National title could be within BSU's grasp next season

Idaho Statesman ^ | 1/6/2010 | Chadd Cripe

[Richard Kimball]

Boise State issued a challenge to any BCS team in the nation. They would travel to any home field to play them and not require a return trip. No one took them up on it.

None of the top teams in the BCS wants a good non-conference opponent.

[fkabuckeyesrule]

****Well the team Florida did beat was one second away from playing for the National Championship.****

I think TCU probably would have been chosen if that had happened. Atleast that seemed to be the consensus but then again this is the BCS.

[fkabuckeyesrule]

Wow Penn State at Alabama on September 11th next season. Not sure what Penn State has coming back next year but with JoePa it ought to be interesting. You gotta think that’ll be a ABC or CBS National game. Maybe an ABC saturday night game.

[Richard Kimball]

The small schools also like to have those matchups with big name programs because of the TV exposure and the challenge, so its kind of a two way street.

They like it because it's a huge payday. Alabama can fill their stadium playing against air. They don't need a big name team to come in to put seats in seats, although to credit them, they played a pretty good Virginia Tech team in non-conference. For the most part, though, they'd rather play Florida International, North Texas and Tennessee Chattanooga.

There are two simple facts. First, the Alabama, Florida, Texas, Oklahoma (Oklahoma did have the guts to play BYU), Notre Dame, Penn State, Southern Cal, and others are not going to risk their chances at a national title by playing a tough schedule. There were five undefeated teams going into the bowl games, largely because teams HAVE to schedule to go undefeated if they want a chance at the title. Second, the schools I mentioned and a few others are extremely profitable. They like their cartel and don't want additional teams like Boise, TCU, BYU, etc., breaking into the big time and getting some of that money.

There are other issues, of course. The networks prefer it the way it is, cause it's easier to sell a Texas-Alabama title game than it would be to sell a TCU-Cincinnati game. In college football, it takes time to build brand awareness, and it's easier to sell what's already big. Nebraska fans will travel to the east or west coast to see the Huskers.