Many teams still in hunt for the Championship

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By Jonathan Bellah

The college football season is through two thirds of the season and the National Championship picture is only beginning to take shape. Seven teams remain undefeated, each waiting anxiously for another to fall. There is a lot of football left to play, but some scenarios are already being formed.

The Texas Longhorns are in the driver's seat with four games left on their schedule, all against unimpressive competition. All the Longhorns have to do is avoid a colossal upset and they've got an invitation to play in Pasadena on January 7 for the BCS National Title.

The Southeastern Conference boasts three of the top 10 teams in the country, including the top two. The SEC has won the last three National Championships and four of the last six, all by LSU and Florida.

Florida currently sits atop the BCS rankings and will likely run the table in the regular season. The Gators, who have already clinched the SEC East title, will face the winner of the SEC West division in Atlanta on December 5. The SEC West is currently a two-horse-race between LSU and Alabama, who face off this weekend in Tuscaloosa. If there is an undefeated SEC Champion, they will be in the National Championship game.

This is where a lot of scenarios differ and become controversial, though, as they do every season. Many pollsters say that they would vote a one-loss SEC Champion into the National Championship game, as well. Others contend that an undefeated mid-major team, such as Cincinnati or Boise State, deserves to play above a one-loss SEC team.

Boise State's victory over Oregon looks even more impressive after Oregon crushed USC, 47-20, last weekend. If they finish the season undefeated, why would it be fair that they be left out of the title game?

Simply put, they haven't faced much competition outside of Oregon this season and it hurts their chances. In fact, excluding bowl games, Oregon is the only ranked team Boise State has played since October 19, 2001 when Fresno State was ranked eighth in the country; Boise State has faced a ranked Oregon team twice in that span.

Cincinnati has two games remaining against ranked opponents, hosting West Virginia and at Pittsburgh. Their schedule is considerably more difficult than that of Boise State. If they can finish undefeated it again raises the question of why is it fair that they be left out of the title game?

These arguments arise at this time every season, though, and they're often followed by debates over whether or not college football should adopt a "Plus One" system. The system would take the top four teams in the country and pit them against each other, the winner of each game gaining entry to the National Championship.

Whether or not the current system is fair will continue to be a hot topic of debate. Unfortunately, it doesn't appear that it will change any time soon.

Originally Published: Issue 822 - November 4, 2009

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