It’s that time of year again where the highly unpopular BCS ranking system rears it’s ugly head. It seems nearly every coach, analyst and fan wants, at the very least, a plus one system – a compromise on an all-out playoff system that has worked for years in lower NCAA football divisions. The problem seems to be that the NCAA fears lower viewership of lesser bowls and thus less advertising money and corporate sponsorship, but make the excuse that adding extra games to the schedule would be too taxing. (Don’t NFL teams who make the Super Bowl play as many as 24 games including preseason and playoffs)?

I thought about going on a tirade about how much I hate the BCS, and to a large degree, the NCAA, who talks a big game about being in the best interest of athletes, but still bows to the almighty dollar. But it’s a tired subject and I am getting sick of beating this dead horse with friends and fellow fans, so I figured I’d look over and analyze the first BCS rankings that came out on Oct. 19.

The Florida Gators are at the number 10 position in the first rankings, which has been a hot-button issue on sports talk radio all over Florida. Gator fans are whining because they think the system owes them something and that we should all accept Tim Tebow as our lord and savior. Sorry Jim Bob, things just don’t work that way. You may have beaten LSU, but you lost to Ole Miss who got beat by Wake Forest, Vanderbilt and South Carolina. Play some quality teams and then complain about getting snubbed. I can’t wait for “fireurbanmeyer.com” – it even has a nice ring to it. Stop being so fickle and play some ranked teams.

Texas looks pretty stout, but watch for Mack Brown to blow it. I like Oklahoma State in the upset this weekend, but even if that doesn’t happen I think someone will knock them off.

What’s the deal with Penn State? Maybe they should have put Joe Paterno up in the booth years ago. What is he doing up there anyway? He looks like one half of the old men from “The Muppet Show”. Is the team providing him with adult diapers? It’s as if Penn State decided this was the football equivalent of putting someone in a nursing home. While I’m at it…

ATTENTION FLORIDA STATE: PLEASE MAKE BOBBY BOWDEN GO TO THE BOOTH…THIS IS APPARENTLY THE FORMULA FOR SUCCESS WITH AGING COACHES.

Ohio State should be excluded from the BCS for a few years. If I have to watch them get blown out in another BCS game I officially quit as a college football fan. Jim Tressel is Norman Bates in a sweater vest.

Hey Utah, Boise State, TCU, Tulsa, Ball State and BYU – To quote “Top Gun”, “The plaque for the alternates is in the ladies room.” Schedule some solid teams and maybe you’ll get some respect, but for now you’re just bracket busters (oh wait, that’s NCAA basketball, where a fair system is in place.)

I’m glad Missouri is falling out of contention and I can’t put my finger on why. Anti-Midwest bias perhaps? Or maybe i just hate over-hyped teams. Anyone who follows college football should know the idea of Missouri being a contender is a bit far-fetched.

Will this finally be the year the BCS system completely breaks down? Probably not, but I can hope.