WASHINGTON - A large portion of college football fans have been screaming for a playoff system since the BCS was created 14 years ago. Those fans are about to get their wish.
A committee of university presidents has approved the BCS commissioners' plan for a four-team playoff to start in the 2014 season. The move completes a six-month process in which the commissioners have been working on a new way to determine a college football champion.
Instead of simply matching the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the country in a championship game after the regular season, the way the Bowl Championship Series has done since 1998, the new format will create a pair of national semifinals. No. 1 will play No. 4, No. 2 will play No. 3. The winners will advance to the national championship game.
The teams will be selected by a committee, similar to the way the NCAA basketball tournament field is set.
There are still some details to work out, but all the decision-makers are on board.