BCS system does its job, producing a champion amid chaos

By Berry Tramel

Published: January 11, 2007

The BCS is like taxes. Lots of griping from constituents, a few problems in implementation, but in the end, all they do is work for people.

Florida routed Ohio State 41-14 in the Big Bowl on Monday night, exposing the Buckeyes as something less than what we thought they were: America's best campus squad.

BCS critics were quick to borrow trouble, wondering what ifs. What if voters hadn't elevated the Gators past Michigan? What if UCLA hadn't upset Southern Cal?

Those questions are no more relevant than what if the Fiesta Bowl had been played on a blue field. Florida was voted ahead of Michigan. UCLA did beat USC.

Once again, the BCS did exactly what it was designed to do: produce a champion out of chaos.

Florida is No. 1. No one argues otherwise. Not even the good folks of Boise State, who are completely happy with the script of this season.

There is no controversy. No debate. Florida is no less legit than the Pittsburgh football Steelers were last winter after winning Super Bowl 40.

The BCS works. It worked in 2005, when Texas beat USC. It worked in 2003, when LSU beat Oklahoma, and USC was left out. It worked in 2002, when Ohio State beat Miami. It worked in 2000, when OU beat Florida State. It worked in 1999, when Florida State beat Virginia Tech.

You can argue that it didn't work in 2004, when unbeaten Auburn was left out while unbeatens OU and USC played in the Orange Bowl. You can argue it didn't work in 2001, when Miami beat an undeserving Nebraska.

But the BCS works as well and as often as any playoff system. The BCS is a two-team playoff, and 2006 proved again that the Bowl Championship Series does its job.