In reply to:
The BCS only involves four bowls, none of which Northern Illinois would have played in if not for the BCS. NIU didn't go to a bowl game because they didn't win their conference and because their fan base doesn't travel well.
While this is true to some degree (money - in this case attendence - is the ultimate reason for everything), Hawkson makes a good point. As I remember it, when the BCS system went into place a ton of bowls (and conferences) were guaranteed and assigned slots (IE: #6 Big Ten goes: "here") to stifle whining which in turn did significantly narrow the options for smaller conferences.
More than anything it's just more fuel to my fire. By assigning bowl bids to the major schools, the NCAA is again effectively contributing to the death of smaller Division I conferences.
It should be noted I'm not whining. I'm not even sure it's a bad thing. But it's a thing none the less.
