Playoff PAC Formed To Raise Money For Fight Against BCS

A group of "political operatives have formed the Playoff Political Action Committee to raise money and generally provide the backbone they say the small group of playoff supporters in Congress will need to take on the big football conferences and powerhouse schools that make up" the BCS, according to Stephen Dinan of the WASHINGTON TIMES. Attorney and Playoff PAC co-Founder Matthew Sanderson: "We don't think this is a top-order issue for Congress. But even with everything else on Congress' plate, this is an issue that merits attention because it's financially and culturally significant to their constituents." Dinan notes the PAC wants to be a "one-stop shop for studies and information countering the BCS, and to do the legwork so that more members of Congress feel ready to take on the system." The PAC "doesn't have a sense yet for how much money it can raise or spend to boost its cause" (WASHINGTON TIMES, 10/20).

SEEKING FINANCING: In Utah, Lee Davidson reports the Playoff PAC is "not yet saying exactly who is financing its anti-BCS efforts," though it said that it is "seeking money from fans and booster groups at schools." Sanderson said that the PAC's plans include "donating to the campaigns of politicians who favor playoffs, commissioning polls and holding events that 'spotlight the inadequacies and flaws of the status quo.'" Sanderson: "We will contribute to candidates. When we do that, we are leaving partisanship out of this." Davidson notes the PAC "formally registered with the Federal Election Commission late last month," though it "did not say in its filings whether it is affiliated with other groups or is independent, and the commission has formally asked it to amend its organizational filing to specify any affiliations." The PAC also has "not yet filed papers showing who is donating to it." Sanderson said the PAC will file a report "at the end of the year, and that's when we'll disclose our numbers" (DESERET NEWS, 10/20). POLITICO.com's Erika Lovely noted the PAC, whose slogan is "Beat the BCS. Save College Football," has "received backing from BCS critics" U.S. Sen. Orrin Hatch (R-UT) and U.S. Reps. Neil Abercrombie (D-HI) and Joe Barton (R-TX) (POLITICO.com, 10/19).