A Letter to Santa

Dear Santa Claus,

I know you normally don't listen to people of the Jewish faith, but I really wish you'd make an exception this time.

There's only one thing that I really want for the holidays this year. That would be chaos in the B(C)S. You can help with that, and you can help today.

You see, the SEC and Big 12 Championship games are coming up later this afternoon. Two games that will determine who plays for the B(C)S Championship in Miami next month.

It seems pretty simple. If undefeated Alabama, ranked #1 in the B(C)S Standings beats Florida (#4 in the standings but a ten point favorite), then the Crimson Tide go to Miami no questions asked.

If #2 Oklahoma, beats heavy underdog Missouri in the Big 12 then the Sooners will join 'Bama next month.

That's why we, okay Santa, I need your help. I need you to make sure that Missouri wins. Because if that happens, then all hell breaks loose.

No one will complain if either Alabama or Florida go to the title game, because most figure that both teams deserve to be there.

Now, if Missouri wins, it's a whole different story. If Missouri knocks off the Sooners, then Texas goes would go to Miami, though USC might leapfrog if they beat UCLA convincingly this afternoon.

Boy would people be ticked off if that happens. If Texas goes to the title game, the major complaint would be that the Longhorns didn't even play for their conference championship, let alone win it. If USC winds up going to Miami, then people will complain that they get to go over Texas. Either way you are going to have a lot of people unhappy with the current, non-playoff, system.

Now, what happens if Alabama and Oklahoma lose (the dream scenario)? Again, you are looking at Florida vs. either Texas or USC for the title, but undefeated Utah, undefeated Boise State, Texas Tech, and Penn State would all moan and groan that they deserve to be in the title game as much as either Florida, Texas, or USC. There would be coaches and AD's complaining on talk shows, in newspapers. Maybe even the President-Elect, who is on record as saying he wants a playoff, would get involved. Hell, he could get involved with this since his REAL job doesn't start until January 20th.

Santa, I'm looking for chaos, confusion, and the start of a grass roots effort to get rid of this goofy system we have in College Football.

I've been a good boy this year, and I've never asked you for anything in my life. Could you do me this one small favor??

Because all I want for Christmas is a playoff.

Yours truly,

Cliff Saunders