Sour Grapes.. and renewed Playoff jibber-jabber..

Good post here from the Extra Point about the outcome of the National Championship game-- the most unlikely Florida blow-out. Just what I was wishing for-- though I have no great love for the Gators, of course. Any misgivings I have about them are far outweighed by my grave dislike for the Buckeyes...

He also makes some notes about how problematic this is for the promoters of the 'be-all end-all' Plus-One system.. and other easy fixes. So who exactly would Florida play in a Plus-one scenario? Well said.

Of course, I also throw the great elixir of the Playoff system into that category of 'Easy Fix'... it's so fashionable these days around college football to argue that a playoff system would cure all these ills. I'd disagree..

For one-- if not for the arguing, what would college football have? What would owners of sports bars do for money in the Fall?

For another-- everyone points to the NCAA basketball tournament.. does anyone actually watch regular season college basketball? and besides, college basketball is entirely too button-down, quiet, white-collar for my taste. I'll take no lesson from that sport on this question.

And finally, a distinction to draw-- are we looking for a champion? or are we looking for the best team? If we're looking for a champion-- well, by golly, the BCS gives us that. In fact, back when the Schedule Strength was a larger component of the calculation.. I think the BCS even came close to giving us the Best Team, as well. But is anyone going to argue that the 'best team' wins March Madness every year? Surely not. Any college football playoff would be rife with very familiar controversy-- arbitrary rankings, spiteful 'Top Ten teams' (albeit #'s 9 and 10) teams left out of the 'big dance'.. and of course, there's always the chance for game-changing officiating...

So what have we got?
Still the most compelling distraction for a Saturday afternoon in the Fall. So compelling, in fact, that I can't wait for next season to start.