Parity, Is It Good For Sports?

Parity in college sports has been talked about over the last 16 years (1991) since the NCAA cut scholarships from 95 to 85 for D1 football programs. Within a few years of the 1991 season, more and more upsets have plagued college football. Teams that were once doormats of their conferences have now become contender’s year in year out and teams that were once champion’s year in year out now struggle to survive against the once feeble.

I hear from fans of the once powerful that they think parity has ruined football. Sure, their team is no longer beating up and other teams because their financially secure program can no longer go out and give scholarships to players just to keep them out of the hands of the teams who cannot afford more scholarships. So those players are now seeking out the programs that will offer them playing time and a chance to build something.

It is because of the 85 scholarship limitation that programs like Oregon, Oregon State, Washington State, Louisville, Rutgers, Utah and Boise State have crashed the party and been in the national spotlight the past 10 years. Players who normally would have gone to USC, Oklahoma, Florida, and Miami for the scholarship and sat the bench waiting their turn are now starters for other teams and making an impact on the college football world.

As each year passes, more and more programs that were once down or never ever heard from are now contending for titles. And not just in their conference and national titles. Just look at South Florida. Seven years ago they were not even a D1 school, today they are ranked #5 in the nation. Cincinnati is another up and comer this year. 6-0 in the Big East and shaking up the football world.

So for all those fans out their that complain that parity is a bad thing, I say “Nuts to You”. Parity in college football has made it better then ever. Every week you never know who will beat who. Teams can no longer overlook the once weak schools on their schedules or they will get beat. It makes every game matter and gives every game the chance to be one to remember. Just look at the upsets this season so far. Appalachian State over #5 Michigan, Stanford over #2 USC, South Florida over Auburn, Notre Dame over #15 UCLA and many others.

The fact that you never know who can come out and beat another team each week is the best argument of all for a playoff system in D1 college football. Just think how exciting it would be to see a Cincinnati or South Florida make a run through a playoff system and win a National Championship on the field where it should be decided. We can still have the bowls in place for the teams to go to that do not make it to the playoffs, but imagine how much fun it would be to see a real champion on the field and not a champion that was picked by sportscasters or computers.

Thank God for parity in college football, it makes every week exciting. Already today we have an upset in the first game of the day on TV. I can’t wait to see who else shocks the world today.