‘Good progress’ made toward summer playoff recommendation

In a joint statement released by the BcS, all 11 conference commissioners and Notre Dame athletic director Jack Swarbrick, the meetings held in Dallas were described as “constructive and highly detailed.” Again, though, “no decisions have been made about the overall structure” of what would essentially become a playoff, although the statement acknowledged that the conversations “have entered the ‘brass tacks’ level.”

Potential translation of “brass tacks”? A four-team playoff has been agreed upon, in general, although there are numerous details left to work out. What are those details? The statement explains some of the questions that still need answered by the commissioners before any proposal moves up the chain of command:

For example, if we change the current format, would we play some games on campus or all games on neutral sites? If some games are on campus, is that too much of a competitive advantage? If all games are at neutral sites, would fans be able to travel to two games in a row? How would teams be selected? By a committee, by the current ranking formula, or by a different formula? When exactly would games be scheduled, considering finals, holidays and our desire to avoid mid-January games?

The statement closed by saying that “we’re making good progress toward our self-imposed goal of making a final recommendation this summer to our governing bodies.”

The parties are next expected to meet in Miami at some point next month.