It’s decision week for college football’s most powerful committee — and the sport’s most successful underdog program.
The 12-member BCS presidential oversight committee meets Tuesday in Washington, D.C., to reshape the postseason in college football. It is expected to concur with the commissioners’ recommendations and usher in a small, but true four-team playoff to crown a national champion.
Idaho President Duane Nellis is a member of the committee, which consists of one president from each of the 11 Football Bowl Subdivision conferences and Notre Dame. The new system would start with the 2014 regular season, leaving time to work out a variety of details.
If only Bob Kustra, Nellis’ counterpart at Boise State, had the luxury of that much time. Kustra, Athletic Director Mark Coyle and the school’s athletic department face a landscape-shifting decision of their own this week.
The Broncos, who in December committed to joining the Big East in football as of July 1, 2013, have yet to officially withdraw from their current league, the Mountain West. Boise State must withdraw from the league before July 1 — next Sunday — ask for an unlikely extension or face stiffer financial penalties.
Though Boise State officials have consistently said the athletic department is moving ahead with its Big East plans, there are still roadblocks, including where to house other sports.
They were set to move to the Western Athletic Conference, home of the Idaho Vandals, but that league has been raided and faces an uncertain future. Boise State has applied for membership in the California-based Big West — and the league is willing to entertain the Broncos’ application — but no decisions have been made.
CBS Sports reported Friday that Boise State is talking with the Mountain West about remaining in the league in all sports. A source told the Statesman that Boise State continues to talk with the Big East, Big West and Mountain West about its future.
While the time has surely come for college football to abandon the controversial Bowl Championship Series in favor of a playoff system, Boise State’s decision is less certain and the variables greater.
The answers that college football will find in the coming months are ones that would help Boise State make its decision.
What type of playoff system will be in place? And how will those teams be chosen? How will the money, expected to dwarf the current payout, be divided among the conferences? Will the Big East be treated as an equal with the sport’s power conference, be relegated to also-ran status or find its level (and payout) in the middle?
Will the presidential oversight committee grant the Mountain West the BCS exemption request it has sought since December? If granted, Boise State would have access to the BCS this year in the Mountain West.
Will the Big East secure a lucrative television contract when it begins negotiations this fall? Will Boise State receive the $6 million to $8 million per-year payout it was expecting when it joined the league or will the television networks treat the conference as a glorified mid-major?
Will the Big West, which has rebuffed Boise State’s advances before, accept the Broncos’ non-football sports?
Boise State doesn’t have time to wait for every answer. Nor the money needed to wait it out.
If Boise State gives one year’s notice to the Mountain West, it will forfeit its final year of league revenue (at least $2.5 million). If the Broncos don’t give one year’s notice, their penalty will be at least double. Boise State would owe the Big East $5 million if it does not join the conference in 2013.
The time for deliberation, for negotiation, for consultation is nearly over — for those in charge of college football’s postseason and for Boise State.
It’s time to decide.
Brian Murphy: 377-6444, Twitter: @MurphsTurph
