NCAA adding bowl eligibility contingency
The NCAA is redefining bowl eligible, extending the rules to allow for otherwise underqualified teams to fill available bowl slots.
At present, teams in the FBS must have a 6-6 regular-season record -- not including wins over FCS opponents.
New rules, defined as a contingency, would let 5-7 teams into the postseason if there are not enough eligible teams when the current standard is applied.
The NCAA would review bowl-eligible teams with first consideration given to a 6-6 team with allowance for one victory over an FCS opponent.
If bowl spots were still vacant, teams with 6-6 records with two wins over FCS would be considered.
From there, a 6-7 team that lost in the postseason conference championship -- ala UCLA, via NCAA waiver, last season -- would get priority followed by 6-7 teams that played a 13-game schedule and FCS teams transitioning to the FBS.
A 5-7 team with a top five Academic Progress Rating would be considered if bowl slots couldn't be filled applying all of the other outlined criteria.
