Why can't the BCS institute a playoff for Division I-A football?

The Bowl Championship Series (BCS) is a five-game showcase of college football; designed to ensure that the two top-rated teams in the country meet in the national championship game, while creating exciting and competitive matchups among eight other highly regarded teams in four other games.

It has been undeniably successful in achieving those goals. Thanks to the BCS, the top two teams have played each other 12 times in 12 years by BCS measurements and 9 times in the last 12 according to the AP poll -- including the last six years in a row. Additionally, it has provided more access to the major bowls for all 11 conferences, more television exposure, and more postseason revenue than ever before.

Playoffs have been considered by the NCAA Bowl Subdivision membership over the years, and have not been approved because of concerns that they would diminish the regular season, end the bowl system as it is today, create additional injury risk, pose significant logistical challenges, among other reasons. A survey of college football coaches at the American Football Coaches Association convention in 2010 found that 73 percent of coaches favor keeping the current BCS system in place.

What is the BCS, anyway?

The Bowl Championship Series (BCS) is a five-game showcase of college football; designed to ensure that the two top-rated teams in the country meet in the national championship game, while creating exciting and competitive matchups among eight other highly regarded teams in four other games.

Why do some conferences have automatic qualification (AQ) while others do not?

All 11 conferences competed fairly for an opportunity to earn AQ status. As agreed by all 11 conferences, the results of the 2004, 2005, 2006 and 2007 regular seasons were evaluated to determine which conferences earned automatic qualification. Three criteria were used: rank of the highest-ranked team, rank of all conference teams and number of teams in the top 25. The six conferences which met that standard are as follows: Atlantic Coast, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, Pacific-10-10 and Southeastern. Five of those conferences -- all except the Big East -- have contracts for their champions to participate in BCS bowl games.

The 2008, 2009, 2010 and 2011 seasons are being evaluated to determine if a seventh conference achieves automatic qualification for the BCS games that will conclude the 2012 and 2013 seasons.

What is a BCS conference?

All 11 conferences in the Football Bowl Subdivision are "BCS conferences." The media and others often misuse this term, using the term "BCS conference" to describe an Automatic Qualifying (AQ) conference. For more information on BCS conferences, click here.

When was the Bowl Championship Series formed?

The BCS was formed in 1998, when the Atlantic Coast, Big East, Big 12, Big Ten, Pacific-10 and Southeastern conferences and the University of Notre Dame contracted with the Fiesta, Orange, Rose and Sugar bowls. In 2004, the BCS was expanded to increase access for all FBS conferences and Conference USA, Mid-American, Mountain West, Sun Belt and Western Athletic conferences joined in administering the BCS.

What is the BCS' current contract arrangement?

The BCS operates with several contracts in play:
1. The BCS agreement with 11 conferences, Notre Dame and three bowl games,
2. A contract between the Big Ten, Pac-10, the Rose Bowl;
3. A Rose Bowl-ABC contract;
4. Contracts between all 11 conferences and Notre Dame and ESPN.

How does the BCS standings formula work?

A team's on-field performance during the regular season is the principal factor in determining its position in the BCS standings. The formula consists of three components, each weighted equally: the USA Today Coaches Poll, the Harris Interactive College Football Poll and an average of six computer rankings (Anderson & Hester, Richard Billingsley, Colley Matrix, Kenneth Massey, Jeff Sagarin and Peter Wolfe). Because the conference commissioners believe that teams should be judged on performance, there are no pre-season BCS standings. Instead, the first list is released in mid-October, about halfway through the regular season.

How does the Harris Interactive National College Football Poll work?

The Harris Interactive College Football Poll ranks the Top 25 teams each week from late September through the end of the regular season. The Harris panel is comprised of former coaches, student-athletes, administrators and media representatives with a goal of 114 participants. The Football Bowl Subdivision conferences and independent institutions nominate prospective panelists and Harris Interactive randomly selects the actual panel. Each conference nominates 10 panelists; Notre Dame nominates three and Army and Navy nominate one. The panel is a statistically reliable representation of all FBS conferences and independent institutions. Harris Interactive posts the poll results to its website each Sunday. For the final poll in December, individual votes are made public.

How has access been improved for schools from conferences that do not have automatic berths?

From the very beginning, the BCS bowls have been open to all FBS conferences and institutions. Members of those conferences whose champions don't have annual automatic bids to the BCS bowls now have an even greater chance of qualifying for one because:

When the BCS began, a team from a non-AQ conference earned automatic qualification if it ranked in the top six. Now, it is eligible if ranked in the top 12 -- or top 16 if higher than the champion of an AQ conference.

When the BCS began, any team was eligible for at-large selection by a bowl if it ranked in the top 12. Now, it is eligible if ranked in the top 14.

Six teams from non-AQ conferences have competed in BCS games since 2004. After the 2009 season and for the first time ever, two non-AQ conferences were represented in BCS games in the same season.

What does the TV deal entail?

ESPN has exclusive four-year agreements covering all broadcasting and sponsorship rights for all 20 BCS games for the regular seasons of 2010, 2011, 2012 and 2013. In addition to television rights, the contracts also cover national radio rights; Internet rights; all sponsorship rights, including naming rights, signage opportunities and ancillary programming.