I put together a quick primer (in 4 parts) for the college bowl game arrangements. Note: Bowl Coalition I or BCI = Sugar, Cotton, Orange, or Fiesta Bowl Bowl Coalition II or BCII = Gator or Hancock Bowl Also note: I use the notation "Nth place" to describe the Nth bowl team choice from a conference. This is in fact determined by bowl preference and not actual league standings. Part I: Which teams form the Bowl Coalition pools? The Bowl Coalition I (BCI) pool is composed of Notre Dame (provided they win 7 games), the ACC champ, the Big East champ, and the two highest ranked runners-up from the ACC, Big East, Big 8, PAC-10 and SWC. The Bowl Coalition II (BCII) pool is composed of the remaining three conference runners-up. Part II: Where do the teams go? ACC Champ --> Bowl Coalition I ACC Runner-up --> Bowl Coalition I or II ACC 3rd place --> Peach Bowl ACC 4th place --> Hall of Fame Bowl Big East Champ --> Bowl Coalition I Big East Runner-up --> Bowl Coalition I or II Big East 3rd place --> CarQuest Bowl Big 8 Champ --> Orange Bowl Big 8 Runner-up --> Bowl Coalition I or II Big 8 3rd place --> Aloha Bowl Big 8 4th place --> Copper Bowl Big Ten Champ --> Rose Bowl Big Ten Runner-up --> Citrus Bowl Big Ten 3rd place --> Holiday Bowl Big Ten 4th place --> Hall of Fame Bowl Big West Champ --> Las Vegas Bowl MAC Champ --> Las Vegas Bowl Notre Dame --> Bowl Coalition I PAC-10 Champ --> Rose Bowl PAC-10 Runner-up --> Bowl Coalition I or II PAC-10 3rd place --> Freedom Bowl PAC-10 4th place --> Alamo Bowl SEC Champ --> Sugar Bowl SEC Runner-up --> Citrus Bowl SEC 3rd place --> Gator Bowl SEC 4th place --> Peach Bowl SEC 5th place --> CarQuest Bowl IFA Champ --> Liberty Bowl SWC Champ --> Cotton Bowl SWC Runner-up --> Bowl Coalition I or II SWC 3rd place --> Alamo Bowl WAC Champ --> Holiday Bowl WAC 2nd place --> Aloha Bowl WAC 3rd place --> Copper Bowl Part III: Where do the teams come from? Alamo Bowl: SWC 3rd vs. PAC-10 4th Aloha Bowl: WAC 2nd vs. Big 8 3rd CarQuest Bowl: Big East 3rd place vs. SEC 5th place Citrus Bowl: SEC Runner-up vs. Big Ten Runner-up Copper Bowl: WAC 3rd vs. Big 8 4th Cotton Bowl: SWC Champ vs. BCI member Fiesta Bowl: BCI member vs. BCI member Freedom Bowl: PAC-10 3rd place vs. At Large Gator Bowl: BCII #1 vs. SEC 3rd Place Hall of Fame Bowl: Big Ten 4th place vs. ACC 4th Place Hancock Bowl: BCII #2 vs. BCII #3 Holiday Bowl: WAC Champ vs. Big Ten 3rd Place Independence Bowl: At Large vs. At Large Las Vegas Bowl: MAC Champ vs. Big West Champ Liberty Bowl: IFA Champ vs. At Large Orange Bowl: Big 8 Champ vs. BCI member Peach Bowl: ACC 3rd place vs. SEC 4th place Rose Bowl : PAC-10 Champ vs. Big Ten Champ Sugar Bowl: SEC Champ vs. BCI member Part IV: How are the Bowl Coalition members divided among the bowls? There are two possible cases: Case I: The #1 and #2 teams are among the ACC champ, the Big East champ, and Notre Dame. In this case, the #1 and #2 teams play in the Fiesta Bowl. Then the Cotton, Orange, and Sugar Bowls choose from the remaining BCI teams. The order of selection is determined by the rank of the team already locked into each bowl. (Bowl with highest-ranked team first, etc.) Case II: The #1 and #2 teams are not both among the ACC champ, the Big East champ, and Notre Dame. In this case, the Cotton, Orange, and Sugar Bowls choose from the BCI pool based on ranking of locked-in teams as above. However, the ACC champ and Big East champ are guaranteed a spot in one of these three bowls. The remaining two BCI teams then go to the Fiesta Bowl. In either case, the Gator Bowl chooses one team from the BC II pool, and the remaining two teams go to the Hancock Bowl. --- Mark mark.mitchell@matd.gatech.edu ======================================================================== Bowl Coalition Exposed on C-Span On Thursday, May 22, 1997 a hearing involving possible violations of the Sherman Anti-trust Act was held by a subcommittee of the U.S. Senate. The subcommittee found that the NCAA had relinqueshed control and administration of post-season college football to the so-called "bowl coalition". The subcommittee recommended that the NCAA "reclaim its turf" and provide an open format for all football teams in Division 1-A to compete. A playoff format was discussed as a possible solution to provide opportunities for the 40% of Division 1-A schools excluded from the "bowl coalition. According to Roy Kramer, head of the bowl coalition, the 16 schools in the WAC were offered an at-large berth in the coalition with a ranking of no. 6 or higher. WAC Commissioner Karl Benson wants an automatic bid with a minimum ranking of no. 12. cpreegjr@electriciti.com May 25 '97