Rooting for Chaos

The BCS isn't having what VH1 would call the best week ever. Not after the way some of the top coaches in College Football ripped the flawed system to shreds this week.

There was USC's Pete Carroll, who complained long and hard about beating Washington 56-0 yet dropping two spots from fifth to seventh in the latest rankings.

Then there's President-Elect Barack Obama, who went on ESPN Monday night and lobbied hard for a playoff to come to College Football. Now, I admit he'll be too busy in his first 180 days with the economy and Iraq to do anything about it, but the BCS can't be too happy if the nation's future President comes out and takes it to task.

No, we're going to need help if the BCS is to go away. That's why I am rooting for chaos over the next few weeks. Chaos is the only way to kill the BCS and get a playoff system, whether it's an eight, ten, or twelve team playoff put in its place. There are two, no, make that three ways it could happen

Scenario number one: Alabama, Texas Tech and Penn State all run the table.

* If the Crimson Tide wins the Saban Bowl Saturday, it should at least make it to the SEC title game without a loss. That's because Mississippi State and Auburn can't keep up with 'Bama. Once they get to the SEC title game, they would likely face #5 Florida, but the Gators can be beat.

* Texas Tech has a tougher road to travel to remain undefeated. They take on Oklahoma State this Saturday and the Sooners of Oklahoma next Saturday. I'll be stunned if they get through that meat grinder without a loss. But, if they do, Baylor shouldn't pose a threat, and Missouri - with two losses - would be the competition in the Big 12 Championship Game.

* Penn State shouldn't have a problem running the table. Iowa isn't a great team. Certainly Indiana has its problems. The regular season finale against Michigan State is the only chance for the Nittany Lions to lose, but the game is at Penn State, so I am not going to count on it.

If this scenario plays out, and all three teams run the table, someone (likely Penn State) is going to be ticked off after being left out of the BCS title game. But, with both 'Bama and Texas Tech facing some tough teams down the stretch, I'd say this is the least likely of the two scenarios

The other scenario I'd love to see is this:

* Penn State loses to Michigan State. Alabama and Texas Tech lose. So do Utah and Boise State (facing TCU and Fresno State respectively). That gives all those teams (including the BCS busters) one loss. Then let's just say Texas, Florida, Oklahoma, USC, and BYU run the table. That would make for ten teams with one loss. Who would you pick to go to Miami and play for the BCS title?

Those are the two scenarios that I'd love to see. Here's what reality is likely to give us.

* Penn State goes undefeated. Alabama and Texas Tech both lose. Florida, Texas, Oklahoma and USC run the table, and one of the two little guys, probably Boise State, ends the season without a loss.

That would put Penn State into the title game (or at least you think it would). It also gives the one loss teams something to moan and groan about, because only one of them would join Penn State in Miami, Then there would be Boise State, who proved its BCS mettle a couple of years ago. Sitting there undefeated, the Broncos could conceivably complain that they were unfairly left out of the BCS party.

That's the likely scenario. And that makes me feel good. Actually, all three scenarios would make me feel good. President-Elect Obama started the ball rolling by ripping the BCS. Chaos as we've outlined here would be the next step.

Would it be enough to kill the BCS? Probably not, but I'm all for trying.