I'd like to see the BCS formula changed so that a school's ranking is based on the number of wins it has each year and that a win over a non-BCS school would not be counted. This would address the tradition that some schools have of repeatedly scheduling creampuffs.
IMHO the more quality OOC matchups there are the better it is for college football. Non-conference games with quality opponents are more highly anticipated, by both fans and the media, and they are more fun to watch. It also enables fans to better gauge a team's overall quality earlier in the season.
Is this a good idea or not?
It's a good idea in concept, but it's not practical. With conferences getting bigger and going to 9-game schedules, that takes away one out of conference game. That wouldn't be such a problem, except that schools rely on a certain amount of home games to make money - if one extra game is now guaranteed to rotate home and away, the remaining out-of-conference games really need to almost always be played at home and the better opponents won't agree to come to your place without you going to theirs.
But I do not see that as a problem. Many schools set up "home and home" OOC games. UCLA has had lots of them in the past decade (Nebraska, Tennessee and Texas come to mind.) I assume that teams which normally sell out their stadiums (Tennessee, Texas, Nebraska, Oklahoma, etc) lose some money by setting up "home and home" series. But so what? Couldn't the risk of losing money be offset with a formula that would give them a better shot at the NC game if they schedule a tough OOC component and win? And don't schools make the most money when they win the NC?
I just don't like the idea that we are rewarding schools for ducking quality teams. Look at some of the SEC and BIG 10 opponents from last year.
Let's say Nebraska played Alabama in an early OOC game this upcoming season. And let's say it was a "home and home" series.
Yes, both schools might not make as much money as if they were playing a creampuff. But think of the buzz! Think of the ratings! And think what a great leg up the victor would have in the NC hunt! Instead of September being a relatively ho-hum month, just think of the excitement.
I just think that a team should be rewarded for taking risks -- not for avoiding them (a la SEC). Set it up so each school has to play 3 OOC games and then change the math so that a school gets more credit for an "away" victory against a quality OOC opponent.
Am I missing something?