The Bowl Championship Series (BCS) and the playoff system are two methods used to determine a national champion in college football in the United States. Both systems have their pros and cons, and there has been much debate over which one is the best for determining a true champion.
The BCS was implemented in 1998 as a way to determine a national champion in college football without using a playoff system. It was a combination of human polls and computer rankings that were used to determine the top two teams in the country, who would then play in the BCS National Championship Game. The BCS was criticized for being subjective and for often leaving out teams that were considered to be among the best in the country. Additionally, the BCS was only used to determine the national champion in Division I-A (now known as the Football Bowl Subdivision or FBS), leaving out teams in lower divisions.
The playoff system, on the other hand, is a more objective method of determining a national champion. It consists of a bracket of teams that play a series of single-elimination games, with the final two teams facing off in the national championship game. The playoff system allows for a larger number of teams to have a chance at winning the national championship, and it is considered to be more fair and transparent than the BCS.
One of the main arguments for the BCS is that it preserves the traditional bowl system, which has been a part of college football for over 100 years. Many argue that the bowl system is an important part of the college football experience and that a playoff system would diminish its importance. However, others argue that the bowl system is outdated and that a playoff system would provide a more fair and transparent way of determining a national champion.
Another argument for the BCS is that it allows for more regular season games, which are considered to be more important and exciting than playoff games. However, the playoff system allows for a greater number of teams to have a chance at winning the national championship, which is something that the BCS does not allow for.
In 2014, the NCAA adopted a new playoff system for the FBS, which consists of four teams that play in a single-elimination tournament to determine the national champion. The playoff system has been well received by both fans and players, and it has led to more excitement and drama in college football.
In conclusion, both the BCS and the playoff system have their pros and cons, and the decision of which one is better ultimately comes down to personal preference. The BCS preserves the traditional bowl system and allows for more regular season games, but it is subjective and often leaves out teams that are considered to be among the best in the country. The playoff system is more objective and allows for a greater number of teams to have a chance at winning the national championship, but it may diminish the importance of the bowl system and lead to less exciting regular season games. Ultimately, the decision of which system is better comes down to personal preference and what is most important to you in determining a national champion in college football.