history
The Bowl Championship Series was started in 1998 with the incorporation of the Rose Bowl into the Bowl Alliance. It was believed by many at the time that it would solve the long standing problem of split or disputed national titles, which had occurred 6 times in the 1990s alone. This system selects the two best teams in the nation using a combination of computer ratings and human polls. While it also includes the selection process for the other major bowls, the main focus is on the national championship. I have rated the performance of the BCS during each season on a 1-10 scale.
In 1998, the BCS appeared to be on a collision course during its inaugural season. There were three undefeated teams going into the final week of the season: Kansas St, Tennessee, and UCLA. However, Kansas St. and UCLA both lost, opening the door for a one-loss team. Florida State was selected over three other worthy candidates to challenge Tennessee in the Fiesta Bowl, where they lost by a touchdown. Tulane also went undefeated in a non-BCS conference.
My Rating: 6
In 1999, Florida State and Virginia Tech completed undefeated regular seasons and met in the Sugar Bowl, with the Seminoles winning. Nebraska and Kansas State both completed 1-Loss seasons in the Big-12. Many analysts considered Nebraska to be the best team in the country, because their one loss to Texas was later avenged in the Big 12 Championship Game. Marshall completed an undefeated season in a non-BCS conference.
My Rating: 7
In 2000, several title contenders lost early in the season, including Florida St, Miami, and Washington. In the end, only Oklahoma completed an undefeated regular season and defeated Florida State in the Orange Bowl. Miami, Virginia Tech, Washington, and Oregon State all completed the regular season with 1 loss, fueling numerous arguments about who deserved the spot in the Championship Game.
My Rating: 4
In 2001, Miami broke away from the pack with an undefeated regular season. When Nebraska suffered their first loss to Colorado on Thanksgiving weekend, the door swung open for other teams to play in the title game. After Oklahoma, Florida, Tennesse, and Texas all lost in the next two weeks, the spotlight fell back on Nebraska, who did not even win the Big 12 North. Oregon, who had a low strength of schedule due to a poor Pac 10, was considered the legitimate #2 team. This was affirmed by their Fiesta Bowl blowout of Colorado and Miami’s blowout of Nebraska.
My Rating: 3
In 2002, Miami continued their unbeaten streak throughout the season. Ohio State also made it through unscathed and met Miami in the Fiesta Bowl. Despite the game being won by the Buckeyes after a disputed call, this was the most successful season of the BCS. Georgia and Iowa, who both completed 1-loss seasons, were considered the 3rd and 4th ranked contenders for the title.
My Rating: 9
In 2003, the BCS lost all credibility. Every team in Division 1-A lost at least 1 game. The six teams who finished with one loss were Oklahoma, USC, LSU, Boise St, Miami (OH), and TCU. The BCS computers did not take into account the timing or nature of Oklahoma’s loss to Kansas St in the Big 12 Championship Game. The Sooners, in addition to LSU, were awarded a spot in the Sugar Bowl, leaving USC to play Michigan in the Rose Bowl. The AP gave the National Championship to USC while the Coaches’ Poll, under obligation, gave it to LSU.
My Rating: 1
In 2004, Oklahoma and USC were selected as the preseason favorites to win the National Championship and answered those expectations with undefeated seasons. Auburn also completed an undefeated season but was not able to crack the top 2. Utah and Boise St also completed undefeated regular seasons, with Utah going on to win the Fiesta Bowl in the first BCS Bowl appearance for any non-BCS conference team.
My Rating: 2
In 2005, USC and Texas went wire-to-wire as #1 and #2 and met in the Rose Bowl. No other teams completed undefeated regular seasons, making this only the second time that the match-up in the National Championship Game avoided conflict. Other contenders were Penn State and West Virginia who both completed the season with 1 loss.
My Rating: 10
In 2006, Ohio State dominated the regular season, including wins in two different #1 vs #2 matchups: Texas in September and Michigan in November. The debate occurred over who the other team in the championship game should be. Four one loss teams (Florida, Michigan, Wisconsin, and Louisville) and undefeated Boise St were all in the mix. It came down to Michigan, who had lost to Ohio State in a close game on the road, and Florida, who had lost to Auburn on the road in October. The poll voters seized the opportunity to ensure that there would not be a Michigan-Ohio State rematch in the championship game by voting Florida higher. Although this proved to be the right decision after the bowls, the answer was not clear in December. Also, Boise St defeated Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl in the first year of the new “little guy friendly” rules.
My Rating: 4
2007 saw record turnover at the top of the polls. One of the top two teams lost in eight out of the nine final weeks of the season. What emerged was a situation where Ohio State was the only deserving BCS conference team that had fewer than two losses. Eight different teams had valid arguments to occupy the second spot in the Championship Game. In the end, LSU was chosen thanks to the pollsters' high regard for the SEC. LSU defeated Ohio State and was voted the champion in both major polls.
My Rating: 1
