A team's BCS score is the average (technically, the arithmetic mean) of
its computer, Harris Poll, and Coaches' Poll scores. There are six BCS
computers. For any one team, its high and low computer
rankings are discarded. Points are assigned in inverse order of
rankings - from one point
for a team ranked twenty-five up to twenty-five points for a team
ranked number one on a particular computer. The four
resulting numbers are added, and a team's BCS computer score is the
ratio of the total to one hundred. The ratio ranges from 0.00
to 1.00. For both polls, points are again assigned inversely to
rankings - that is - a team gets one point if it ranked number
twenty-five, and gets twenty-five points if it is ranked number one by
an individual voter. There are 114 voters in the Harris
Poll and 59 voters in the Coaches' Poll. Therefore, the
Harris score is the total number of points divided by 2850 (114 * 25).
The Coaches' score is the total number of points divided by
1475 (59 * 25).
The "BCS National Championship Game" matches the #1 and #2 ranked teams.
The champions of six conferences (ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, Big
East, Pac-10, and SEC) are guaranteed spots in a BCS bowl.
Another team in one of these conferences thats earns a final
ranking of
#3 or #4 is almost certain to play in a BCS bowl. One, and
only one, champion of any other conference (Conference USA,
Mid-American, Mountain West, Sun Belt, and Western Athletic)
automatically gets
invited to a BCS bowl with a top-twelve finish or if it has a ranking
of #16 or better and is ranked higher than one of the BCS conference
champions. If Notre Dame finishes in the top eight of the BCS
rankings,
it also is assured of a berth. Otherwise, to be eligible to
play
in a BCS bowl, a team must have at least nine wins and a final ranking
of #14 or better. If the 10 BCS bowl spots cannot be filled from
the top 14, teams will be selected from the top 18, 22, etc. as
necessary.
