Memo to the BCS

To: Acting BCS President; BCS Conference Commissioners, BCS Conference AD’s, BCS Conference School Presidents

From: Dav

Re: Winter Madness

Here are my findings from our 11/19 meeting in which you put me on retainer to find a solution to the quagmire that is major college football. After a full review of past history, financial implications and the burdens on our student-athletes, I’m ready to put forth for your consideration a proposal – a ten team playoff dubbed Winter Madness.

Consider the current BCS Standings.

The top ten teams are:

1. Ohio State (Big Ten Champ)
2. LSU (SEC Champ)
3. Virginia Tech (ACC Champ)
4. Oklahoma (Big 12 Champ)
5. Georgia (SEC At Large)
6. Missouri (Big 12 At Large)
7. USC (PAC 10 Champ)
8. Kansas (Big 12 At Large)
9. West Virginia (Big East Champ)
10. Hawaii (WAC At Large)

Opening Round:

You asked me to preserve the importance of the regular season. In meeting this goal, conference champions will be afforded a first round bye in Winter Madness. The opening round of Winter Madness will be the third Saturday in December, after first semester final exams have concluded. These games will be home game sites for the higher ranked team. This year, #5 Georgia will host #10 Hawaii and #6 Missouri will host #8 Kansas, on Saturday, December 15^th.

The two losers will be placed into the Cotton and the Outback New Year’s Day Bowls, based on a pre-determined selection order.

The winners will move on to the next Round.

Round of Eight:

You asked me to preserve the importance of the four BCS bowls. In a rotating order, the four BCS bowls will have their selection in choosing the matchup they would most want to host. Assuming the favored hosts win in the play-in round, the round of eight would look like this:

1. #1 Ohio State v. #9 West Virginia (Rose)
2. #2 LSU v. #7 USC (Sugar)
3. #3 VaTech v. #6 Missouri (Fiesta)
4. #4 Oklahoma v. #5 Georgia (Orange)

I would bet that the Rose would love to snatch up OSU, as they haven’t played in the Rose Bowl in ten full years. Additionally, perhaps the Sugar wants the local Tigers to fill the Superdome.

National Semifinals:

These games would be played on a rotating basis at two of the four BCS sites, held on the second Saturday after New Years Day. Every other year, rather than one year in four, would the four marquee bowls get to host of game of national importance. You asked me to respect the schedules of the student athletes. National Semifinals will conclude before the start of second semesters. My predictions in the above games would be as follows:

1. #9 West Virginia v. #4 Oklahoma
2. #2 LSU v. #6 Missouri

National Championship:

You asked me to create an event that would combine the passion of America's favorite tournament (March Madness) with America's favorite day (the SuperBowl). Ideally held during the bye week between the NFL Conference Championships and the SuperBowl, college football has its pinnacle event. Use the SuperBowl /Final Four model, rotating the game between warm weather destinations and stadiums fit to hold 60,000+ fans. Create a week for showcasing all that is good with college athletics.

1. #4 Oklahoma v. #2. LSU

Additional points:

1. Cut the regular season down one (or even two) games. There is no reason that teams should play 12 regular season games.

2. Limit August practice substantially. With the new NCF season extending into mid January for a handful of teams, the start of the season should be moved back. Teams won’t have to be worried that an early season loss will kill their national title hopes.

3. When you do finally agree to set up this Winter Madness, agree to pay the architect, Dav, one-tenth of one percent of the television contract. With this, I will comfortably retire from professional work and bring my problem solving skills to the quagmire in the Middle East.