On Jan. 9, the Alabama Crimson Tide defeated the LSU Tigers in the BCS National Championship.
Seven days before, the Oklahoma State Cowboys beat the Stanford Cardinal in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl.
On Nov. 5, 2011, LSU defeated Alabama, at Alabama’s home turf, yet they met again in the National Championship. LSU clearly deserved to be in the championship, being the only team in college football with an undefeated record.
Alabama, Oklahoma State and Stanford all had one loss. Yet because Alabama had the closest loss, they were given the chance at a rematch, the first time two teams from the same conference (both from the SEC) faced off in the National Championship game.
However, for Oklahoma State and Stanford, ranked third and fourth, they were snubbed from the big game and had to settle for what wound up being the consolation championship.
Oklahoma State finished with the best offense in the country and had the highest turnover ratio on defense.
Due to the nature of the BCS, only two teams can play for the championship, unlike every other sport in college and profession, which uses a multiple team playoff bracket.
This season’s outcome once again make many wonder why the BCS remains intact. Both Stanford and Oklahoma State proved their worth in the regular season. However, the 2011 season wasn’t the first time the country saw this controversy.
Teams every year get snubbed; TCU, undefeated in 2010, settled for a Rose Bowl victory. In 2009, Boise State undefeated, won the Fiesta Bowl. In 2008, Utah defeats Alabama in the Sugar Bowl, and finishes as the only undefeated team in college football.
The day after the championship, officials met and discussed potential renovations to the system. Thoughts included an eight-team playoff bracket and a sixteen-team bracket as well. The only problem to these would be the loss of revenue, as it would take away bowl games, thus losing advertisements.
So until 2014 when the BCS needs to renew its contract, college football fans will try their hardest to brace through the potential final years of corruption.
