U.S. Senate Subcommittee Wants Congressional Hearing On BCS

Kohl Announces His Committee's Agenda For Congress' New Session, Includes BCS Hearing

The U.S. Senate Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy & Consumer Rights Chair Herb Kohl (D-WI) and Ranking Minority Member Orrin Hatch (R-UT) announced the committee's agenda for Congress' new session, including a hearing on the BCS. The committee will explore criticisms that the BCS leaves many college football teams at a competitive disadvantage to receive its yearly multimillion-dollar payout. Hatch plans to introduce legislation to "rectify this situation" (THE DAILY). In Utah, Lee Davidson reports Hatch's office did not comment on "exactly what may be in the yet-to-be-written bill -- including whether it might attempt to mandate a playoff system ... or simply mandate that all colleges be given a fair shot to play their way into a national championship." Hatch said, "As I have said before, the BCS system is anti-competitive, unfair and un-American." Davidson notes Hatch is not the only politician from the state looking into BCS reform, as Utah Attorney General Mark Shurtleff has also "launched an investigation into whether the BCS violates current antitrust laws" (DESERET NEWS, 3/26).