Most avid college football fans know that in order to get into a BCS game you either must be a BCS conference champion or be ranked in the top 12 of the final BCS poll.
For Ball State University fans, this means they need to climb up the rankings and get into the top 12 by the time the conference championship week is over.
Many of you might be surprised to learn, however, that being in the top 12 won't guarantee a BCS bowl berth for Ball State - or any non-BCS team. This is because of a stipulation listed as part of rule three for BCS bowl eligibility.
The stipulation states: "No more than one such team from Conference USA, the Mid-American Conference, the Mountain West Conference, the Sun Belt Conference and the Western Athletic Conference shall earn an automatic berth in any year. If two or more teams from those conferences satisfy the provisions for an automatic berth, then the team with the highest finish in the final BCS Standings will receive the automatic berth, and the remaining team or teams will be in the pool of teams eligible for selection by the bowls as at-large teams."
What this means is unless Brigham Young University, the University of Utah and Boise State University lose and Ball State passes them in the BCS rankings by the end of the season, Ball State is likely headed to the GMAC Bowl or the Motor City Bowl.
Based on last year's bowl games, that would not only cost Ball State loads of prestige and all the money from the exposure that brings, but it would also mean the school would go from making $17 million in a BCS bowl game to $750,000 in any of the three MAC-affiliated bowls.
Now this isn't to say Ball State would definitely be left out. There is a series of events that could make it possible for Ball State to play in a BCS bowl even if another non-BCS school is ranked above the Cardinals in the final poll.
The at-large bid would be the last hope. If there are not enough automatic bids to fill the 10 slots in the BCS bowls, then the bowl committees select from the pool of schools that remain eligible.
However, even if undefeated, Ball State would be an unlikely selection.
If you were in charge of a BCS bowl, would you choose Ball State, which averages less than 20,000 in attendance at home games, or a BCS team that averages 60,000 or more?
There is a chance the people in charge could choose an undefeated Ball State over a two-loss BCS team simply because it would be one of the biggest stories of the year.
The problem with all this is the bias to BCS teams.
I fully understand the concept of BCS conference champs getting automatic berths to BCS games. The fact of the matter is they are the best of the best.
What I don't understand is why there is a stipulation making it virtually impossible for two non-BCS teams to play in BCS bowls.
If there are two top non-BCS teams, then they deserve to be in the bowl instead of a BCS team that is not ranked as high and that couldn't win its own conference. It's horribly biased and stupid, but it is the BCS, so I should expect it.
So what should Ball State fans be rooting for?
If you want a BCS bowl then you should be rooting for BYU, Utah and Boise State to lose so Ball State can be the top ranked non-BCS team.
What will I be rooting for?
I will root for all three teams to go undefeated and finish in the top 12, thus making the BCS look worse than ever. Maybe then either the NCAA or someone else with the power will step in and get rid of the joke that is the BCS.
Write to Levin at ltblack@bsu.edu
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