College football is getting a playoff
Slive, right, went on the offensive in pushing change and reiterated proposals he made in Hoover two years ago, including boosting financial aid for athletes, upgrading recruiting rules to fit the new technology and social media and increasing academic eligibility requirements for incoming freshmen and transfers. Credit: AP, 2012
A committee of university presidents announced today in Washington, D.C., that there will be a four-team playoff beginning with the 2014 season.
The presidents approved the plan presented to them by the BCS commissioners.
Virginia Tech President Charles W. Steger made the announcement during a press conference following the meeting. The press conference was aired lived on ESPN.
The announcement ends the constant pleas from fans and others in the college football community to get rid of the current BCS system, which matches the No. 1 vs. No. 2 teams in a national championship game. The top two teams are determined by a points system.
But that will all soon end.
A committee will select four teams for the playoff, with No. 1 playing No. 4 and No. 2 playing No. 3 in the semifinals. Some reports have the semifinals taking place on New Year's Eve and New Year's Day. The semifinals will be rotated among six bowl games. Expect the Rose Bowl and the new SEC-Big 12 bowl game to be in the rotation.
There are still plenty of details to be worked out. But it's a positive first step as a college football playoff looms in the near future.
With AP
