The
post season bowl selection process became a little more interesting, and Sun
Belt Conference newest member “South Alabama” is now eligible under certain circumstances.
The
NCAA's Board of Directors on Thursday approved a new selection process for bowl
games that includes a possibility for teams that finish 5-7 to be selected to
bowls and all new FBS members.
Under
the new measure, if a bowl cannot be filled by the conference affiliations, the
open spots would be filled through a six-tier tiebreaking process that will
consider wins versus Football Championship Subdivision teams, teams with seven
losses, teams making the move to the FBS that go 6-6 and any 5-7 team with a
top-five score on the Academic Progress Rate.
The
5-7 teams, if they have a top-five score on the Academic Progress Rate, can
enter at the bottom of the process.
Normally,
teams needs to finish with a minimum .500 winning percentage with at least six
wins -- five against other Football Bowl Subdivision teams -- to be bowl
eligible. A sixth win against a Football Championship Subdivision team only
counts if the FCS school meets scholarship requirements.
With
this new rule for eligibility in place, first consideration will go to 6-6
teams with a win against any FCS teams, regardless of scholarships, then 6-6 teams
with two wins against FCS schools.
A
team that finishes 6-7 and loses in a conference championship would be next,
followed by 6-7 teams that normally play a 13-team schedule, such as Hawaii and
its home opponents.
Then
bowls could then invite FCS teams making the move to FBS, if they have at least
a 6-6 record.
Some
think the new rules will give teams more to play for. Others aren't so sure.
However South Alabama the Sun Belt Conference newest team will now be eligible
under the new rule to be considered for a post season bowl game in 2012.
I
spoke with South Alabama Athletic Director Joel Erdmann on this morning, and
this what he had to say. “It’s a very unique opportunity for the Jags and we
welcome the opportunity. There is always a chance of us reaching the threshold
to meet post season eligibility. Our goal is to reach six games or more to be
able to participate in post season opportunities if they become available.”
South
Alabama which plays a 13 game schedule this year has a game in Hawaii. If South
Alabama make a surprising 6-7 finish or better, they too can be considered for
a bowl game if a spot is available and needs to be filled.
South
Alabama, UTSA, Texas State and UMass are all new FBS teams this year making the
transition and reclassifying. This change by the NCAA comes when three teams face post season bans and more sanctions and penalties could be on the way this fall.
These new FBS teams really have something to really work for this season; the possibility of going to a post season bowl game, these teams still will not be able to compete for conference championship games.
