Mythbusters: BCS Edition

Myth #377 about the BCS:  It makes the regular season better.

Reality:  The BCS gives the impression that every game in the season means something.  While this may or may not be true, schools perceive this to be true, and schedule accordingly.

In 1981, you know way back before the BCS existed, there were 16 non-conference games played between ranked teams.  In 1982 there were 18.  In 1983 there were 12.  In 1984, that number was back up to 18.  In 2008, there were 5.  That's right, just 5.  The BCS has taken away somewhere between 7 and 13 great games per year.  The big boys (like Florida and Texas) have absolutely no reason to schedule other big programs.  Instead, they end up with games against Charleston Southern or Louisiana-Monroe.

The BCS has created a system where it's more important to win against a patsy that to play a compelling matchup.  Wouldn't it be nice if we had a system that instead of rewarding the scheduling of a cupcake, rewarded Texas playing Auburn or Florida playing USC.  How many would like to see Oklahoma play Michigan instead of Central Michigan?

-Dex