Naming a Champion by Default

Some companies are so closely related to a product, the brand replaces the generic name for the product.  For example, Klennex is a brand name that replaces the generic term ' facial tissue.'  Coke is almost the same replacement for soft drinks.  Bowl Championship Series, replaces the term NCAA champion, but unlike the products named before, the BCS is not an NCAA champion.

Starting in 2014, a playoff will replace the current BCS system, but the NCAA won't recognize this as a "champion" either.  In fact, the NCAA does not recognize any champion at the FBS level of college football.  According to its website, the NCAA only recognizes three football playoffs: Football Championship Subdivision or Division I, Division II and Division III.  The bowl series dates back to 1998, but arbitrary polls such as the AP and Coaches Poll, have determined the "national champion" almost since the creation of college football.  Reluctance to change this system is what has led to the BCS and now the 4-team playoff.

The participating teams will still be determined by a panel of members who decide who is worthy to play in the championship games.  There will be no NCAA insight into the decision-making. Even though his article FBS Four-Team Playoff Won't Stop Controversy, Chuck Herron makes a valid point on politics influencing the decisions made.  Under the current system, computers make a decision, based on some human inspired data, as to which school should play in the championship.  The new panel probably won't be bound by the polls created, but it is sure to maintain the same built-in bias that keeps the rich teams getting richer in the national championship picture.

The whole process goes against "...NCAA mandates [for] fair access to their championships," which is why the NCAA does not recognize the BCS champion and probably won't recognize the champion of the new system, in spite of the use of playoff.  However, thanks to clever marketing, and a general understanding by the typical fan, arbitration does not matter.  Nor does the honor of actually being an NCAA champion.