[SoothingDave]

It's easy to defend the current system because even with its enormous flaws it's a huge improvement over the "old" one.

Exactly right. Great post. The BCS is designed to eliminate the scenario where the #1 and #2 (in rankings) teams are locked in to different bowls because of automatic conference tie-ins. That's the promise the BCS gave us, and it has given us that game when conditions permitted.

When there is no clear #1 and #2, the system breaks down. It wasn't designed for that. Be happy with what you have and don't keep dreaming about a 16 or 8 team tournament that is never going to happen.

At the very best, we may one day soon see the New Year's Bowls, on a rotating basis, serve as national semifinals.

And that's as far as it needs to go.

[Alberta's Child]

Thanks -- I think this point you made sums it up perfectly!

The BCS is designed to eliminate the scenario where the #1 and #2 (in rankings) teams are locked in to different bowls because of automatic conference tie-ins. That's the promise the BCS gave us, and it has given us that game when conditions permitted.