BCS National Championship Game

BCS National Championship Game

AFCA National Championship Trophy, awarded to the BCS National Champion.
Stadium Currently on a four-year rotation between:
University of Phoenix Stadium
Mercedes-Benz Superdome
Sun Life Stadium
Rose Bowl
Location Currently on a four-year rotation between:
Glendale, Arizona
New Orleans, Louisiana
Miami Gardens, Florida
Pasadena, California
Previous stadiums Sun Devil Stadium (1999, 2003)
Previous locations Tempe, Arizona (1999, 2003)
Operated 1998–present
Payout US$18,000,000 (As of 2009)
Sponsors
Tostitos (1999, 2003, 2007, 2011), Nokia (2000, 2004), FedEx (2001, 2005, 2009), AT&T (2002), Allstate (2008, 2012), Citi (2006, 2010), Discover (2013), Vizio (2014)
2011 matchup
Auburn vs. Oregon (Auburn 22–19)
2012 matchup
Alabama vs. LSU

The BCS National Championship Game, or BCS National Championship, is the final bowl game of the annual Bowl Championship Series (BCS) and is intended by the organizers of the BCS to determine the U.S. national champion of the NCAA Division I Football Bowl Subdivision (formerly known as NCAA Division I-A). The participants are the two highest-ranked teams in the BCS standings at the end of the regular college football season, currently determined by averaging the results of the final weekly USA Today Coaches' Poll, Harris Interactive Poll of media, former players and coaches, and the average of six participating computer rankings.

Since the formation of the Bowl Championship Series, there have been several controversies regarding the schools selected to participate in the BCS National Championship Game. Most notably, following the 2003 season, the BCS ranking system selected the #3 ranked school in the Associated Press writers' poll, the University of Oklahoma, over the #1 ranked school in that poll, the University of Southern California, to participate in the National Championship Game (the Nokia Sugar Bowl) despite Oklahoma's decisive loss to Kansas State in the 2003 Big 12 Championship Game. 2003 is the only season, to date, since the inception of the BCS in which the national championship has been split, with Louisiana State University winning the BCS national championship and the University of Southern California winning the AP national championship and the FWAA national championship.

The BCS National Championship for the 2011 season at the Mercedes-Benz Superdome in New Orleans, LA will be held on January 9, 2012, sponsored by Allstate, and televised on the ESPN television network. The game will feature the same conferences #2 Southeastern Conference West Division Runner-Up Alabama and the #1 Southeastern Conference West Division Champions LSU. This is first time in the history of the BCS that two teams from the same conference (and also from the same division of the same conference) have met for the BCS National Championship.

Contents

History

The first BCS Championship Game was played at the conclusion of the 1998 college football season in accordance with an agreement by the Big Ten Conference, the Pac-10 (now Pac-12) Conference, and the Rose Bowl Game to join the "Bowl Alliance" system. The expanded format was called the Bowl Championship Series.

The Bowl Alliance and its predecessor, the Bowl Coalition, featured championship games from 1992 through 1997. However, these did not ensure a matchup between the top two ranked teams because of the lack of participation by the Big Ten and Pac-10. Presentation of the crystal football trophy, first awarded at the end of the 1992 season, continues to be awarded to the BCS National Championship Game winner.

The BCS National Championship Game was initially rotated among the four participating bowl games: the (Rose Bowl, Orange Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, and Sugar Bowl). However, beginning with the 2006 season, the BCS National Championship Game became a separate bowl game unto itself, following New Year's Day. The BCS National Championship Game rotates its location among the Orange, Sugar, Fiesta, and Rose Bowl venues; however, the BCS National Championship Game is not coupled with those Bowls. For example, the 2011 Fiesta Bowl was a separate event from the 2011 BCS National Championship Game.

Game results

Season Date Winner Loser Bowl Game Site MVP
1998 January 4, 1999 1 Tennessee (SEC) Champs 23 2 Florida State (ACC) Co-Champs 16 1999 Fiesta Bowl Sun Devil Stadium
Tempe, Arizona
Peerless Price
Dwayne Goodrich
1999 January 4, 2000 1 Florida State (ACC) Champs 46 2 Virginia Tech
(Big East) Champs
29 2000 Sugar Bowl Louisiana Superdome
New Orleans, Louisiana
Peter Warrick
2000 January 3, 2001 1 Oklahoma
(Big 12) Champs
13 2 Florida State (ACC) Champs 2 2001 Orange Bowl Pro Player Stadium
Miami, Florida
Torrance Marshall
2001 January 3, 2002 1 Miami (Florida)
(Big East) Champs
37 2 Nebraska (Big 12) Div. Co-Champs 14 2002 Rose Bowl Rose Bowl
Pasadena, California
Ken Dorsey
Tremel McMillon
2002 January 3, 2003 2 Ohio State
(Big Ten) Co-Champs
31[1] 1 Miami (Florida)
(Big East) Champs
24 2003 Fiesta Bowl Sun Devil Stadium
Tempe, Arizona
Craig Krenzel
Mike Doss
2003 January 4, 2004 2 LSU (SEC) Champs 21 1 Oklahoma
(Big 12) Runner-Up
14 2004 Sugar Bowl Louisiana Superdome
New Orleans, Louisiana
Justin Vincent
2004 January 4, 2005 1 USC (Vacated)[2]
(Pac-10) Champs
(55) 2 Oklahoma
(Big 12) Champs
19 2005 Orange Bowl Pro Player Stadium
Miami Gardens, Florida
Matt Leinart
2005 January 4, 2006 2 Texas (Big 12) Champs 41 1 USC (Vacated)[3]
(Pac-10) Champs
(38) 2006 Rose Bowl Rose Bowl Stadium
Pasadena, California
Vince Young (offense)
Michael Huff (defense)
2006 January 8, 2007 2 Florida (SEC) Champs 41 1 Ohio State
(Big Ten) Champs
14 2007 BCS National Championship Game University of Phoenix Stadium
Glendale, Arizona
Chris Leak (offense);
Derrick Harvey (defense)
2007 January 7, 2008 2 LSU (SEC) Champs 38 1 Ohio State
(Big Ten) Champs
24 2008 BCS National Championship Game Louisiana Superdome
New Orleans, Louisiana
Matt Flynn (offense);
Ricky Jean-Francois (defense)
2008 January 8, 2009 2 Florida (SEC) Champs 24 1 Oklahoma
(Big 12) Champs
14 2009 BCS National Championship Game Dolphin Stadium
Miami Gardens, Florida
Tim Tebow (offense);
Carlos Dunlap (defense)
2009 January 7, 2010 1 Alabama (SEC) Champs 37 2 Texas (Big 12) Champs 21 2010 BCS National Championship Game Rose Bowl
Pasadena, California
Mark Ingram (offense);
Marcell Dareus (defense)
2010 January 10, 2011 1 Auburn (SEC) Champs 22 2 Oregon (Pac-10) Champs 19 2011 BCS National Championship Game University of Phoenix Stadium
Glendale, Arizona
Michael Dyer (offense);
Nick Fairley (defense)

Future Game

Season Date Home Away Bowl Game Site MVP
2011 January 9, 2012 1 LSU (SEC) Champs -- 2 Alabama (SEC) Div. Runner-Up -- 2012 BCS National Championship Game Mercedes-Benz Superdome
New Orleans, Louisiana
(offense);
(defense)

^ ^‡ No 2004 BCS Champion due to NCAA sanctions against USC, nullifying participation and results. A June 6, 2011 decision of the BCS Presidential Oversight Committee, the 2004 championship will remain permanently vacant. Pursuant to NCAA sanctions, USC running back Reggie Bush was declared retroactively ineligible for the 2005 Orange Bowl.[1]
The same June 6, 2011 decision of the BCS Presidential Oversight Committee nullified USC's 2005 season participation in the 2006 Rose Bowl. However, since Texas defeated USC on the field, Texas is still recognized as the BCS National Champion for 2005.[2]
Participating conferences and personal awards listed within table here.

Records by conference

Conference Wins Losses Winning Teams Losing Teams
SEC 7 0 Florida (2), LSU (2), Tennessee, Alabama, Auburn
Big 12 2 5 Oklahoma, Texas Nebraska*, Oklahoma (3), Texas
ACC 1 2 Florida State Florida State (2)
Big East 1 2 Miami (FL)* Miami (FL)*, Virginia Tech*
Big Ten 1 2 Ohio State Ohio State (2)
Pac-12 0† 2 USC Oregon, USC†

Records by team

Team Appearances Wins Losses Percentage % Title Season(s)
LSU 2 2 0 1.000 2003, 2007
Alabama 1 1 0 1.000 2009
Auburn 1 1 0 1.000 2010
Florida 2 2 0 1.000 2006, 2008
Tennessee 1 1 0 1.000 1998
Texas 2 1 1 .500 2005
Miami 2 1 1 .500 2001
Ohio State 3 1 2 .333 2002
Florida State 3 1 2 .333 1999
Oklahoma 4 1 3 .250 2000
Nebraska 1 0 1 .000 ----
Oregon 1 0 1 .000 ----
Virginia Tech 1 0 1 .000 ----

* Miami and Virginia Tech moved to the ACC in 2004. Nebraska moved to the Big Ten in 2011. No current member of the Big East has played in a BCS championship game.

† USC has two vacated BCS appearances, in 2004 and 2005.

Game records

Team Performance vs. Opponent BCS Game Year
Most points scored 55, USC vs. Oklahoma 2005
Fewest points allowed 2, Oklahoma vs. Florida State 2001
First downs 30, Texas vs. USC 2006
Rushing yards 289, Texas (36 att.) vs. USC 2006
Passing yards 374, Oregon vs. Auburn 2011
Total yards 556, Texas (289 rush, 267 pass) vs. USC 2006
Total plays 85, Auburn vs. Oregon 2011
Individual Performance, Team vs. Opponent BCS Game Year
Total offense 467, Vince Young, Texas (267 pass, 200 rush) vs. USC 2006
Rushing yards 200, Vince Young (QB), Texas (19 att.) vs. USC 2006
Rushing TDs 3, Vince Young (QB), Texas vs. USC 2006
Passing yards 363, Darron Thomas, Oregon vs. Auburn (28-41-2, 2 TD) 2011
Passing TDs 5, Matt Leinart, USC vs. Oklahoma 2005
Receptions 11, Kellen Winslow Jr., Miami vs. Ohio State (122 yards, 1 TD) 2003
Receiving yards (tie) 199, Peerless Price, Tennessee vs. Florida State (4 rec., 1 TD) 1999
Receiving yards (tie) 199, Andre Johnson, Miami vs. Nebraska (7 rec., 2 TD) 2002
Receiving TDs 3, Steve Smith, USC vs. Oklahoma 2005
Field goals 2, Ryan Killeen, USC vs. Oklahoma (tied with 3 others) 2005
Tackles 18, James Laurinaitis, Ohio State vs. LSU 2008
Sacks 3, Derrick Harvey, Florida vs. Ohio State 2007
Interceptions 2, Sean Taylor, Miami vs. Ohio State 2003
Long Plays Performance, Team vs. Opponent BCS Game Year
Touchdown run 65, Chris "Beanie" Wells, Ohio State vs. LSU 2008
Touchdown pass 79, Tee Martin to Peerless Price, Tennessee vs. Florida State 1999
Kickoff return 93, Ted Ginn Jr., Ohio State vs. Florida (TD) 2007
Punt return 71, DeJuan Groce, Nebraska vs. Miami (TD) 2002
Interception return 54, Dwayne Goodrich, Tennessee vs. Florida State (TD) 1999
Punt 63, A.J. Trapasso, Ohio State vs. LSU 2008
Field goal 46, David Pino, Texas vs. USC 2006
Pass 81, Darron Thomas to Jeff Maehl, Oregon vs. Auburn 2011

Criticisms and controversy

Critics of the current BCS championship argue against the internal validity of the current BCS National Championship, which is awarded to the winner of a single postseason game, the BCS National Championship game. Critics lament that the participants in this game are decided based upon polls and computers; not by previous on-field competition as is this the case in other major sports and other levels of college football which employ playoff format championships. Often, the BCS system leads to controversies in which multiple teams finish seasons with equal records, and voters must distinguish the worthiness of their participation in the BCS National Championship game. Without providing any objective criteria for evaluation of these teams, the BCS also forces voters to impose their own standards and tiebreakers. Critics note that the system inherently fosters selection bias, and therefore, lacks external validity.[3]

Controversies concerning inclusion in the BCS National Championship Game are numerous. In 2001, for example, Oregon, second ranked in the AP poll, was bypassed in favor of Nebraska despite Nebraska's loss in its final regular season game to the University of Colorado. In 2003, USC was not included in the BCS Championship Game, but beat Michigan in the Rose Bowl and ended up #1 in the Associated Press final poll. The following season, in 2004, undefeated Auburn University, Boise State University and University of Utah teams were left out of the National Championship Game (the FedEx Orange Bowl), although those teams were undefeated as well. In 2008, the University of Utah was excluded from the BCS championship for a second time despite being the only undefeated Division I-A team at the end of the season and finished second behind 13–1 Florida. In 2009, five schools finished the regular season undefeated: Alabama, Texas, Cincinnati, Texas Christian University, and Boise State; however, the BCS selected traditional powers Alabama and Texas to participate in the BCS National Championship Game as they were the top two teams in the BCS rankings.

Many critics of the Bowl Championship Series favor a larger championship tournament with eight to sixteen teams, similar to that administered by the NCAA for its Division I Football Championship Subdivision (FCS), Division II, and Division III football championships. Others favor adopting the incremental step of adding a single post-bowl championship game between the winners of two BCS games among the top four ranked teams in the BCS standings, the so-called "plus one" option. The SEC and ACC conferences have recently pushed for some form of playoff system. On June 24, 2009, the BCS presidential oversight committee rejected the Mountain West Conference's proposed eight-team playoff plan.[4]

In 2009, the NCAA ruled that former USC running back Reggie Bush was retroactively ineligible for the 2004 BCS National Championship Game, the 2005 Orange Bowl vs. Oklahoma, for receiving various illegal benefits. In May 2011, the NCAA rejected all appeals of USC's penalties, which included Bush's ineligibility and a two-year bowl ban. On June 6, 2011, the University of Southern California became the first school to lose a Bowl Championship Series National Championship due to NCAA sanctions, as the BCS President's Oversight Committee stripped USC of the 2004 title. There will be no 2004 champion.

In addition, the BCS also nullified USC's participation in the 2006 Rose Bowl. (See attributions 1 and 2.)

Future

The game's location rotates among the sites of the BCS bowls. Future scheduled sites are as follows (note the years shown are for the game, which occurs in the calendar year following the corresponding NCAA football season):

The title sponsor of the BCS National Championship Game each year is the same as that of the bowl game in that year's host location. Thus, the 2007 game was the Tostitos BCS National Championship Game, after the title sponsor of the Fiesta Bowl. The following year saw it become the Allstate BCS National Championship, and the 2009 game bears the FedEx brand. The 2010 game had Citi as its title sponsor.[5]

Based upon television contracts between the BCS and the Pasadena Tournament of Roses with ESPN, the BCS will retain its current format through at least the 2014 season, when the game will be sponsored by Vizio.[6]

Heisman Trophy winners in BCS National Championship games

Media coverage

Television

From 1999 through 2006, ABC broadcast eight BCS National Championship Games pursuant to broadcasting rights negotiated with the BCS and the Rose Bowl, whose rights were offered separately. Beginning with the 2006–07 season, FOX obtained the BCS package, consisting of the Orange Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, Sugar Bowl, and the BCS National Championship Games hosted by these bowls, with ABC retaining the rights to the Rose Bowl and BCS National Championship Games hosted by the Rose Bowl (such as the 2010 edition)

On November 18, 2008, the BCS announced that ESPN had won the television rights to the BCS National Championship Game (as well as the other four BCS bowls) for 2011, 2012, 2013, and 2014. The contract with ESPN is notable as it makes the BCS National Championship Game the most prominent annual sporting event not to be shown over broadcast television.[7]

Year Network(s) Bowl Play-by-play announcer Color analyst(s) Sideline reporter(s) Studio host(s) Studio analyst(s) TV Rating[8]
1999 ABC Fiesta Bowl Keith Jackson Bob Griese Lynn Swann John Saunders Todd Blackledge 17.2
2000 ABC Sugar Bowl Brent Musburger Gary Danielson Lynn Swann and Jack Arute John Saunders Terry Bowden 17.5
2001 ABC Orange Bowl Brad Nessler Bob Griese Lynn Swann and Jack Arute John Saunders Terry Bowden 17.8
2002 ABC Rose Bowl Keith Jackson Tim Brant Lynn Swann and Todd Harris John Saunders Terry Bowden 13.9
2003 ABC Fiesta Bowl Keith Jackson Dan Fouts Lynn Swann and Todd Harris John Saunders Terry Bowden 17.2
2004 ABC Sugar Bowl Brent Musburger Gary Danielson Lynn Swann and Jack Arute John Saunders Terry Bowden and Craig James 14.5
2005 ABC Orange Bowl Brad Nessler Bob Griese Lynn Swann and Todd Harris John Saunders Craig James and Aaron Taylor 13.7
2006 ABC Rose Bowl Keith Jackson Dan Fouts Todd Harris and Holly Rowe John Saunders Craig James and Aaron Taylor 21.7
2007 FOX 2007 BCS National Championship Game Thom Brennaman Barry Alvarez and Charles Davis Chris Myers Chris Rose Eddie George, Emmitt Smith and Jimmy Johnson 17.4
2008 FOX 2008 BCS National Championship Game Thom Brennaman Charles Davis Chris Myers Chris Rose Eddie George, Urban Meyer and Jimmy Johnson 17.4
2009 FOX 2009 BCS National Championship Game Thom Brennaman Charles Davis Chris Myers Chris Rose Eddie George, Barry Switzer and Jimmy Johnson 15.8
2010 ABC 2010 BCS National Championship Game Brent Musburger Kirk Herbstreit Lisa Salters and Tom Rinaldi Chris Fowler and Rece Davis Lee Corso, Desmond Howard, Pete Carroll, Lou Holtz and Mark May 17.2
2011 ESPN
ESPN 3D
2011 BCS National Championship Game Brent Musburger Kirk Herbstreit Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi Chris Fowler Desmond Howard, Urban Meyer and Nick Saban 16.1
2012 ESPN 2012 BCS National Championship Game Brent Musburger Kirk Herbstreit Erin Andrews and Tom Rinaldi Chris Fowler Desmond Howard, Gene Chizik and Chip Kelly TBD
2013 ESPN BCS National Championship Game TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD
2014 ESPN BCS National Championship Game TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD TBD
     Expected announcer, subject to change.

Radio

Since 1999 the BCS National Championship Game has been broadcast on ESPN Radio.

Year Network Play-by-play announcer Color analyst(s) Sideline Reporter
1999 ESPN Radio Ron Franklin Mike Gottfried Adrian Karsten
2000 ESPN Radio Ron Franklin Mike Gottfried Adrian Karsten
2000 ESPN Radio Ron Franklin Mike Gottfried Adrian Karsten
2001 ESPN Radio Ron Franklin Mike Gottfried Adrian Karsten
2002 ESPN Radio Ron Franklin Mike Gottfried Adrian Karsten
2003 ESPN Radio Ron Franklin Mike Gottfried Adrian Karsten
2004 ESPN Radio Ron Franklin Mike Gottfried Adrian Karsten
2005 ESPN Radio Ron Franklin Mike Gottfried Erin Andrews
2006 ESPN Radio Ron Franklin Bob Davie Dave Ryan
2007 ESPN Radio Brent Musburger Bob Davie and Todd Blackledge Lisa Salters
2008 ESPN Radio Brent Musburger Kirk Herbstreit Lisa Salters
2009 ESPN Radio Brent Musburger Kirk Herbstreit Lisa Salters
2010 ESPN Radio Mike Tirico Jon Gruden and Todd Blackledge Wendi Nix
2011 ESPN Radio Mike Tirico Jon Gruden Joe Schad
2012 ESPN Radio Mike Tirico Todd Blackledge Holly Rowe

Related national championship selections

Since there is no NCAA Division I FBS playoff, the BCS National Championship game is one of several national championship selection processes in existence.

The American Football Coaches Association (AFCA) participate in a weekly Coaches' Poll published by USA Today; for its final poll of the season, the AFCA is contractually bound to select the BCS National Champion as the national champion[9] Thus, the winner of the game is awarded the AFCA National Championship Trophy in a postgame ceremony.

The BCS National Champion is also automatically awarded the National Football Foundation's MacArthur Trophy.[10]

The Associated Press and the Football Writers Association of America are independent and may award their national championship trophies to a school other than the BCS National Championship Game winner.

References

External links