The Death of the BCS: A College Football Preview

**I'd like to welcome college football expert, law student, and Buckeye diehard Mike Matthews to the Blog Don't Lie staff. This year, he will be covering anything and everything important in college football. Enjoy.**

2013 College Football Preview:

by Michael Matthews

2013 is a historical year in college football. Along with being the year Urban Meyer returns The Ohio State Buckeyes to glory, it also marks the 16^th, and final, year of the BCS.

I often found it amusing when commentators would proclaim that the “the BCS worked!” when the undisputed top two teams would meet for the national title. It didn’t “work,” rather, college football cooperated and produced two teams that everyone could agree were the best. There was no need for a multitude of computer formulas; any casual observer could have done the same job as the BCS. The BCS didn’t so much as “work” as avoid screwing up.

Obviously, it was much more common for there to be controversy than not. By my count, 9 out of 15 years the BCS has produced a disputed National Championship Game, with the most egregious being the exclusion of undefeated Auburn in 2004. So, in the past 15 years, 40% of the national title games have been undisputed. I think any system would be an improvement.

Next year, mercifully, college football moves to a playoff system. No more of this “the regular season is the playoff” nonsense. The playoff will involve six bowl games – the Rose, Sugar, Fiesta, Orange, Chik-fil-A, Cotton – with the two semifinal games to be rotated amongst them every three years. Next year, the Rose and Sugar will host the semis. The title game, dubbed the “College Football Championship Game,” will be played at Cowboys Stadium. It will not be a bowl game.

However, for one final year, we are stuck with the BCS. Here is my breakdown of the BCS conferences, the Heisman, and the national title picture for the upcoming year.

Really?

AMERICAN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE (THE AMERICAN)

THE PICK: Louisville

In a conference whose entire existence is the result of conference expansion, I think the Cardinals, led by quarterback (and potential number one NFL draft pick) Teddy Bridgewater, to win the inaugural American Conference title. Cincinnati, with new coach Tommy Tuberville, looks to challenge Louisville. The Bearcats host the Cards in the last weekend of the regular season in a game that might decide the conference, but I just don’t think UC has the talent to keep up with U of L.

ACC:

THE PICK: Clemson

The Tigers return Tahj Boyd, Sammy Watkins, and a host of offensive talent. Florida State, led by incoming freshman Jameis Winston at quarterback, and Virginia Tech, led by quarterback Logan Thomas, will challenge. But in the end, Clemson has too much.

BIG 12:

THE PICK: Texas

As Coach Mack Brown starts to feel his seat warming up, I think Texas rises to the occasion this year. With David Ash a year older and wiser, I see the Longhorns taking the Big 12. Oklahoma, with new quarterback Blake Bell, and Oklahoma State should compete, but Texas will reign.

BIG 10:

THE PICK: Ohio State

Did you really expect anyone else? The Buckeyes return a wealth of offensive talent, led by quarterback Braxton Miller. If Carlos Hyde returns after his suspension to the form he displayed towards the end of last season, this offense will be tough to stop. Michigan and Nebraska will be the main challengers, but neither have the talent to match Urban’s squad this year.

        PAC 12:

THE PICK: Stanford

The Cardinal, coming off the school’s first Rose Bowl win since 1972, return Kevin Hogan at quarterback and a host of defensive talent. Oregon and Marcus Mariota look to challenge the Cardinal in year one after the departure of Coach Chip Kelly, but I think the Ducks will miss Kelly more than most seem to think.

SEC

THE PICK: Alabama

Again, is this a surprise to anyone? While they lose talent on the offensive line, the Tide has proven under Nick Saban that they reload. With A.J. McCarron, T.J. Yeldon, and Amari Cooper returning to lead the offense, and C.J. Mosley back to man the middle on defense, I don’t see anyone in the SEC stemming this Tide.

HEISMAN:

Scary..

THE PICK: Jadeveon Clowney

I think Clowney has what it takes to be the first defensive player since Charles Woodson, and only the second overall, to win the Heisman. It will be tough, especially with Johnny Manziel and Braxton Miller likely racking up stats in their spread offenses, but I think that if Clowney dominates like he should and comes up with big moments in the Gamecocks’ biggest games, then he will have as good a shot as any.

NATIONAL TITLE PREDICTION:

THE PICK: Ohio State

Alabama will obviously be challenge in the SEC, but in the end, I think the Tide should run the table and win the conference. They will meet Ohio State in the Rose Bowl to decide the title. In a completely and unabashedly biased pick, I think the Buckeyes, led by Braxton Miller, will upset Bama and win it all.

So, there you have it. The college football season kicks off this Thursday night with South Carolina vs. North Carolina on ESPN, so get ready. It should be a great season.