By Stephen Luckey ‘15

College football is the one of the most viewed sports on television. The fan bases for top teams are loyal to their core but in years past, fans of only two teams can root for a big championship after the regular season. This was because of the old Bowl Champion Series (BCS) system, in which the No.1 and No.2 teams duked it out on the gridiron for the national championship. Through this system, teams ranked anywhere below the two top spots were designated to a lesser bowl game.

The argument grew louder in the past decade that some lower ranked teams were overall better than the higher-ranked No.1 and No.2 teams. Anything can happen in college football and some of the other teams in the top ten truly had the potential to beat the national championship contenders. And so, this year is the first time that there will be a playoff system. The top four selected teams will go head-to-head to see which two advance to the championship.

Still, this year’s playoff system doesn’t go far enough. TCU is ranked No.3 after leapfrogging undefeated Florida State, who sits at No.4. If things hold this weekend No.5 Baylor and No.6 Ohio State will be left out of the playoffs even though they each have only lost one game. Ohio State also plays in the Big Ten, including a game this weekend against surging Wisconsin. The NCAA should have an eight-team playoff so all the deserving teams have a chance at the championship title.

This would obviously extend the process, but it would allow for a system more like the NFL. To accommodate the addition of games, the trivial bowl games could be cut out. Make it all about the big kahuna, the main event, the national championship.

Regardless of what happens with the four-team playoff system, there will still be arguments over what actual improvements were made. Let the top teams have a chance and show the nation what they can do. Yes, Ole Miss has three losses, but the Rebels beat newly No.1 ranked Alabama, as well as previously No.4 ranked Mississippi State.

An eight-team playoff would settle the debates about the best college team in America. The NCAA should use this year’s playoff as a first step to going to eight teams in 2015.