Dallas, TX

A committee composed of 14 to 20 members will select the four teams that will see action in the semifinal of the new Bowl Championship Series (BCS) playoff system starting 2015.

The new method in selecting four semifinalists was reached following the latest meeting of the BCS commissioners Thursday at the Grand Hyatt Regency.

BCS executive director Bill Hancock said the selection committee would include at least one individual representing each of the 10 FBS conferences.

Hancock said committee members could come from all walks of life, including former commissioners, former and current athletic directors and former coaches.

"We want experienced football purists, experts," Hancock said.

The BCS will not have a tough time finding those individuals, according to ACC commissioner John Swofford.

"There are a lot of great people out there that love the game, that will be able willing and qualified. We want people that know the game and understand the game, that have wisdom, integrity and respect. We're confident those people are out there," Swofford said.

Swofford jokingly added committee members might have to be in the witness protection program to keep them from fanatical college football fans.

"Witness protection program: That's been said," Swofford said.

Armed with a "jury charge" from the commissioners, selection committee members will consider strength of schedule, conference championships and whether teams lost games because of injuries to key players in ranking the teams.

In the playoff, the top four ranked teams will meet in the semifinals. After those four teams are selected, the league champion or top available team from the Pac-12 and Big Ten will play in the Rose Bowl, SEC and Big 12 teams in the Allstate Sugar Bowl and ACC in the Discover Orange Bowl.

The commissioners next meet April 23-25 in Pasadena, California.

During that meeting, they are expected to officially announce Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas -- the site of the AT&T Cotton Bowl -- as the site of the first title game on Jan. 12, 2015.

 

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