Question: Why doesn't the NCAA administer a Division I-A Football Championship?
Answer:
The arrangement that determines a national champion in Division I-A football--the Bowl Championship Series--is administered by the 11 Division I-A Conferences and the University of Notre Dame. The first year of the BCS was 1998.
The BCS consists of ten institutions participating in five games: the BCS National Championship Game plus the FedEx Orange Bowl, Allstate Sugar Bowl, Tostitos Fiesta Bowl and Rose Bowl. The No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the final BCS standings meet in the National Championship Game.
It should be noted that the competitions created by the Bowl Championship Series are not part of the NCAA championship program, nor are they administered by an NCAA committee or the national office staff.
In order for a NCAA Division I-A Football Championship to be established, the NCAA Division I membership must consider such a proposal through its normal legislative process. As of this date, legislation to establish a I-A championship has not been considered by the membership.
Through the years there have been several efforts to address the subject. In 1976, a proposal to establish a Division I-A football championship was introduced on the recommendation of a special committee that had studied the feasibility of a playoff. This proposal, however, was withdrawn and there was no discussion on the Convention floor. A resolution was presented during the 1988 Convention that stated the Division I-A membership did not support the creation of a national championship in the sport of football, which passed by a vote of 98 in favor, 13 opposed and one abstention. In 1994, a blue-ribbon panel was formed to gather information regarding the viability of establishing a Division I-A football championship. The panel forwarded a report to the NCAA Presidents Commission; however, it was decided that the Association would not pursue a Division I-A championship at that time.
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