I came across this story over at ESPN.com this morning.  Apparently, there was a congressional hearing last week concerning the current Bowl Championship system in college football.  One conference (the Mountain West) has even gone so far as to hire a lobbyist in order to promote its own agenda amidst the people of power in Washington.  

Of course, it is more or less the guys who were left out of the championship that are calling for government officials to intervene and maybe even legislate how college football crowns its winner.  It is no coincidence that the goverenment officials proposing reform are more or less from states that have had college teams left out of the BCS over the last few years.  

I’m not entirely sure what to think of this, but the following thoughts came to mind.  

1)  Should this be something that our government officials deal with and legislate?  

I’m not sure, frankly, but my initial inclination is to say, ‘No’, unless of course, there are some sort of legal anti-trust issues with the current business model.  And it is a business model.  That should be plain enough to us all.  For if schools couldn’t make money with their football programs, the programs themselves would not last long.

But again, is this something that should come before Congress?  I don’t think so.  At the very least, there is no way the government should end up telling College Football officials how to best run their business by mandating a playoff format.  This, in my opinion, would definitely serve as ammunition for arguments against big government.  

2)  Realize that those who are calling for change (particularly the smaller conferences) are not doing so because they are so concerned with justice and the championship itself, but because they want to get in on the money as well.  

Sure, they accuse the big schools of monopolizing the BCS for the sake of money (and part of that may be true), all the while being motivated by the same ‘green’ bottom-line.  I am hopeful that whoever is listening on that Congressional panel will see clearly enough to recognize the same motivation in both.  The Mountain West Conference doesn’t hire a lobbyist in order to give its teams a better chance to win the championship, but in order to get in on the big jackpot that is found in the BCS.  

But they would never say that plainly before Congress.  

3)  Yes, the BCS system is imperfect, but is it really that unfair?  

I know there are plenty of people out there that would argue me on this point.  And many of the arguments are legitimate, because there is no doubt that it is an imperfect system.  However, it is a system that also has a lot of positives to it.  Why do I so thoroughly enjoy college football every Saturday (when I can watch)?  Is it not because national championship hopes are on the line every single weekend?  After all, every game counts.  Every point counts actually.  And this naturally makes the regular season a whole lot more exciting (and watchable and marketable- which is better for business in the end).

Not only that, but is it wrong that the biggest and usually best teams have an advantage in the BCS?  Is it wrong that Utah, whose schedule was obviously not as difficult as say, Florida’s, doesn’t get a shot at the championship even though they were undefeated?  I’m not convinced it is.  Sure, it would be nice if everyone had equal schedules, but what business in the world can maneuver things in such a way so as to make everything fair for everyone involved?  For even if an eight team playoff was formed, the troubles would not cease.  There would still be plenty of imperfection because of the nature of the college football landscape and the sheer amount of teams.  

The NFL has only 32 teams.  It’s not too difficult to come up with a simple playoff system that everyone can agree upon (and make money on b/c there is only one league).  Division 1 College Football has 120 (all in various conferences).  Any system is bound to be imperfect.  Yes, NCAA basketball has its tournament, but that is basketball.  It’s a different game.  You can play 3 games in one week if you so desire.  No so with football.  Once a week is more than enough.  

I realize that the big conferences have a monopoly in many respects.  And because of that, maybe a playoff would give some of the little guys a legitimate opportunity to win the title.  At the same time, millions of dollars would be taken away from schools that had great seasons, but failed to make the playoff round (for whatever reason).  And that isn’t good for business.  

All that being said, I am convinced of only a few things.  First, that Congress should stay out of things, instead focusing its energies on more important and pressing matters.  And second, that no matter what the system for the BCS is, there will be plenty of conflict involved.  It will be interesting to see where it all heads in another 10 years.