THIS PAST Saturday, football fans — especially those not inclined to witness Connecticut’s thrashing of the Wahoos — may have tuned in to watch what some sportscasters touted as the game of the year: Southern California v. Ohio State. Hoping to experience a showcase of quality football, these viewers were disappointed to realize that the game was over by halftime. While blowouts are certainly not uncommon in big games, the anitclimactic result hints that deciding the college football national champion through a playoff system would prove less successful than expected. If this had been a playoff game, many would have wondered what team should have been in the Buckeyes’ place. Installing a playoff system in college football would solve little and only serve to degrade the game’s tradition.
Everyone wants to be the best, and this competition is what makes the sport fun from a fan’s standpoint. However, the all-inclusive approach to the modern game has made every team shoot for the number one spot and, in turn, write off smaller, more realistic achievements such as conference championships or victories over rivals. In addition, many players view NCAA football as a stepping stone to greater objectives (namely big salaries), as illustrated by the common practice among top prospects of entering the NFL Draft after the required three seasons. This makes talented youngsters flock to prestigious programs that can get them ready for the next level, even if it leads to less playing time.
The installment of a playoff system would not only further this polarization among teams and would compromise the personality of college football. Many teams begin the year with the goal of reaching the postseason, and obtaining that goal is something for the franchise to be proud of and use as a building block for future success. Contrary to the views of playoff advocates, the slew of December bowl games does matter to those involved. But a playoff system would cast a huge shadow over the traditional postseason, and bowl matchups would be perceived as consolation games instead of opportunities to provide publicity, fun and a close game against a worthy opponent.
The Bowl Championship Series, designed to fairly crown a national champion, already threatens to dampen the meaningfulness of the regular season and should not be extended further. Playoff advocates claim that if conference winners were guaranteed a spot in the championship tournament, this would intensify conference play in the regular season. This may be the case for the upper echelon, but the rest of the conference would seem insignificant and could only hope for the chance to play in a diminished bowl game. In the current system, a team that is out of the running for a conference championship still has something to play for. For example, 2007 was one of the Cavaliers’ most successful seasons in a long time. A playoff system would have automatically cast Virginia into the second tier of teams, since it failed to qualify for the conference title game, but in reality the appearance in a January bowl game was an achievement to be proud of.
A playoff system may only extend the season for as little as four teams, but tipping the balance of student-athleticism more in favor of the latter would say a lot about the college football government’s priorities. The NCAA and other college football authorities cannot promote the value of being a student-athlete while at the same time implementing practices that suggest otherwise.
Playoffs may work in the NFL, but the professional league is much smaller than the BCS Subdivisionand its divisional structure allows most teams to remain competitive late into the season. However, college teams in such a large league could easily drop off the radar, bringing school pride, exposure, and marketing opportunities down with them.
The current system employed by the NCAA has a few problems — the annual debates over who is being denied their rightful place in the title game attest to that — but everyone wants to have a clear winner. Creating January Madness would not answer those questions, and could possibly add to them. There will always be someone left on the outside looking in. It may not be perfect, but rather than toying with it even more, let’s just enjoy the game for what it is.
Mitch Ross is a Cavalier Daily Viewpoint Writer.
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