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New BCS scheme looms
By EDDIE PELLS
AP Sports Writer
Leaders of the Bowl
Championship Series are nearing agreement on a new, simpler formula to
determine who plays in the title game.
At meetings in Chicago this
week, commissioners of the BCS conferences were most enthusiastic about a
formula that would only factor in results from The Associated Press poll,
the coaches' poll and the average of a number of computer ratings.
It would leave out elements
like strength of schedule, number of losses and quality wins, which were all
part of last year's formula.
``I think it will change, I
think it will change for this fall, I think it will be more simple, and I
think it will have a stronger human element,'' Atlantic Coast Conference
commissioner John Swofford said at the league's annual meetings this week.
BCS chairman Mike Tranghese,
commissioner of the Big East Conference, declined comment Thursday.
Earlier in the week, Tranghese
acknowledged that a formula using only the polls and computer ratings was
being considered and said a group of mathematicians would test it and other
models.
``We've been through three
hellacious situations in four years, so we are being cautious,'' Tranghese
told the Chicago Tribune. ``If their findings (match) our findings, then
we're prepared to make an announcement.''
In three of the last four
seasons, Miami (2000), Oregon (2001) and Southern Cal (2003) have been left
out of the BCS title game, all with legitimate claims they belonged.
Last year's formula led to a
split title, the exact thing the BCS was created to avoid. USC and LSU were
ranked 1-2 in both polls, but LSU was paired against Oklahoma in the Sugar
Bowl, the BCS title game, while USC won the AP championship by defending its
top ranking with a win over Michigan in the Rose Bowl.
A final formula is expected to
be complete in June.
``I think everybody agreed
that we need to simplify things,'' Swofford said.
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02/23/2007 10:40:23 AM
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