Cowboys Stadium is a "virtual lock" to host the first championship game in college football's new four-team playoff, according to sources cited by Brett McMurphy of ESPN.com. Today was the deadline to "submit bids to host the championship on Jan. 12, 2015," and sources said that only North Texas and Tampa Bay "submitted bids." The BCS commissioners will meet April 23-25 in Pasadena, Calif., to "officially announce the first championship site and other details about the upcoming playoff." A source said, "It's pretty clear to everyone that it's headed to Cowboys Stadium" (ESPN.com, 3/26). In Dallas, Chuck Carlton reported several possible contenders for the game "declined to bid." New Orleans and Pasadena are "hosting the semifinals after the 2014 season." Glendale will host Super Bowl XLIX in '15 and would be "stressed logistically to host the college football title game as well." Carlton noted others "probably were swayed by Cowboys Stadium’s status as the longstanding favorite." Bids are due today for the national semifinals, with the AT&T Cotton Bowl "among the leading contenders." Three "'host' bowls will be chosen to join the six-bowl rotation" along with the Rose, Orange and Sugar bowls (DALLASNEWS.com, 3/26). Tampa Bay Sports Commission Exec Dir Rob Higgins said, "It's an event that we're interested in, and if not the first year, we're interested in the near future" (TAMPABAY.com, 3/26).
