BCS: It's all up to the Rose Bowl...

[Jim Johnson]

This was in an Orlando Sentinel Article.  It helps explain, a little, what the implications are...

But who's available depends greatly on the Rose Bowl. Operating in the first year of an eight-year agreement to stage its traditional game -- Pac-10 champ vs. Big Ten champ -- the Rose is set to lose both champions if USC (10-1) beats UCLA on Saturday to gain a spot opposite the Buckeyes in the inaugural BCS title game.

If so, after Ohio State and USC are placed in the title game, Rose officials have the right to pick two replacement teams. One will be Michigan (11-1). The second selection is key for all who come after: Sugar, Orange, Fiesta, Capital One, et al.

Most scenarios have the Rose picking between the Fighting Irish (10-2) and LSU (10-2), but Louisville (10-1 with a game to play), Rutgers (10-1 with a game to play), Auburn (10-2) and Boise State (12-0) are still in the BCS at-large pool. The BCS on Tuesday released Virginia Tech (10-2) from consideration.

"The original Rose Bowl was set up to pit the champion of the East vs. the champion of the West," Rose Bowl Executive Director Mitch Dorger said. "For many, many years, there were teams from the East that came west to play. . . . Since [1947], we've had very limited opportunities contractually to invite a team from the East."

That said, the Rose's second pick must be able to handle an allotment of some 26,000 tickets.

"Tickets is a huge issue," Dorger said.

If the Rose goes with Notre Dame, then LSU or the SEC title-game loser would be available for the Orange Bowl.

If the Rose takes LSU, Notre Dame is a likely Sugar selection, leaving the Big East champion to play the ACC champ in the Orange. Boise State must be included because of BCS standing, but the combination of its smaller fan base, locale and the Fiesta Bowl owning this year's last pick, the Broncos will play the Big 12 champ in the Fiesta.

Source Article

[bull2saintleo]

How come all BCS conferences but the Big East have ties with BCS bowl games?  I always wondered why.  For example, the traditional locales when available are:

- Fiesta: Big XII champ vs. at large

- Orange:  ACC Champ vs. at large

- Sugar:  SEC Champ vs. at large

- Rose:  Big Ten champ vs. Pac 10 Champ

If the Big East champ is ever to be slated to any of these bowls, I see them going the Orange Bowl route.

[Guest]

How come all BCS conferences but the Big East have ties with BCS bowl games?  I always wondered why.  For example, the traditional locales when available are:

- Fiesta: Big XII champ vs. at large

- Orange:  ACC Champ vs. at large

- Sugar:  SEC Champ vs. at large

- Rose:  Big Ten champ vs. Pac 10 Champ

If the Big East champ is ever to be slated to any of these bowls, I see them going the Orange Bowl route.

I believe, in the first rendition of the BCS, the Big East Champ was tied to the Sugar Bowl.  But when the new contract was signed, after the UM/VT/BC -> UL/UC/USF change, the Sugar Bowl didn't want to have two ties.  The Rose Bowl has an eight year contract with the Pac 10 and Big 10 conferences.

[Joe]

Traditional Matchup for the Sugar and Rose, the Sugar has had the SEC champ for a very long time.

The Big East, even before the ACC raid, was not a "traveling league" and just has never been able to hook up with a BCS bowl for an annual matchup.

Edit: I don't think there was ever an "official" tie in Jim, I remember Miami (during the 2000 FSU/Miami National Title debate) going to the Sugar Bowl as an at large to play SEC Champ Florida (although Miami should have been in the title game).