The Bowl Championship Series Overview

Ever since the first Rose Bowl was played in 1902, bowl games have played an important role in shaping college football history. The level of excitement generated by these games, the economic impact for the host communities, and the student-athlete experience make the bowl system unique.

The formation of the Bowl Championship Series in 1998 guaranteed a true national champion by matching up the number 1 and 2 teams in the country, while preserving the bowl system.

The BCS, created by the six equity conferences and the University of Notre Dame, utilizes a combination of two human polls and six computer rankings to determine the standings.

Roy Kramer, former Commissioner of the Southeastern Conference, served as the Coordinator of the BCS for its first two years. John Swofford, Commissioner of the Atlantic Coast Conference, served the following two years, and was succeeded by Michael Tranghese, Commissioner of the Big East Conference, whose term concluded in 2003. Kevin Weiberg, Commissioner of the Big 12 Conference, finished his term as BCS Commissioner at the conclusion of the 2005 regular season. Mike Slive, commissioner of the Southeastern Conference is beginning his two-year term this season.

The BCS consists of the Rose Bowl, the Nokia Sugar Bowl, the FedEx Orange Bowl and the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. In 2006, a fifth BCS game will be added to the schedule. Conferences whose champions currently earn automatic berths into BCS games include the Atlantic Coast, Big East, Big Ten, Big 12, Pacific 10 and Southeastern Conferences.

The BCS signed an agreement with Fox Sports to broadcast four of the five BCS games beginning with the 2006-07 bowl season. ABC will continue to air the Rose Bowl.

In January of 1999, the first BCS title game saw No. 1 Tennessee defeat No. 2 Florida State, 23-16, in the Tostitos Fiesta Bowl. Since then, Florida State (2000), Oklahoma (2001), Miami (Fl.) (2002), Ohio State (2003), Louisiana State (2004), USC (2005) and, most recently, Texas (2006) have each claimed a BCS National Championship.

It is the responsibility of The National Football Foundation & College Hall of Fame to tabulate and release the weekly standings that will ultimately determine who plays for the National Championship.

To visit each BCS poll and computer ranking, as well as the Bowl Championship Series homepage, please click here.