College Football's BCS Formula Remains Intact

Hollywood, FL (AHN) -- The BCS will not change its format for determining how the national champion in college football is chosen, Atlantic Coast Conference commissioner John Swofford announced Wednesday.

"We will move forward in the next cycle with the current format," Swofford, who serves as BCS coordinator, told ESPN. "I believe the BCS has never been healthier in its first decade."

Describing the BCS as being in an "unprecedented state of health," Swofford said the method by which a national champion is chosen by the Bowl Championship Series remains status quo, with contract negotiations to begin soon for broadcasting rights through the 2014 season.

ESPN reported the decision came after a five-hour meeting that involved Swofford's ACC and 10 other major conference commissioners as well as Notre Dame athletic director Kevin White at a plush oceanfront hotel in Hollywood, Fla.

Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany was one of the bigger critics of any such change, especially a plus-one formula, that ESPN said "would have seeded the top four teams in the final BCS standings and match them in two semifinal games and the winners playing in a national title game."

The one-plus scenario was initially raised Wednesday morning by SEC commissioner Mike Slive, but he told ESPN there was little support among the commissioners and that only he and Swofford considered it. "There isn't support among the commissioners at this point to move forward with this proposal as we move into the next cycle," Slive added.