Disband the BCS
• The Bowl Championship Series (BCS) is a selection system the NCAA uses to determine five main bowl games, including the two top teams to play for the national championship for NCAA Division I college football teams. A combination of polls and computer rankings coincide to determine the team’s ranking. The American Football Coaches Association poll is contractually bound to vote the winner of the BCS National Championship Game the national champion. • The BCS infringes Section 1 of the Sherman Antitrust Act, which prohibits contracts, combinations, or conspiracies to limit competition. The BCS has contracts with the 6 "top" conferences (ACC, Big 10, Big 12, Big East, PAC-10, SEC) that guarantees teams in those conferences will receive better bowl bids (with MUCH higher payouts) than teams from "lesser" conferences. • The BCS violates Section 2 of the Sherman Antitrust Act, which states that one in possession of a monopoly power and uses that power in a way not associated with the development of the organization as a consequence of having a superior product or business acumen. College football is the ONLY major sport that does not use a playoff to decide the champion; therefore, it cannot be said that the BCS is a superior option to a playoff or any other FAIR and LEGAL system. • Throughout the BCS’ existence, the six main preferred conferences have received nearly 90 percent of the total revenues. • Congressman Joe Barton has introduced a bill that is currently under review by a committee, which if passed would prohibit the promotion and marketing of any postseason NCAA Division I football game as the national championship, unless there is a combination of a playoff system. • Change must occur! Whether it be a playoff system or not, something must be done. The BCS has stripped the equal opportunity rights of players, coaches, and institutions long enough. We need your help to achieve our goal of disbanding the BCS forever.
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