Plus Nothing: Major Changes To BCS Format Appear Unlikely
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Slive (r) To Propose Plus One
Playoff Format At BCS Meetings |
BCS commissioners yesterday at their annual meetings in Florida decided to renew the "BCS rating system and its components,'' according to Jeff Shain of the MIAMI HERALD. It remains to be seen whether "there's enough groundswell to move to an expanded" Plus One or playoff system. Though the Pac-10 and Big Ten both have "been vocal in their opposition to any sort of expansion," the other six conferences with automatic BCS berths have been "noncommittal." While the SEC has authorized its commissioner, Mike Slive, to "put a four-team playoff model on the table" at tomorrow's commissioners-only meeting, the conference "hasn't endorsed the format." BCS Coordinator and ACC Commissioner John Swofford: "I continue to sense a certain comfort level, if you will, with the current status of things in the BCS." The Pac-10 and Big Ten have opposed the Plus One format because they want to preserve their partnership with the Rose Bowl, which runs through 2014, and Orange Bowl CEO Eric Poms last week said that the bowl "would not want to devalue [its] new partnership with the ACC." (MIAMI HERALD, 4/29).
WHAT'S THE PLAN? Slive's plan would seed teams 1-4 and would have two semifinal games followed by a championship game. Slive "would not handicap the plan's chances of acceptance." Slive: "Sometimes change comes slowly. We'll just have to see." Swofford added, "Up to this point, all of our discussions have been somewhat conceptual. But when you reach a point of decision -- and that may not be Wednesday -- at some point you have to be reasonably specific" (ATLANTA CONSTITUTION, 4/29). Meanwhile, in West Palm Beach, Jorge Milian reports the commissioners today will review the Plus One idea with ABC/ESPN and Fox execs and Orange, Sugar, Rose and Fiesta Bowl officials. Poms said that he wanted "to hear the 'particulars' of a plus-one before making a decision." Poms: "Our focus is clearly that we value being one of four areas to host a BCS matchup and a championship game every four years. We're going there open-minded, but we're very content with the current system" (PALM BEACH POST, 4/29).
REAX: In Utah, Dick Harmon writes a "true college football championship is being held up" by the Pac-10 and Big Ten. Harmon: "I say let college football move toward a national playoff championship. If the Pac-10/Big Ten/Rose Bowl coalition makes threats to withdraw from the plan, let them have their wish" (DESERET NEWS, 4/29). But in L.A., Chris Dufresne writes a Plus One format "is flawed" and "would amount only to a cookie thrown to satiate an angry beast." Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delany yesterday indicated that a Plus One "would have solved nothing'' last season in determining the national champion (L.A. TIMES, 4/29).
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