The statement also says critics argue that "a fair system would provide equal opportunity, regardless of conference, for all teams to play their way into one of the BCS's bowl games and, if they're good enough, to compete for the national championship."

That comes after Kohl and Hatch had stressed in statements that their subcommittee will focus on those issues of most importance to consumers in a time of recession.

"In these challenging economic times, the need for strong antitrust law to protect competition has never been greater," Kohl said in a press release. But he added, "We will also pursue several important reforms to antitrust law to ensure that undue barriers to competition are eliminated."

Hatch is not the only Utah politician looking to reform the BCS. Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff also launched an investigation into whether the BCS violates current antitrust laws.

Of note, Rep. Joe Barton, R-Texas, the ranking Republican on the Energy and Commerce Committee, has sponsored legislation that would prevent the BCS from calling a football game a "national championship" unless the game culminates from a playoff system.

President Barack Obama has also said he favors a playoff system in college football.

E-MAIL: lee@desnews.com