WASHINGTON (CNN) – Details of President-elect Barack Obama’s multi-billion dollar economic stimulus plan might still be murky, but his position on the hottest topic in the world of college football certainly is not.
“We need a playoff,” Obama told reporters after being asked about Florida’s 24-14 victory over Oklahoma in Thursday night’s BCS Championship game. "If I'm Utah, or if I'm USC or if I'm Texas, I might still have some quibbles.”
Florida, Oklahoma and Texas all finished the season with one loss. Texas actually handed Oklahoma its one defeat in October on a neutral field. When the BCS computer system put Florida and Oklahoma in this year’s national championship game, the annual back and forth over whether to have a college football playoff system was reignited. Utah was the only college football team to finish the season undefeated but its conference is considered less competitive and therefore was put at a statistical disadvantage in the BCS.
Friday was not the first time Obama stated his preference for a playoff system.
Related: BCS is a political football in 2009
"It would add three extra weeks to the season," Obama said in a interview on CBS’ 60 Minutes just after the election. "You could trim back on the regular season. I don't know any serious fan of college football who has disagreed with me on this. So, I'm going to throw my weight around a little bit. I think it's the right thing to do."
The night before Election Day both Sen. John McCain and Obama made brief appearances during Monday Night Football. “I'm fed up with these computer rankings and this that and the other. Get eight teams - the top eight teams right at the end. You got a playoff. Decide on a national champion,” he said then.
From CNN Politics
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I love you Mr. president elect but these young men have to focus on their education. Except for an educational Scholarship they are not getting paid for playing ball like the NFL.
Having a playoff may likely lengthen the season. The kids also have to focus on their studies.
Love you, but stick to Presiding.
Geez. The govt needs to stay out of this.
I always see two excuses for why there are no playoffs. One is that the regular season is a playoff, and the other is that even in a playoff, you will always have teams quibbling about being the first one out.
On the regular season being a playoff, Utah is the only team that did not lose a game. If you want to make this claim, you can;t deny that Utah beat everyone put in front of them, including BCS darling Alabama.
And as for quibbling about the last one out, wouldn't you feel better knowing that number nine is upset, than numbers 2, 3, and 4? I know I would. Every year there are complaints about bubble teams in March Madness, but by the end of the tournament no one ever doubts the champion.
Glad to see Obama's support. As long as the government doesn't get legally involved, I am all for him throwing his weight around.
Um, bigger things to worry about Mr. President? Why don't you 'throw 'your weight around a little bit' at some more important issues.
Go Obama go! playoffs!
THANK YOU! UTAH WITH A 13-0 RECORD SHOULD HAVE BEEN IN THE NATIONAL PLAYOFFS.
Why is this a story? CNN Please!
I TOTALLY AGREE!!!! In fact, i didn't bother to watch the game last night because I think both Utah and USC would have POUNDED Florida and Oklahoma. But my opinion remains just an opinion since there is no playoff season to prove it.
I AGREE WITH OBAMA!!
I agree with Mr. Obama 100%. It's a shame that an undefeated team doesn't get to play in the big game. There needs to be collegiate playoffs. How can NCAA basketball able to come up with a good tournament system and football has this debacle.
Please, PLEASE God in heaven keep the government out of sports. If not I'm positive they will screw it up also. Look what they have done to everything else. Shut up B.O. and stick to the promise of change. Ha
There's little doubt that either USC or Texas would have had a good chance of winning the championship, and Utah probably also deserved consideration. Deciding which of these and Oklahoma and Florida should have been ranked one and two should never be left to peoples opinions, however knowledgible they may be. There is almost always at least one team with a valid case for their inclusion in the championship every year. Playoffs are the only acceptable and fair way.
Boy, this is a really important issue for the Prez-Elect to be worried about.....
Right on the money!!
Mr. President:
I agree with you on most issues, however on this matter of great importance I must dissent.
We need a thirty-two team playoff and not eight. Sir, your plan does not allow enough teams in as the media voters will still find excuses to keep teams like Utah, TCU and Boise out of the playoff system.
Thank you and long life the Utes!!
Yes, i love college football and BCS is just wrong for our college sport culture. but then again, it's a reflection of the power and prestige we've experienced on Wall St., there are too many deans, directors and businesses who are profitted from this broken point system so they refused to hear the truth, a PLAYOFF, like it should be.
truly sad to see even our college sports are tainted by these greed mongers. i'm a USC fan but very disappointed Utah didn't have a chance to prove how good they are just because of $$$. they would top the BCS list if their university had enough $$$ to earn some game time on ESPN, FOX Sports or the self-claimed sports center (or sport+$ centers), so distorted!!!
Not a big college football fan, but the BCS is a joke!
gee..that's a novel idea....I wonder why the other 40 million football fans never thought of that....what an insightful leader we have...
This is a matter of little concern to us, down here at UF. Whichever way you prefer, we'll still win. And it makes our victory the more precious that even with a flawed system, we still won. decisively.
When is the role of mega-bucks corrupting college athletics going to be seriously dealt with. As far as I am concerned; you are going to keep seeing the same schools year after year competing in this farce; as the N.C.A.A. does nothing to promote HIGHER EDUCATION. It is simply WIN BABY WIN; who cares if you have a diploma you can`t even read.
I'm sorry, Florida's win supports the BCS system.
I disagree with Obama's views on almost everything.
Except for this! lol! Go Obama! Make it happen!
So true.
Seriously, look at what March Madness does for NCAA Basketball. A playoff system with an overall winner would create more excitement than letting a computer tell us how the top contenders are.
Once again, stick with popular opinion.
Who really cares about what he thinks about football, (except all you worshipers who probably now feel the same way)
I find it funny that you wait for what he says before you can voice an opinion and he waits for what you say before he voices an opinion.
All praise BO. we now must have a playoff or it's Bush's fault.
Obama is so driven to make the economy get going that he now wants a play off. Now he's going to run college football. Socialism