The way it stands now, the Pac-10 and Big Ten are running the show. They dictate the agenda, the discussion and the outcome. In short, they are holding every college football fan in America in jail. This is why you had USC kill No. 13 Illinois in the Rose Bowl this past January, while more deserving teams certainly could have faced the Trojans.

If these two leagues don't want to play, just let them go. Their fans would be so ticked off, they'd demand this Rose Bowl cartel be trashed.

Four BCS conferences (ACC, Big East, SEC, Big 12) and Notre Dame want to move on and can envision a time for a playoff, perhaps starting with a four-team-plus-one system. The BCS system of determining a national champion is universally hated right now, but at least folks are trying to find a better way, even potentially adding a fifth BCS bowl.

Even ABC, whose separate TV deal with the Rose Bowl and Pac-10/Big Ten, says they can work with a plus-one system if its done before their contract expires in 2014.

These four other BCS leagues have worked and successfully progressed to the inclusion of non-BCS leagues like the Mountain West and WAC to the table. They've tried being more accommodating in finding ways to get qualified non-BCS schools like Utah, Boise State or Hawaii a piece of the pie.

But the Pac-10 and Big Ten? They want it their way. They can't give up their own incestuous pact and insist on their own TV arrangement. If British and European countries had never evolved, we'd still have their royal families breeding.

Grow up.

The thing is, the way the BCS is structured now, all six BCS conferences have to unanimously agree on a proposal like a one-plus playoff system. Guess who'd spoil it?

I dare the Pac-10 and Big Ten presidents, chancellors, athletic directors and commissioners to keep up this obstructionist attitude by withdrawing and keeping their hallowed tie to one another.

It would go against the desires of their fans — all to stubbornly appease the folks in the funny-colored coats and their sponsors.

Do it.

Let's then see what happens to a college football championship.

We'd likely learn just how fast the Pac-10/Big Ten could experience a bout of humility and beg to be allowed back.

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E-mail: dharmon@desnews.com