[NU Sports] Money and the BCS

[Jonathan Hodges]

> What am I missing?
>

I've mentioned this before, but I know it may have been buried in one of my
numerous emails to the listserv (sorry if I've been inundating you as of
late).

The reason that there is no playoff of any kind in FBS/I-A football is, in
general, money.  More specifically, though, it's that the BCS conference
don't want to share that money with the rest of Division I.

To implement any sort of playoff, including a Plus One, would require a vote
of all of NCAA Division I to modify the current system (which currently
accommodates just one bowl game for each team, the BCS lives outside of the
NCAA and just slots teams into certain bowls).

There is no way that the "mid majors" or even the non-football schools in
Division I would vote to allow such a playoff system without being thrown a
bone of some sort (i.e. revenue sharing).  The Division I basketball tourney
has an elaborate revenue sharing system in place that is used to distribute
money throughout all schools/conferences that participate (and also provide
the majority of the funding it takes for the NCAA to operate).

The BCS conferences are better off by keeping the current system, which may
produce less overall revenue, but allows them to keep more of it for
themselves.  A playoff may very well generate more revenue, but the rest of
the division would force that money to be put into more hands, thereby
diluting the share for the rich (BCS conferences).


Another point, associated with the first, is power.  The power in FBS/I-A
football is in the hands of the BCS conferences and their commissioners.
They would be foolish to let go of that power, yielding it to some national
and more impartial leader.  Yes, the big schools would still have a
significant say, but not as much as they do now where they basically run the
show.


That's why it will take a seismic shift in something (government
intervention - unlikely and probably outside of their jurisdiction, small
school revolt - but they're getting some money thrown their way now, or fan
revolt - not happening, not with people flocking to the seats/TVs in record
numbers) to get a playoff in FBS/I-A football.


Hope that helps.

Jonathan