3. The champion of Conference USA, the Mid-American Conference, the Mountain West Conference, the Sun Belt Conference, or the Western Athletic Conference will earn an automatic berth in a BCS bowl game if either:
* A. Such team is ranked in the top 12 of the final BCS Standings, or,
* B. Such team is ranked in the top 16 of the final BCS Standings and its ranking in the final BCS Standings is higher than that of a champion of a conference that has an annual automatic berth in one of the BCS bowls.
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I don't see how the Big East gets in there without a ranked team...
Here's what I think:
NCG - Oregon vs. TCU, both undefeated
Orange - ACC champ vs. at large, no other ACC teams close to BCS bowl
Sugar - 1 loss Auburn vs. at large, LSU still high in the at large
Rose - Stanford vs. Wisconsin, Ohio and Michigan State both still high in at large
Fiesta - Big 12 champ (hopefully us) vs. at large, no other Big 12 team high in at large
So that leaves Boise, LSU, Ohio State, Michigan State as high at large teams. In my perfect BCS bowl outcome it would be:
NCG - Oregon vs. TCU (should be an awesome game)
Orange - ACC champ (no idea who wins that) vs. LSU
Sugar - Auburn vs. Boise
Rose - Stanford vs. Wisconsin
Fiesta - Nebraska vs. Michigan State (they have a better shot at winning out than OSU)
Isn't there any scenario where the Big East is so bad that other teams bump them off?
No. Big East gets a spot no matter what. A Mid major only gets a AT LARGE spot if they meet those qualifications. They do not take the Big East's spot.
Also I see Boise possibly not making a BCS bowl in some of these scenarios. After one non-BCS team (TCU) in this example gets selected, these rules become meaningless. These roles only guaranteed the highest rated non-BCS team that meets these qualifications will make it.