Enhanced Bowl Season vs. Old Bowl System

The historical bowl system is a traditional staple of college football. It offers a unique postseason of inclusiveness and excitement. Unfortunately, because it was never intended to be used for determining a national champion, the bowl structure does not allow for consistent pairing of the nation's top teams in direct competition. Further, the relationships between bowls and conferences often prohibits access to historically disadvantaged (non-BCS) conferences.

Click on each symbol below (box will turn grey) to read the reasons for the specific rating.

- Yes

- Limited

- No

Criteria	EBS	Old Bowl System
Crowns a definitive and widely accepted national champion
EBS: A 12-team tournament ensures that under most circumstances all teams worthy of an opportunity to win a national championship are given that chance. The "playoff" (one element of the EBS) is consistent with the format used by every other NCAA team sport.
Old Bowls: The old bowl system was not designed to crown a national champion. Conference affiliations and competition between the bowls to secure desirable teams meant that teams fighting for a national title rarely met on the same playing field. Even when they did, these were often only two of many teams deserving of a chance at a title. The champions were decided by pollsters rather than players.
Ensures BCS conference champions play in premier bowl
EBS: All BCS conference champions are ensured a spot in the 12-team EBS tournament.
Old Bowls: While most conferences had affiliations with major bowls, some, like the Big East and ACC, did not.
Maintains traditional bowl affiliations for conference champions
EBS: Teams receiving byes are placed in bowls based on traditional bowl affiliations. However, this allows for only one team to be placed per bowl and the conference champion must be one of the four bye teams.
Old Bowls: Traditional bowl affiliations are a result of the old bowl system.
Provides access to non-BCS conference champions
EBS: The highest-ranked non-BCS conference champion is guaranteed a spot in the post season.
Old Bowls: Since non-power conference teams were not deemed to have the financial draw sought by the premier bowls, it was unlikely that small-conference teams would play in these bowls.
Provides access to all teams worthy of a chance at a national championship
EBS: With all six BCS conference champions, at least one non-BCS conference champion, and potentially five at-large bids, it is very unlikely that a team deserving of a chance at the national title would be excluded.
Old Bowls: Since no formal mechanism existed to match up teams battling for a national title, the old bowl system often proved to be a final testing ground for the #1 ranked team going into the bowl season. In 1980, an undefeated Pittsburgh team was unable to challenge the #1 ranked team in the country [Georgia] for the right for the national title.
Prevents unworthy teams from having a chance at a national championship
EBS: With the possibility of a weak conference champion and as many as five at-large bids, it is possible a team with several losses would be included in the tournament
Old Bowls: Since only teams with national title hopes in the bowl system had any realistic chance of winning a national championship, unworthy teams were not given consideration by the voters
Maintains the importance of the regular season for teams with the same number of losses as the #1 ranked team (i.e., an undefeated team)
EBS: By making available first round byes, even teams who have sewn up an EBS tournament berth still need to maintain their standing as one of the top 4 teams.
Old Bowls: In attempting to receive a prestigious bowl invite, every game mattered to the bowl selection committees.
Maintains the importance of regular season games for teams with one or two more losses than the #1 ranked team (i.e., one loss teams when the #1 team is undefeated).
EBS: Quality teams with only one or two losses to top teams are still very much in the hunt for the national championship. Although their path to a championship is deservingly more difficult, for these teams, their regular season is still “the most important regular season in collegiate athletics.” Another loss would eliminate them from the tournament.
Old Bowls: Teams not in the national championship hunt entering the bowl season will not be considered for the national championship.
Produces compelling matchups to attract a national TV audience in majority of bowl games
EBS: By the very nature of a national championship tournament and because of a lack of potentially lopsided matchups, all games are compelling.
Old Bowls: The old bowl system produced regionally attractive matchups, but the lack of competition between national championship contenders prevented marquee matchups.
Advances the interest in minor bowl games
EBS: Because first round sites are hosted by minor bowls, these bowls can leverage this added interest to non-Tournament years. Non-tournament games get attention by taking place during "bowl week," sandwiched between the first round and the quarterfinals.
Old Bowls: The old bowl system failed to respect vested interest of minor bowls.
Allows fans to enjoy the complete bowl experience
EBS: The byes and extended period between first and second round games allow fans to travel to bowl sites and enjoy extend stays. The later-round games will continue to be “destination events” where fans attend regardless of competing teams. In the current system, only about 1/3 of tickets for many bowls go to schools; rest are allocated to annual renewals, corporate partners, and local residents.
Old Bowls: Fans only need to plan on attending one bowl game, allowing them to take extended vacations and enjoy the complete bowl experience.
Student-athletes not subjected to excessive number of games
EBS: Teams play at most four postseason games, but given the fact that the highest-ranked, and presumably best, teams receive a bye, teams expected to play in the championship game would play at most three postseason games. At most a team would play 16 games, similar to games played by national champions in Division I-AA (15 games), Division II (15-16 games), and Division III (14-15). Unlike these division, those at DI-A would benefit from a several week rest between the regular season and the postseason.
Old Bowls: Teams play only one postseason game.