Washington, D.C. -- Rep. Neil Abercrombie issued this statement on his House resolution relating to the Bowl Championship Series following Sunday's release of the latest BCS rankings:

"Sunday’s selection of the University of Oklahoma as Big 12 South champion, based on computerized Bowl Championship Series (BCS) rankings, makes an ironclad case that the BCS selection process is seriously flawed. As President-elect Barack Obama has pointed out, it should be replaced with a true playoff system.

"The University of Texas is 2008’s most visible victim. Texas and Oklahoma have identical 11-1 records, and in head-to-head competition, Texas defeated Oklahoma by ten points on a neutral field. Yet, somehow, based on computer rankings, Oklahoma has been placed ahead of Texas, into the title game for the Big 12 Championship and a likely berth in the National Championship game.

"There are also two teams with perfect 12-0 records, Utah and Boise State; yet only one is guaranteed a place in a BCS game. The other 'may' be selected as an at-large team, if they wind up among the top 12 teams in the BCS standings.

"The latter situation very clearly constitutes a restraint of trade. The best teams from the six BCS conferences have the opportunity every year to compete for the National Championship and share in the huge amount of revenue that BCS games generate. But the teams in the five non-BCS conferences are just out of luck. One team from all five conferences may be selected for a BCS bowl game.

"Reps. Lynn Westmoreland (R-GA), Jim Matheson (D-UT), Mike Simpson (R-ID) and I introduced H.Res. 1120 earlier this year to end the BCS and establish a true playoff system. The resolution directs the Department of Justice Antitrust Division to investigate the BCS and bring appropriate action to end its restraint of trade. 

"Attached is our letter to President-elect Obama, following his public statements about the need for a real college football playoff, calling his attention to the House Resolution that would accomplish his goal. 

"Replacing the Bowl Championship Series with a process that allows the NCAA Division I football National Championship to be decided on the field is a matter of sportsmanship and a matter of equity."

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