The Crowning of a National NCAA Football Champion?

Okay, Im a Nittany Lion. Yes we got our arses kicked by USC. With that said, how can we seriously crown any one college football team a national champion without a playoff? Last time I checked NCAA basketball had a playoff system. Yes there are always arguments about teams that did not make the field, but they have a playoff. I don't ever recall a Stanley Cup, Sprint Cup, Lombardy Trophy, or World Series Champion ever be calculated based on strength of schedule, W-L record, and AP or coaches polls. it is a ludicrous way of crowning a champion and there are too many teams who deserve a shot at that title! The BCS is the worst thing to EVER happen to college football period!