Football: BCS Poll Update
December 03, 2002 02:45 PM | General
December 3, 2002
PROVIDENCE – The Bowl Championship Series announced the following update regarding institutions that are under consideration for the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, Nokia Sugar Bowl, FedEx Orange Bowl and Rose Bowl.
Florida State, the Atlantic Coast Conference representative, has clinched a berth in the BCS. Ohio State, the Big Ten co-champion, has also been assured of a BCS selection by virtue of its conference tiebreaker. Miami will be the Big East’s BCS representative. The Hurricanes hold the edge in the league’s tiebreaker if it needs to be applied.
The representatives from the other participating conferences (Big 12, Pac-10 and SEC), which receive an automatic bid to one of the BCS bowls, have not been determined. The following is a list of potential conference representatives:
Big 12: Colorado, Oklahoma
Pac-10: USC, Washington State
SEC: Arkansas, Georgia
The following institutions remain under consideration for the two at-large positions: Iowa, Kansas State, Notre Dame, Texas
All other institutions have been released for consideration by other bowls. To qualify for the at-large pool to a BCS bowl, teams must have nine regular-season wins (not including wins in exempt games) and be ranked in the top 12 of the final BCS standings on Dec. 8.
There are ways for the aforementioned teams to qualify automatically for an at-large berth. If the team that is No. 3 in the final BCS poll is an at-large team, it is guaranteed a berth. If the team that is No. 3 in the final BCS poll is not an at-large team and the No. 4-ranked team is an at-large team, it is guaranteed a berth.
The team selection process for the BCS bowls is as follows:
Teams ranked No. 1 and No. 2 in the final BCS standings will participate in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl on Jan. 3. The following conference representatives will serve as the host team in the respective BCS bowl games, unless such team is ranked No. 1 or No. 2 in the final BCS standings: Nokia Sugar Bowl (SEC), FedEx Orange Bowl (Big East or ACC) and Rose Bowl (Big Ten & Pac-10). Should a bowl lose its host team(s) to the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl, such bowl(s) will be allowed first choice of the remaining teams (except the host team of another bowl). The bowl losing the No. 1-ranked team shall have the first choice.
The Big 12 champion is normally the host team for the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. This year, if the Big 12 champion is not ranked No. 1 or No. 2, it is not obligated to a specific bowl.
