BCS Meetings Get Nowhere

Commissioners of the six major conferences met Monday in Phoenix to discuss possible changes in the controversial bowl championship series’ formula, which selects the teams for college football’s national championship game.

But after meeting for 4 1/2 hours, officials were unable to reach any conclusions, said Tom Hansen, commissioner of the Pacific 10 Conference.

“It’s too complicated to resolve right now,” Hansen said. “We have a lot of work to do.”

Topics being discussed include cutting back or eliminating the role of computer rankings in determining the top two teams at the end of the regular season, scrapping the margin-of-victory factor that is part of the computer rankings, and whether to introduce a human element, such as an overseeing committee, into the BCS formula.

The commissioners will meet again today to discuss BCS matters, although Hansen was pessimistic they would reach any conclusions.

“We may get some things resolved [today], we may not,” he said. “More likely we won’t.”

The 4-year-old BCS is coming off consecutive seasons in which the formula came under fire for its choice of a No. 2 team. Last season, Nebraska was picked over Pac-10 champion Oregon, even though the Cornhuskers did not win the Big 12 Conference title and were routed by Colorado, 62-36, in their final regular-season game.

Complaints grew louder after No. 1 Miami rolled over Nebraska, 37-14, in the Rose Bowl and Oregon beat Colorado in the Fiesta Bowl.

Two years ago, the BCS was criticized for selecting Florida State instead of Miami, which had beaten the Seminoles during the regular season.

The average of eight computer rankings is used as one of five elements in the BCS formula, which also incorporates coaches’ and media polls, strength of schedule and team records.

There is support for adding a human element to the BCS formula that would increase accountability. That could result in the formation of a committee that steps in during controversial situations, such as last year’s selection of Nebraska to play in the national championship game.

If nothing is resolved today, the commissioners will continue discussions during meetings June 17-21 in San Francisco.