Please read this thru before you answer.
Okay, I understand without a playoff the system is going to be imperfect, and we bring in computers to try to balance out human error and bias. But I thikn we put too much emphasis on strength of schedule (SOS). If I put the New England Patriots players in coaches into the University of Hawaii uniforms and headsets would they not be the best team in cfb? Yet there sos would prevent them from a #1 bcs ranking (no matter if they got both #1s in the poll). For argument sake (and remember this is just hypothetical) let assume WVU is the best team in the land, yet if no team goes undefeated both LSU and OU get the nod over them because their conference was better! Now wait they all lost a game, but for some reason the nation feels the national champ isn't necessarily the best team, but the best team from the toughest conf. which by default doesnt make you the best team; If that were true then the Pats would be ranked low in the NFL (cause AFC East)

Style points don't matter to the computers anymore (at least to the computers). And while you are right that you usually have to have a couple years of winning and be a developed program to receive recognition (ie votes and rankings) is that right? What does the 2003 season have to do with 2007? My point is just because team A has a better sked than team B (and they have the same record) that doesnt mean that team A is better; whos to say team B couldnt have done the same? If LSU played North Texas schedule would they be a worse team? No. But they would be ranked lower because of their schedule. I know some people feel its all we have to jusge them on, but I think with parity being what it is it is not a valid method.

You have it exactly backwards. Take two teams with equal records, say one loss. Team A beats four top ten teams to get there, and loses to a top ten team. Team B plays several Div1AA Schools and non-ranked 1A teams, with only one ranked in the top 25 (at 25). The better team is the one that went through the tough games instead of avoiding them.

This is the exact situation currently with LSU and Ohio State. OSU just hasn't posted the loss yet; but they will.

OU, BC, LSU, OSU, UK,and Florida sould all be ahead of USF.

That's where style points come in....If Hawaii was winning games 100 to 0 (which they would if they were new england) I would gladly rate them #1

This is another reason you see so many teams literally blow out there opponents (beat them by significat points margin). They do this so that they can try and balance out this system. If you beat the lower opponent by a huge margin this balances out the SOS because they are beating these guys bad... just like they are suppose to.

As far as teams complaining about their rankings due to SOS. I have just one word for them... Schedule tougher out of conference schedule. If they play a Michigan or Florida outside of conference this will increase their SOS and give them a better chance of reaching a BCS bowl bid. Why do you think they let Boise State into a BCS because they had a really tough out of conference schedule.

SOS has to come into play. A team that loses at the #1 team by a couple points deserves to be ranked lower than another team that plays one top 25 team because that second team is undefeated?

Win/loss record should not be the sole method of deciding the best team. Go fight mike tyson in his prime and lose by decision. Then I knock out Gilbert Godrfried in the tenth round. Obviously I am the better boxer right? I mean you lost your fight, while I won mine.

Who else are you supposed to beat? You can only beat the teams that are on your schedule. You aren't going to get big schools on your schedule unless you are recognized. That's why these underdogs climb the rankings so fast.

well it also depends on the preseason rankings, see LSU were ranked ahead of WVU, and not only that OU and LSU will always get the nod over WVU because of the history behind the programs....see there are politics that also play into the system....the system is flawed in every way possible, and new reasons why it is come up every year

I am an Ohio State fan, but never in my mind did I ever think we were the best team in the country before the season started, I thought Michigan was the team to beat in the Big Ten, then they came out flat, but are back where they should have been from the start, here we are

the problem is, you need to be perfect from the start, the whole season is one big playoff, if you lose, your out...but then again it also depends on when you lose

to answer all the what ifs, a playoff is definately necessary, therefore we know who the best team is at the end of the year

I think you have to look at the other side of your example. Instead of using Patriots players put PeeWee football players into the Hawaii uniforms. If they went undefeated because they have the worst (and they have the absolute worst in Div I) schedule, does that make them the best team? If you want respect you have to play and beat respected teams. Hawaii should join the Pac 10. That's a step up.