College football in the US is different then any other football league in the states because teams are divided into divisions based on their competitiveness as well as geography. On that note, because not every college football team is created equal, teams are divided in to either Division 1 (which is divided into two subdivisions, the higher Football Bowl Subdivision and the lower Football Championship Subdivision) Division 2 or Division 3. Below that there are hundreds of junior colleges that have football teams. Teams rarely play a team from another division and when they do it's usually only a team one above or one below. Despite this these meetings more often than not generate a game that has a Giant vs. Cupcake feeling, which the Giant is picked to win by at least seventy points (okay maybe not that much but that exaggeration is not far off). Lately though the Cupcakes has been putting up a much tougher competition, and have even been doing the unthinkable, winning. Just take a look at some of the following FCS vs. FBS match ups and results in 2010 as of September, 18: Jacksonville St 49 OLE MISS 48 North Dakota St 6 KANSAS 3 Gardner-Webb 38 AKRON 37 James Madison 21 VIRGINIA TECH 16 Liberty 27 BALL STATE 23 South Dakota 41 MINNESOTA 38 These scores tell us that that the better teams from the FCS are very capable at beating mediocre FBS teams. As a whole the FBS obviously has more quality teams having gone 62-6 against FCS teams to date in this 2010 season. But the more talented teams from the Championship Subdivision have obviously made the statement that they can compete with the mid level Bowl Subdivision teams. With all that being said it might be time for some teams to make a jump up or step down in division. The process for teams to move up or down in divisions in college football though is based on everything it shouldn't be (money, location, media market) and nothing it should be (the teams success on the field and in post season play). So I have decided to take the liberty to suggest an idea that has already been adopted by hundreds of international football (soccer) teams, regulation. Just think about that for a minute. Say the five worst teams in each division were demoted at the end of every season and five best teams in each division were promoted. This system could work for Division 1 to Division 3. And personally I think it would work very well. Teams that have long been either dominate or doormats in the current system would have the chance to start facing competition more equal to them. Think of some of the football programs that really don't belong in the division they are in either because they are to good for their competition or aren't good enough. In the FBS, teams like Eastern Michigan and New Mexico State probably could be demoted, while FCS teams like Appalachian State and Massachusetts could take their place. Division 2 and 3 teams that are long overdue for promotions would include Grand Valley State, Valdosta State, Mount Union, and Wisconsin-Whitewater. There are traditionalists that would argue against adding regulation to college football but I think that it would be a good addition to the system. It is already proven that it works. Just ask millions of soccer fans around the world.
