BCS Championship

Before 1992 there wasn’t a system to even informally name a National Champion. However, since way back in 1869, different methods were used to try to name a college football national champion, normally relying on some sort of poll. It was traditionally a human poll, however the use of computers and mathematical algorithms became more and more used as the BCS system evolved and eventually was adopted.

You can imagine that the chosen “National Champion” was never really agreed upon, and controversy over who was the best team came about just about every year, much the same way they still do! Different polls would name different players, and everyone had their idea of who the best team was.

The Bowl Coalition

Eventually, the major players were able to sit down and begin to develop a way to name a national championship. Originally, representatives of five conferences, six bowl games and Notre Dame all came together to create what would become the “Bowl Coalition.” The conferences involved were the SEC, Big 8, Southwest Conference, ACC and Big East as well as independent Notre Dame. The six bowl games were the Orange Bowl, Sugar Bowl, Cotton Bowl, Fiesta Bowl, Gator Bowl and the Sun Bowl. The coalition had the aim of creating some sort of “national championship game,” however it really wasn’t equipped to do so. For one thing, the Coalition only included teams from the five conferences plus Notre Dame. That meant that non-BCS teams could never become “national champions” under any circumstances. The original coalition was in place between 1992 and 1994. Controversy erupted in 1994 over who played in the “National Championship Game.” Most observers believe that Penn State should have faced Nebraska, as both teams were undefeated. However, because Penn State has obligated to play in the Rose Bowl (vs. Oregon) as Big Ten Champ, Nebraska ended up playing Miami in the Orange Bowl.

The Bowl Alliance

Starting in 1995, the Bowl Coalition was replaced by the Bowl Alliance. The Bowl Alliance involved the same five conferences, and just three of the Bowls, (Fiesta, Sugar and Orange). The national championship game would be rotated between the three bowl each year. The Alliance did not include any PAC-10, Big Ten or any other non-BCS team, nor did it include the Rose Bowl.

The 1997 season provided more controversy when polls were split over whether Michigan or Nebraska was the true National Champion.

Representatives from all walk of college football kept debating and negotiation, and for the 1998 season, the Alliance became the Bowl Championship Series (BCS). One of the biggest changes that allowed this to occur was the Tournament of Roses Association, operators of the Rose Bowl, agreed to let the Big Ten or Pac 10 champion not play in the Rose Bowl if they were necessary to have a National Championship Game. In part of the negotiations, the Rose Bowl became one of the BCS Bowls that rotated between the other bowls each year. We should point out here that the term “bowl” for a championship football game comes from the Rose Bowl. The Rose Bowl Stadium was named that because it resembles a bowl, and then other competitions adopted the moniker. Imagine if every year we got together to watch the “SuperGame” or some other name for the NFL’s final game.

Another significant aspect of the new BCS system was that it allowed teams from non-major conferences the opportunity to play in Bowl Games if they achieved a certain level of success.The winner of this game is crowned the BCS national champion, and is guaranteed at least a share of the national championship.

BCS Bowl game appearances and wins

USC has appeared in a BCS Bowl game six times:

  • Won 2003 Orange Bowl
  • Won 2004 Rose Bowl
  • Won 2005 Orange Bowl (National Championship)
  • Lost 2006 Rose Bowl (National Championship)
  • Won 2007 Rose Bowl
  • Won 2008 Rose Bowl

Ohio State has appeared in six BCS Bowl games

  • Won 1999 Sugar Bowl
  • Won 2003 Fiesta Bowl (National Championship)
  • Won 2004 Fiesta Bowl
  • Won 2006 Fiesta Bowl

Oklahoma has played in six bCS Bowl games

  • Won 2001 Orange Bowl (National Championship)
  • Won 2003 Rose Bowl
  • Lost 2004 Sugar Bowl(National Championship)
  • Lost 2005 Orange Bowl(National Championship)
  • Lost 2007 Fiesta Bowl
  • Lost 2008 Fiesta Bowl

Florida State, 6,

  • Lost 1999 Fiesta Bowl (National Championship)
  • Won 2000 Sugar Bowl (National Championship)
  • Lost 2001 Orange Bowl (National Championship)
  • Lost 2003 Sugar Bowl
  • Lost 2004 Orange Bowl
  • Lost 2006 Orange Bowl

LSU has seen four BCS Bowl games

  • Won 2002 Sugar Bowl
  • Won 2004 Sugar Bowl (National Championship)
  • Won 2007 Sugar Bowl
  • Won 2008 BCS National Championship Game

Florida has been to 4

  • Won 1999 Orange Bowl
  • Lost 2001 Sugar Bowl
  • Won 2002 Orange Bowl
  • Won 2007 BCS National Championship Game