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Steve Chiotakis: When the Alabama Crimson Tide and Texas Longhorns take the field tonight, we’re gonna find out which college football team is the best in the nation. At least the best as determined by the Bowl Championship Series. Now the BCS system has been criticized for shutting out smaller schools with strong teams. But now fans are really lobbying for a playoff. Brett Neely has more.

Brett Neely: Some college footballs fans will see this ad during Thursday’s game. It shows players from Boise State and Texas Christian University. Both had perfect records this year. The ad asks why neither team could play in the championship..

For years, fans have been lobbying for a college football playoff system. Now they’re actually lobbying.

Announcer: Playoff PAC is responsible for the content of this advertising.

That’s right: a political action committee is raising money to support candidates who will dismantle the current BCS system.

Bryson Morgan is the group’s treasurer. He says only Congress, which held hearings about the BCS system last year, can help.

Bryson Morgan: The way Washington works, unfortunately, is that oftentimes you’re not heard on Capitol Hill unless you have a little bit of money to back that up.

It’s not just team spirit that’s motivating Playoff PAC. A playoff system could mean millions in ticket sales and TV rights for lesser-known schools, says Allen Sanderson at the University of Chicago.

Allen Sanderson: It’s all about how can we get our nose under the tent too to get some of the spoils.

Bill Hancock is the Executive Director of the BCS:

Bill Hancock: We know there’s opposition from a few minority groups, but the majority favors what we’re doing and we’re going to continue.

Hancock says Congress probably has more important things to deal with.

In Washington, I’m Brett Neely for Marketplace.