Tie-Breaker Procedures For Potential 2004 ACC Football Champions - The Official Athletic Site of the Atlantic Coast Conference

Tie-Breaker Procedures For Potential 2004 ACC Football Champions
Winner of ACC crown is guaranteed spot in the Bowl Championship Series.

BOWL CHAMPIONSHIP SERIES

Prior to the 1998 football regular season, the FedEx Orange, Nokia Sugar, Rose and Tostitos Fiesta Bowls joined with the Atlantic Coast, Big East, Big Ten, Pacific-10 and Southeastern Conferences as well as the University of Notre Dame to form the Bowl Championship Series (BCS).

The BCS was established to determine the national champion for college football while maintaining and enhancing the bowl system which has provided significant support to college football for nearly a century. The BCS has quickly become a showcase for the sport, matching the premier teams of any particular year in culminating games of the season.

The BCS Conference Champions (size, as determined by the Conference) receive automatic berths in the four BCS bowls. If a team is ranked #1 or #2 in the final BCS standings and is not the Conference Champion then they will receive the automatic bid and the Conference Champion is eligible for selection via the at-large bid. The current BCS format will remain in place through the 2004 and 2005 football season.

BCS REPRESENTATIVE - TIE BREAKER PROCEDURE

The ACC football champion is the team that finishes the season with the highest winning percentage in conference games. If more than one team has the same winning percentage, the tied teams are declared co-champions. In order to determine the Conference's representative to the Bowl Championship Series (BCS), the procedures listed below will be followed. All references to rankings refer to the final BCS standings released on Selection Sunday after all regular season games and Conference Championship Games are completed.

Two Way Tie (between Teams A &-B)

1. Team A defeats Team B and is ranked higher - Team A earns the BCS bid.
2. Team A defeats Team B and is ranked lower, but in the Top 10 - Team A earns bid (*except if Team B is ranked #1 or #2 in the BCS standings, then Team B earns the BCS bid).
3. Team A defeats Team B and is ranked lower, but is ranked five or fewer positions below Team B - Team A earns the BCS bid.
4. Team A defeats Team B and is ranked lower, and more than five positions below Team B - Team B earns the BCS bid.
5. Team A does not play Team B, then whichever team is ranked higher in the BCS standings earns the BCS bid.
6. Team A does not play Team B, and neither Team A nor B are ranked in the final BCS standings, then the BCS Bowl would select the team of its choice from among the tied teams.

If two teams have the same ranking, or both are unranked, the bid goes to the team that has won the head-to-head game.

Three-Way Tie (A "mini-conference" is created among the three tied teams.)

Scenario 1
All three tied teams have each won one and lost one against the other teams in the mini-conference.

1. In this case, the highest ranked team among the three earns the bid.
2. If two of the three teams have the same ranking, the bid is earned by the team winning the head-to-head matchup. If the teams have not played each other, and they have the same ranking, then the BCS Bowl would select the team of its choice from among the tied teams.
3. If none of the teams are ranked, the BCS Bowl would select the team of its choice from among the tied teams.

Scenario 2
All three teams have 6-2 conference records. Within the mini-conference, Team A is 2-0, Team B is 1-1, and Team C is 0-2.

1. If Team A is ranked higher than Teams B and C, Team A earns the BCS bid.
2. If Team A is not the highest ranked, but is in the Top 10, Team A earns bid unless Team B or C is ranked either #1 or #2 in the BCS standings, then Team B or C receives the BCS bid.
3. If Team A is not ranked, but the highest ranked team in the mini-conference is ranked #21 or lower, Team A earns the BCS bid.
4. If Team A is not the highest ranked team and is ranked more than five spots below the highest ranked team in the mini-conference, Team A is eliminated from consideration.

Subsequently,
1. If Team B is ranked higher than Team C, Team B earns the BCS bid.
2. If Team B is ranked lower than Team C, but is in the Top 10, Team B earns bid unless Team C is ranked either #1 or #2 in the BCS standings, then Team C receives the BCS bid.
3. If Team B is ranked lower than Team C, but ranked five or fewer spots below Team C, Team B earns bid, unless Team C is ranked either #1 or #2 in the BCS standings, then Team C receives the BCS bid.
4. If Team B is ranked lower than Team C, but is ranked six or more spots below Team C, Team C earns the BCS bid.

Scenario 3
Of the three teams which are tied, two or more have not played each others during the regular season, then:

1. If two or all of the tied teams have not played each other, then the BCS bid goes to the highest ranked teams in the final BCS standings.
2. If two or all of the tied teams have not played each other, and all three teams are not ranked, then the BCS Bowl would select the team of its choice from among the tied teams.

Four-Way Tie

Assumes:
1. If any team should finish ranked #1 or #2 in the BCS standings, they automatically will be the conference BCS representative.
2. A seven-victory minimum in an 11-game season; an eight-victory minimum in a 12-game season. All wins calculated against I-A opponents only.

Scenario 1
If Team A is 3-0, Team B is 2-1, Team C is 1-2 and Team D is 0-3, then:

1. If Team A is the highest ranked team in the mini-conference, then it receives the BCS bid.
2. If Team A is ranked in the Top 10, then it receives the BCS bid.
3. If Team A is ranked eight or fewer slots behind the highest-ranking team in the mini-conference, then it receives the BCS bid.
4. If Team A does not have the victory minimum, then the highest-ranked team in the mini-conference receives the BCS bid. If no teams are ranked in the BCS standings, then Team B will receive the bid.
5. If Team A and B do not have the victory minimum, and no teams are ranked in the BCS, then Team C will receive the BCS bid.

Scenario 2
If Team A and Team B are 2-1 in the mini-conference and Team C and Team D are 1-2, then:

Assuming Teams A and B both have the victory minimum:
1. If Team A defeated Team B and is ranked higher than Team B, Team A earns the BCS bid.
2. If Team A defeated Team B and is ranked in the Top 10, Team A earns the BCS bid.
3. If Team A defeated Team B and is ranked eight or fewer spots lower than Team B, Team A earns the BCS bid.
4. If Team A defeated Team B but is ranked nine or more slots lower than Team B, Team B earns the BCS bid.

Assuming either Team A or B do not have the victory minimum:
5. If Team A has the victory minimum and Team B does not and Team A is the highest-ranked team in the mini-conference, then Team A earns the BCS bid.
6. If Team A has the victory minimum and Team B does not and Team A is ranked in the Top 10, then Team A earns the BCS bid.
7. If Team A has the victory minimum and Team B does not and Team A is ranked eight or fewer slots behind the highest-ranked team in the conference, then Team A receives the BCS bid.
8. If Team C or Team D have the victory minimum and are ranked nine or more slots ahead of Team A or Team B, then Team C or Team D receives the BCS bid.
9. If neither Team A or B have the victory minimum, then the highest-ranked team in the mini-conference earns the BCS bid.

Scenario 3
Assumes Team A and B did not play each other.

1. Team A and Team B both were 2-0 in the mini-conference, Team C is 1-2 and Team D is 0-3. The BCS bid goes to the highest ranked team from among Team A or B, unless Team C or D are ranked nine or more spaces above either A or B. If no teams ranked in BCS, then BCS Bowl chooses from among Teams A and B for bid.

2. Team B is 2-0, Team C is 2-1, Team A is 1-1, and Team D 0-3 in the mini-conference. The BCS bid goes to Team B or C, whichever is higher, unless Team A or Team D are ranked nine or more spaces above. If no teams are ranked, then BCS Bowl chooses from among Teams B or C.

3. Team C is 3-0, Team B is 1-1, Team D is 1-2 and Team A 0-2. The BCS bid goes to Team C.

4. Team C is 2-1, Teams A and B are 1-1, Team D is 1-2. The BCS bid goes to the highest ranked Team. If no teams ranked, then BCS Bowl chooses from among all four teams.

Scenario 4
Assumes Team A does not play B and Team C does not play Team D.

1.Teams A and B are 2-0 and Teams B and C are 0-2. The BCS bid goes to the higher ranked team of A or B, unless Team C or D are ranked nine spaces above the higher ranked of A or B. If not teams are ranked, then BCS Bowl chooses from among Teams A and B.

2. Teams A, B, C and D are all 1-1. The BCS bid goes to the highest ranked Team.If no teams are ranked then BCS Bowl chooses from among all four teams.

3. Team A is 2-0, Teams B and C are 1-1 and Team D is 0-2. Team A earns the BCS bid unless either Team B or C are ranked nine or more spaces above Team A. If no teams are ranked, then Team A earns bid.

Scenario 5
Assumes Team A does not play Teams B and D.

1. Team C is 3-0, Team B is 1-1, Team D is 0-2 and Team A is 0-1.
Team C earns the BCS bid

2. Team B is 2-0, Team A is 1-0, Team D is 1-1 and Team C is 0-3.
Team B earned the BCS bid unless Team A or Team D are ranked nine or more spaces ahead of Team B If no teams are ranked, then Team B earns bid.

3. Team C is 2-1, Team B and D are 1-1 and Team A is 0-1.
Highest ranked team earns the BCS bid. If no teams are ranked, then Team C earns bid.

4. Team D is 2-0, Team A is 1-0, Team C is 1-2 and Team B is 0-2.
The highest ranked Team of A or B earns bid unless Team B or C are ranked nine or more spaces above the highest ranked of A or B. If no teams ranked, then Team D earns the BCS bid.

Scenario 6
Assumes Three of the four teams do not play each other. In this case, the BCS bid goes to the highest ranked team. If no teams are ranked, then the BCS Bowl chooses from among all four teams.

Five-Way Tie
Assumes: 1. If any team should finish ranked #1 or #2 in the BCS standings, they automatically will be the conference BCS representative.
2. A seven-victory minimum in an 11-game season; an eight-victory minimum in a 12-game season. All wins calculated against I-A opponents only.

Scenario 1 Team A is 4-0, Team B is 3-1, Team C is 2-2, Team D is 1-3 and Team E is 0-4.

Scenario 2 Team A and B are 3-1, Team C is 2-2 and Team D and E are 1-3.

Assuming either Team A or B do not have the victory minimum:
5. If Team A has the victory minimum and Team B does not and Team A is the highest- ranked team in the mini-conference, then Team A earns the BCS bid.
6. If Team A has the victory minimum and Team B does not and Team A is ranked in the Top 10, then Team A earns the BCS bid.
7. If Team A has the victory minimum and Team B does not and Team A is ranked eight or fewer slots behind the highest-ranked team in the conference, then Team A receives the BCS bid.
8. If Team C, D or E have the victory minimum and are ranked nine or more slots ahead of Team A or Team B, then Team C, D or E receives the BCS bid.
9. If neither Team A or B have the victory minimum, then the highest-ranked team in the mini-conference earns the BCS bid.
10. If no teams are ranked who have the victory minimum, then the BCS Bowl chooses from among the teams that do have the victory minimum.

Scenario 3
Teams A, B and C are 3-1, Team D is 1-3 and Team E is 0-4. A mini-conference is formed among Teams A, B and C and the three-way tiebreaker is used to break the tie.

Scenario 4
Team A is 3-1, Teams B, C and D are 2-2 and Team E is 1-3.

1. If Team A is the highest ranked team in the mini-conference, then it receives the BCS bid.
2. If Team A is ranked in the Top 10, then it receives the BCS bid.
3. If Team A is ranked eight or fewer slots behind the highest-ranking team in the mini-conference, then it receives the BCS bid.
4. If Team A does not have the victory minimum, then the highest-ranked team in the mini-conference receives the BCS bid.
5. If Team A does not have the victory minimum, and no teams are ranked, then the BCS Bowl will choose the team to receive the BCS bid.

Scenario 5
Teams A, B, C, D and E are 2-2.

Highest ranked team earns the BCS bid. If no teams are ranked, then the BCS Bowl will choose the team to receive the bid.