on Bourbon Street afterward. The bowl tradition ensures teams that aren't ranked No. 1 or No. 2 have something for which to play at the end of the season.

8. A playoff is equally imperfect

   If you think settling on a consensus No. 1 versus No. 2 matchup is impossible, imagine trying settle on a consensus eight teams, and their seeds, for a playoff. Perceived errors in seeding could result in one or more deserving teams being snubbed from the tournament, and playoff matchups that are seen as unfair. For example, an SEC team, after already completing a difficult regular season schedule, could complain about having the toughest road to the title in the playoff, while a counterpart in the weaker conference could have an easier path to glory. A playoff is more complex, and it would only compound problems.

9. Complaining ruins the fun

   No system would be perfect. The BCS just happens to be the least imperfect system. So sit back, relax, and enjoy the football drama this weekend. In the meantime, compare and contrast the college football system with the NFL playoff system, and be thankful that your favorite college team's hard-fought regular season can't be rendered meaningless by a fluky early round playoff exit.