State of the Game - The BCS Championship

Preview 2010 - The State of the Game. Considering there isn’t going to be a playoff, how satisfied are you when the BCS Champion is crowned?

Preview 2010 - State of the Game

Are You Okay With the BCS Champ?

State of the Game Topics
- Is Realignment A Plus?
- The SEC & The BCS
- What If Boise Goes 12-0?
- Are You Okay With the BCS Championship Result?
- Does The AP Title Matter?
- A $300 Bowl Gift vs. a $300 Handshake
- Did Reggie Bush Do Anything Wrong?
- How Should Offending Programs Be Punished?
- If You Could Make One Radical Change ...
- If You Could Make One Slight Change ...
- What Is Excessive Celebration?
- What's Your Favorite Non-Heisman Award

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Once again, we're extremely proud to get the thoughts from some of the top voices in the college football world in our annual State of the Game piece. Along with three CFN writers, check out the opinions on the key topics going into the 2010 season from legendary play-by-play man, Verne Lundquist, ESPN's Kirk Herbstreit, Ivan Maisel, Joe Schad, and Bruce Feldman, Dennis Dodd of CBSSports.com, and the Chicago Tribune's Teddy Greenstein.

5. Considering there isn’t going to be a playoff, how satisfied are you when the BCS Champion is crowned?

Pete Fiutak, CFN : Fine, but mostly it’s because I’m so fried by early January that I don’t have the fight to argue otherwise. I don’t like the BCS, but I’m far, far more comfortable that the best team in college football is declared the national champion compared to college basketball, the NFL, and everyone else with a gimmicky playoff that doesn’t completely and totally reward the regular season. Don’t get me wrong, I want a playoff if it’s done right, but I’m much more comfortable with a 2004 Auburn or 2008 Utah happening every once in a while than I am with the 2007 New York Giants, the 2006 St. Louis Cardinals, or the 2009-2010 Duke Blue Devil basketball team.

Richard Cirminiello, CFN : Surprisingly, I’m pretty satisfied with the overall process used to determine the BCS rankings and eventual champion. Yes, it’s imperfect, but this is a detailed process that deftly nuances the human element with the computer models. While there’s an unavoidable area of subjectivity, in general, the model works in determining which two teams play for a national championship each year.

Matt Zemek, CFN: Not satisfied at all. Period. It's always been a mockery of a travesty of a sham. Dan Beebe and the Big 12 could have pushed for a plus-one in 2008 - and it would have been in their best interests to do so - but they didn't. They're fools. The so-called "leaders" of this sport aren't leaders at all. They don't care about the well-being of the sport or the legitimacy of its end product in early January. It's a disgrace. Just ask Cincinnati and especially TCU last year, just the latest victims of a stacked-deck process.

Dennis Dodd, CBSSports.com: I have always been neutral. I don't think a playoff (unless it is a 16-team playoff) cures anything. As long as the BCS gives us something to write about I'm OK with it. I still get emails from LSU fans chastising me for saying 2003 was a split title. They're the same ones who rip the BCS when LSU is excluded from the BCS title game. Great stuff. Keep it coming. I need an angle.

Bruce Feldman, ESPN.com: Some years more than others of course. I'd like to see an eight-team playoff, but without it, I just enjoy the competition as it is. I think it's still a little better system than what we had 15 years ago.

Teddy Greenstein, Chicago Tribune: All depends on the quality of the championship game. After Texas beat USC, I was so satisfied to the point where I didn't want my money back. The vibe was different after Troy Smith & Co. checked out of the Florida game. But hey, there have also been a ton of crummy Super Bowls.

Kirk Herbstreit, ESPN : Some years I feel better than others. I am not one of these guys jumping up and down saying how awful the BCS is. Can it be a little better--sure. But, there’s a lot about the BCS that I think has been good and created not only year round excitement, but it has also created an awareness by cfb fans to follow teams from coast to coast, not just in your region.

Verne Lundquist, CBS : I feel about as satisfied when the BCS champion is crowned as I do when I have two pickles and a cucumber for lunch.

Ivan Maisel, ESPN.com: I sleep well at night.

Joe Schad, ESPN : I would say it’s like eating a terrific strip steak. Not exactly Kobe beef. But you know, pretty good.