BCS isn't putting on a true national title contest

In Thursday's battle for the AFCA National Championship Trophy, the system in which we determine a college football title worked.

It kept out Boise State.

Just as it is designed to do.

Thursday night's clash between Texas and Alabama involved members of the Old Boy's Club. It was elite, all-inclusive and every bit exclusive. Just as it was designed to be.

Only 11 of 120 FBS football programs have been involved in BCS championship games like the one we witnessed on Thursday. These same 11 teams have recycled themselves to the top stage since the first BCS title game at the end of the 1998-99 season, when Tennessee defeated Florida State.

In that time, Oklahoma (four) and Florida State and Ohio State (three each) have appeared the most times, with Miami (Fla.), USC, Texas, Florida and LSU making two appearances each. This, despite unbeaten Auburn and Utah (2005), Boise State (2007), Hawaii (2008), Utah (2009) and Cincinnati, TCU and Boise State (2009) all finishing their respective regular seasons undefeated.

"The fact is what we have right now works," BCS commissioner Bill Hancock told college football writers this week in Southern California. "Who would you ask not to be a part of this?"

Well, any of those teams that were locked out with perfect records might want something better. This fact alone screams we need a playoff system. But Hancock and the six conferences plus Notre Dame, which he represents, believe otherwise.

"I know this is not completely popular, but I believe in it," said Hancock.

"I believe it is in the best interest of the universities. College football has never been better, and I believe the BCS is part of that."

The fact remains: college football's top prize is a closed system available to an elect class. History proves it.

The other disparity involves money.

Notre Dame, which doesn't belong to a conference, or the rigors thereof, is given an automatic BCS berth if the Irish win enough games, because of money.

The BCS side believes because of historic and traditional bowl ties and lucrative TV contracts, schools that belong to the six automatic qualifying conferences (Big Ten, Big 12, SEC, Pac-10, ACC and Big East, plus Notre Dame) are entitled to a royalty of all BCS money.