By Brian Carroll

 Every year on signing day, it seems that history repeats itself. The perennial powers (i.e. Texas, USC, Florida etc.) end up receiving the majority of the five star recruits while leaving the smaller teams out in the dust. Why is that? Sure, school facilities and atmosphere have a major part in it, but we all know that’s not the real reason why.

When most high caliber student athletes sign to a certain school, they sign to the college that will give them the best shot at putting a national championship ring on their finger. So what is the problem?

The problem does not lie with in the recruiters or the athlete’s decision, the problem lies within the management of college football. Overall, the BCS blindly puts limits on “mid major” teams chances in playing for a national championship. With the current system, the farthest a mid major team like Boise State or TCU can get is to the newly installed fifth BCS game, and that’s MAYBE after a perfect season.

In their defense, people in favor of the BCS often proclaim having a playoff system would only prolong the season resulting in players missing classes. However in an interview with ESPN, Auburn coach Tommy Tuberville, who produces a top 15 team almost every year, declares that this excuse is nothing but hypocrisy.

“They keep coming up with lame excuses about academics yet we're playing [the national championship game] Jan. 8. It's hypocritical. Football players miss fewer classes than anybody.”

There will always be a fighting cause for the “little guys,” but there will not be an answer until a playoff system is implemented and the term major and mid major is completely erased.

However, for a fair shot to take place, a 16 team playoff would be the best solution. In this tournament you have all the conference champions (eleven total) and five at-large bids which would be determined by the next five highest ranked teams who did not win their conference. Also to ensure that businesses don’t lose out on any profit, the traditional minor bowl games can still exist for those teams who did not make the playoffs. This way not only is the right champion crowned, but businesses will remain happy, and plenty of teams will still get a chance for a postseason.

A playoff system would not only resolve all of these listed dilemmas, but it would also give the “little guy” a shot to succeed too. All-American high school and JUCO recruits would start giving smaller division one programs a closer look knowing that they too have a realistic shot to put a national championship ring around their finger. Since the talent would eventually become wide-spread across the nation, the perennial power teams that dominate the league on a consistent basis would soon have to share air time with WAC or Conference USA teams.

Of course in order for this format to work, it would take a few recruiting classes for it to take full effect.

Unfortunately though, if history has taught us anything about the BCS, it’s that it repeats itself; the mistakes that is. However, the main difference between the BCS and history is the fact that the BCS system has yet to learn from its faults.

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