by Peter Schrager

I know you're fairly busy at the moment. Your inauguration is less than two weeks away, you're working on an economic recovery plan that needs to be passed ... well, yesterday, and there's a war going on overseas. So, yeah, I do feel a bit silly writing you an open letter about college football in times like these.

But in you, I see the chance for change. And every time you mention the need for a college football playoff — whether it be on "Monday Night Football" a week before the election, or Friday, following Florida's much contested national championship title — I get optimistic. Optimistic over the fact that in my lifetime, though I never thought possible, there may very well be justice in the world of college football.

When you mentioned the need for a playoff in that MNF interview back in November, I feared it was merely a safe, savvy political play. You were on the campaign trail, given a national audience of sports fans, and asked what would be something in the sports world you'd try to address as President. John McCain went the steroids route (so 2003). You mentioned a college football playoff.

Then, Friday morning, you . When asked about Florida's title game victory, you congratulated the Gators, but then noted, "If I'm Utah, or if I'm USC or if I'm Texas, I might still have some quibbles. That's why we need a playoff."

Quibbles? Try outrage. Disgust. Frustration. Fans of USC, Utah, and Texas are up in arms today, feeling helpless over their collective bridesmaid fates. If ever there was a year for a college football playoff, this was the one. Entering the '08-09 bowl season, we had two teams with undefeated records and eight with just one loss. A month later, we're left with nothing but clutter and confusion. Uncertainty prevails.

Having watched USC destroy Penn State in the Rose Bowl — I assume you watched — it's difficult to say they're any less title-worthy than the Florida squad we saw on Thursday night. Texas' case has been well chronicled. And Utah? Well, their Friday evening undressing of Alabama was the stuff we dream about. David slaying Goliath. Only, David seems to slay Goliath a lot more often than the other way around in these games. Without a playoff, teams like Utah this year, Boise State in '07, and Urban Meyer's Utah squad in '05 are never ever going to be given the proper chance to "win it all."

And how about those Trojans? The knock on them was that they played in a weak Pac-10 conference this year. That same weak Pac-10 that went 5-0 in bowl games this year. You can't make this stuff up, sir.

A college football playoff — and there have been several different proposals tossed around as to how that would look — is the answer. It's obvious.

So why don't we have one?

Weak reasons abound. "Tradition," "history," and some convoluted arguments about a playoff schedule somehow undermining academics have been the talking points from the folks in charge for years. Does March Madness undermine academics? Come on.

In truth, it's because of money. Lots of it. You know that, President-elect, and so do I. The rich are just getting richer with the current system. Where a nation of sports fans is left out in the cold every January, wealthy men in top positions are enjoying the warmth of new paydays. It's not about tradition. It's about massive TV deals, deep pockets, and a tight network of good ol' boys reaping the benefits of the current bowl system for decades.

Every so often, someone with a bit of authority comes out of the woodwork and rallies against the current BCS system. This year, Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff argued that the BCS violated antitrust laws. Shurtleff contends that the BCS "unfairly puts schools like Utah — a member of a conference that has no automatic bid to the lucrative bowl games — at a competitive and financial disadvantage." He's right.

Alas, Shurtleff is not the President of the United States. His authority is limited. There's only so much the Attorney General from Utah can do.

If there is a man who can actually do something — do what's right — it's you, sir.

In closing, let me reiterate: this is the least of our great nation's problems, and should by no means be a top priority on your agenda.

But by merely acknowledging the need for a college football playoff, you've given us hope.

Hope for change.

Sincerely,

Peter Schrager

New York, New York