Expanding College Football Playoffs: A Look Back

There’s been a lot of buzz lately about whether expanding the college football playoffs is truly beneficial for the sport. I find myself reminiscing about the BCS days when only two teams vied for the national championship at season’s end. It makes you think—those years were intense. For many teams, a single loss felt like the end of their dreams. Yes, it was brutal, but it made for some captivating TV drama week after week.

This period gave us some iconic champions. However, it also saw fantastic teams miss out on the chances they deserved. Today, let’s explore five standout teams from the BCS era that never made it to the National Championship. It’s subjective, of course, so I’d love to hear your thoughts in the comments.

5. 2000 Miami Hurricanes

The Hurricanes of 2001 are often touted as one of the greatest college teams ever, lined with NFL talent like Andre Johnson and Ed Reed. But what many miss is that the 2000 squad was equally impressive and perhaps even more deserving of a title shot. Coming into the new millennium, they were a preseason top-five team, and it seemed like head coach Butch Davis had built something special after a series of stellar recruiting classes.

Unfortunately, an early loss to Washington dashed their championship dreams. Still, Miami rallied, winning the rest of their games, including a thrilling victory against top-ranked Florida State. But the BCS rankings were unforgiving, and they finished third, which really hurt their chances. To add insult to injury, Florida State, their arch-rivals, made it to the BCS National Championship despite that loss. Miami’s win over SEC champ Florida in the Sugar Bowl only underlined their unfortunate situation, but they had to settle for a second-place finish. At least they bounced back to win a title the following year.

4. 2004 Auburn Tigers

The 2004 season wasn’t very favorable to the Auburn Tigers, especially with the SEC’s reputation at the time. Coach Tommy Tuberville was under pressure after a disappointing previous season. Not many expected much, but the team surprised everyone with a perfect record and wins over top-10 teams.

Despite winning the SEC and defeating Tennessee, they were snubbed from the BCS title game, with USC and Oklahoma taking the spotlight. Even a Sugar Bowl victory over Virginia Tech couldn’t change the narrative, as the Trojans took home the championship instead. Interestingly, over two decades later, Auburn’s administration has finally acknowledged the 2004 team’s claim to a national title, which seems well deserved given the circumstances. It’s classic BCS chaos.

3. 2001 Florida Gators

Now, I might be biased, but let’s talk about the 2001 Gators. Sure, the Hurricanes were formidable, but the matchup against Nebraska in the championship was underwhelming, to say the least.

The Gators came into the season ranked No. 1, featuring future stars like Rex Grossman. However, they stumbled against Auburn and soon faced more challenges. Winning four straight games against top-20 teams set the stage for a showdown with Tennessee. The timing of that game was affected by the tragic events of 9/11, ultimately postponing it. Without their star running back, they narrowly lost, missing the SEC Championship Game.

They managed to win the Orange Bowl, leaving fans to wonder, “What if?” Many believe this team was just as strong as the title-winning squad from 1996.

2. 2007 West Virginia Mountaineers

I’ve mentioned the 2007 Mountaineers before—they’re arguably the best team to never clinch a national title. This seems like a classic case of missed opportunities. With an exceptional rushing attack, they were ranked second in BCS voting and heavily favored going into their last regular-season game against Pitt.

However, a stunning upset with a 13-9 scoreline ended their championship chase. Though they triumphed over Oklahoma in the Fiesta Bowl shortly after, the heartbreak of that earlier loss lingered. Given how chaotic the 2007 season was, a playoff might have benefited them immensely, as fans still think about what could have been.

1. 2011 Oklahoma State Cowboys

Finally, we have the 2011 Cowboys, a perfect example of why the two-team system crumbled. They were a high-powered offensive team, scoring over 50 points in several games. Yet tragedy struck just before a crucial matchup—a devastating plane crash took the lives of two women’s basketball coaches at the university, leaving the entire campus shaken.

That emotional toll contributed to a double-overtime loss against Iowa State, which opened the door for Alabama to land a controversial rematch with LSU in the championship. Despite a strong finish against Oklahoma and a Fiesta Bowl win over Stanford, they were denied the national title game spotlight, a fact that frustrated Oklahoma State fans who felt robbed of a fair chance.

This situation encapsulates why the BCS had to go. The Cowboys, with their incredible season, deserved so much more than what they received.