Watch BCS Bowl Championship Series
- 2013
The BCS Bowl Championship Series from ESPN was an annual event featuring some of the top college football teams from across the United States. The series began in 1998 and ran through the 2014 season, when it was ultimately replaced by the current College Football Playoff system.
The BCS Bowl Championship Series was known for pitting two of the top teams in college football against each other in a championship game, with the winner being crowned the national champion. The series consisted of five bowl games: the Orange Bowl, the Fiesta Bowl, the Sugar Bowl, the Rose Bowl, and the BCS National Championship game.
One of the unique features of the BCS Bowl Championship Series was the way in which the teams were selected to participate. Unlike the current College Football Playoff, which is determined by a selection committee, the BCS used a combination of polls and computer rankings to determine the top two teams in the country. The rankings were based on a number of factors, including strength of schedule, overall record, and various statistics such as points scored and allowed.
The BCS National Championship game was always the culmination of the bowl season and was typically held in January. The game was played at a neutral site and was broadcast live on ESPN. The winner was recognized as the national champion of college football.
In addition to the BCS National Championship game, the other four bowls in the series were also highly coveted and provided a major platform for some of the best teams in the country to showcase their skills. Each bowl game had its own unique atmosphere and traditions and attracted fans from across the country.
The Orange Bowl, for example, was held annually in Miami and featured top teams from the ACC and Big Ten or SEC conferences. The Fiesta Bowl, which was played in Arizona, matched up top teams from the Big 12 and Pac-12 conferences. The Sugar Bowl, held in New Orleans, typically pitted top teams from the SEC and Big 12 conferences against each other, while the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, California, was known for hosting the Big Ten and Pac-12 champions.
The BCS Bowl Championship Series was not without controversy, however. The use of computer rankings and the exclusion of some conferences from the championship game often led to disagreements and debates among fans and analysts. In addition, there were instances where teams with similar records were left out of the championship game, leading to calls for a playoff system.
Despite these criticisms, the BCS Bowl Championship Series remained a cornerstone of college football for over a decade. The series provided memorable moments, unforgettable games, and a sense of excitement and anticipation for fans across the country. Today, the College Football Playoff has replaced the BCS Bowl Championship Series, but the legacy of the series will live on in the hearts and minds of college football fans everywhere.