By MarketWatch
CHICAGO (MarketWatch) -- The U.S. House of Representatives is getting ready to vote on a bill that would force a national major-college football playoff, replacing the current Bowl Championship Series, according to media reports.
There are plans to advance legislation from a subcommittee next week, The Wall Street Journal reported, in a signal of growing congressional support for the idea.
President Barack Obama also endorsed the concept during his 2008 campaign, calling for an eight-team playoff to decide the champion.
For about 10 years, picking the national champion has been done via the Bowl Championship Series, which runs a computerized ranking system that decides which two teams that will play for the title each year.
Before that, the champion was chosen by polls of the media and of college coaches following the round of season-ending bowl games.
The newer system was designed to eliminate some of the controversy in the previous process.
But, the Journal noted, opponents, including some powerful senators, have claimed the BCS system can be unfair to teams that aren't traditional powerhouses or in major athletic conferences.
While the legislation pending in the House wouldn't forbid a "title" game under current BCS rules, it would bar marketing it as a national championship match.
The proposal comes as college football teams are wrapping up t regular-season games and conference playoffs that will determine the BCS bowl alignments.
In the weekend's biggest such game, No. 2 Alabama trounced top-ranked Florida, 32-13, to win the Southeastern Conference championship and the right to play for the national championship on Jan. 7 in the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif.
The Bowl Championship Series opposes the House playoff measure, with Executive Director Bill Hancock telling the Journal that, "With everything going on in the country right now, doesn't Congress have more important things to do?"
House may call for college football playoff - MarketWatch
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