BCS selection process for 2006

[BB73]

This is a closed thread, for reference only. I will update it as circumstances dictate over the next few weeks. If you think something needs to be updated, send me a PM.

Here's an overview of the BCS selection process for this season:

There are 10 BCS spots this year. Since there's no way a team from outside the 6 'BCS conferences' will be #1 or #2 this year, two bids are for Glendale on January 8th, and 4 more bids are taken by the other 4 BCS conference champions. (This could be 5 more bids, it tOSU/TSUN end up #1 and #2 in the BCS).

That leaves 3 or 4 bids. The next teams considered are those from the other five 1-A conferences. Only Boise State has a realistic chance of getting an automatic bid by being in the BCS top-12 (or in the top-16 and ahead of one of the 6 BCS conference champions; this is very possible with the ACC champ, or if Texas is upset in their CCG). Note - even if more than 1 non-BCS conference school meets these criteria, only 1 will be given an automatic bid.

That leaves 2 to 4 bids. Next is the Notre Dame provision. If ND is in the top 8, they get an automatic spot. Note that they don't receive a full bowl payout any longer; if ND is in a BCS bowl, they receive the same BCS money as a second team from a BCS conference (close to $5 million, rather than $15-$17 million). That's new this year, and often not reported accurately. Their agreement also gives them about $1 million a year when they don't qualify for a BCS bowl.

That leaves 1 to 4 bids. If the #3 team is from a BCS conference but not that conference's champion, they get an automatic bid as long as the conference doesn't already have two teams qualified. If the #3 team doesn't grab an automatic bid under this provision, the #4 team is then considered under the same guidelines. But if the #3 team earns an automatic bid with this provision, the #4 team does not get an automatic bid unless it was already earned by a method stated above.

That leaves 0 to 4 bids. These are considered 'At large' bids, and can be any team with at least 9 wins in the BCS top 14, as long as they are not under NCAA sanctions which would prevent a bowl appearance. For marketing reasons, if Notre Dame is in the top 14, but not the top-8, they will almost always be selected for an at large bid over anyone else. No conference is allowed to have more than 2 teams selected.

Here is the link to the full BCS selection process, including the guidelines determining the sequence of the bowl team selections:

bcsfootball.org

[CleveBucks]

That leaves 0 to 4 bids. These are considered 'At large' bids, and can be any team with at least 9 wins in the BCS top 14, as long as they are not under NCAA sanctions which would prevent a bowl appearance. For marketing reasons, if Notre Dame is in the top 14, but not the top-8, they will almost always be selected for an at large bid over anyone else.

It's also worth pointing out that a maximum of two teams from any conference can get a BCS bid, as in years past.

BB73 edit - I had alluded to that in the #3/#4 provision, but it was worth noting again. (Damn senior mods, posting in closed threads).