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CBS

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Veteran TV exec: Playoff of some kind will happen
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</td></tr> </tbody> </table> LOS ANGELES -- The network executive who helped form the Bowl Championship Series hinted that college football might be creeping toward a modest playoff system.

Loren Matthews, senior vice president of programming for ABC Sports, said "I think what you'll see in the future is something different than what you see now."
That could take many forms, he said, from the much-discussed "plus-one" format to an eight-team playoff.
"It could, certainly," said Matthews, who is retiring after Wednesday's Rose Bowl. "I don't think they needed to go to this one."
He was speaking of the new BCS double-hosting format that debuts a year from now. The Rose, Fiesta, Orange and Sugar will host their traditional games on or around Jan. 1 each year. But the championship game will be played in one of those venues a week later between the 1-2 teams in the BCS.
That means next year the Fiesta Bowl will be playing host to two games a week apart.
Because of existing contracts, the soonest changes could be made is five years from now.
In adopting double-hosting, commissioners left a lot of money on the table and arguably diluted their product. By separating four games from the championship game, Matthews said, the BCS could be killing buzz and momentum.
"The championship game will always be great. The question is how will those stand-alones do?" Matthew said.
Matthews proposed a "plus-one" format to conference commissioners in April 2004. That would have allowed two teams to be selected from the four winners of the four major bowls to play in a national championship game.
The deal would have been much more lucrative for schools. But Matthews was turned down, mainly by college presidents who are at least to make a show of holding the line on expansion of major-college sports.
"I'm looking at it from a TV and sports angle," he said. "The presidents are looking at it from not only economic but academic angles.
"I just think that the commissioners left to their own devices might come up with a different system."
Matthews has been involved in negotiating for ABC's exclusive rights to the BCS since 1998. ABC has retained the rights to the Rose Bowl through 2014. However, Fox will take over televising the Fiesta, Sugar and Orange beginning in 2007.
The BCS has been a ratings success but the volatile and controversial system has undermined its credibility.
"This year the BCS works, next year who knows?" Matthews said. "In order for this to really work you need two undefeated teams ...
"What are the odds you are going to get two undefeated teams every year? What if you have one or none? That probably will happen over the next four years. Then I don't know how you (tweak) the formula yet again."