Associated Press
MIAMI ó Jim Harbaugh needs no convincing that a playoff can work in college football.
His family has proof.
The Stanford coachís father, Jack Harbaugh, was coaching Western Kentucky in 2002, a season where the Hilltoppers got off to a 2-3 start. Any team that loses three of its first five games at collegeís highest level would have nary a chance of playing for a national title. But that Western Kentucky team closed with five straight regular-season wins, got into the 16-team bracket and won the championship.
Of course, when No. 5 Stanford (11-1) faces No. 12 Virginia Tech (11-2) on Monday night in the Orange Bowl, the season will end for both, win or lose, no opportunity to move on to play for an even bigger prize.
That leaves Jim Harbaugh clamoring for more.
ěThereís no NCAA sport that doesnít have a playoff system,î Jim Harbaugh said. ěSo why not football?î
In this Bowl Championship Series era, that question is nothing more than rhetorical.
Still, it becomes an annual debate, something that has been argued by not just those inside the game. Of late, everyone from congressional officials to Dallas Mavericks owner Mark Cuban has weighed in on the topic.
And it all makes for an interesting subplot to the Orange Bowl. Not only will Harbaugh and Virginia Techís Frank Beamer be on opposite sidelines Monday night, theyíre on opposite ends of the playoff-or-no-playoff debate as well.
ěAs far as Iím concerned, I want to keep it the way it is and keep on working with it and keep on getting it better and make sure we keep our bowls in place,î Beamer said. ěThatís the way I see it.î
Oddly, a playoff could have helped Virginia Tech maybe more than any other team in the nation this year.
The Hokies opened the season with a loss to Boise State, then followed that five days later with a surprising loss against lower-division James Madison. Going 0-2 within a week essentially ended any opportunity for Virginia Tech to win this seasonís national championship.
Since that James Madison loss, Virginia Tech is 11-0. Only Auburn, Oregon and TCU have longer current winning streaks.
ěThe bowls are a special deal,î Beamer said. ěI think weíre closer to it. The only thing that Iíd like to see is, Iíd like to see a two-plus-one (format) at the end, to have the top four teams that have a legitimate shot at being the best in the country. Maybe thereís a fifth one.î
Beamerís thinking on the issue has evolved ó a little.
On Jan. 3, 2005, the Hokies met Auburn in the Sugar Bowl. Virginia Tech lost that night 16-13, and Auburn finished the season 13-0, but with no shot at the title. The Tigers did get three first-place votes in the final Associated Press poll that season, but still finished No. 2 to USC for the national championship.
ěThey were good enough to play for the national championship,î Beamer said. ěBut I think weíve got a good thing going. I think itís unique. I think every game counts toward the national championship. We keep the bowls intact and theyíre special, itís special for the fans to go a week early and spend money and the whole bit. Iím a bowl guy, the whole way.î