After getting several dull hours to rummage it in my mind at work, I figured out a way the BCS can dump the Big East and still maintain the majority.
1. ACC to 12 teams. They're already working on it.
2. Pac-10 picks up 2 new members to become the Pac-12. I'm sure BYU, Hawaii, Fresno State, Boise State, and UNLV have petitions to join already prepared "just in case".
3. Norte Dame is informed that they really should consider joining the Big Ten, so as to limit the possibility of the non-BCS schools using the "Norte Dame rule" as leverage in an potential lawsuit.
4. Vote for the quick removal of the schools who don't meet the new I-A standards after the 2004 season ends, so as to lower the number of non-BCS I-A schools.
These actions would ensure there are 60 BCS schools (excluding the Big East) out of 118 for 2004 (Florida A&M is I-A next year), and probably 110-115 for 2005. They won't litigate-proof the BCS though.
To litigate-proof they need closer to two-thirds of the I-A schools in the BCS. That's 78, maybe as low as 72 with the new standards, to keep the lawyers without major work. So they add a new member conference, then they ratchet up the standards until everyone either is "worthy of BCS standards" or is forced back to I-AA.
Question: How does the BCS manage to chunk one of the original conferences without a ton of litigation? Simple, use the "Big East Rule", which states:
Quote:
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The automatic selection of the original BCS conference champions is subject to review and possible loss of automatic selection by the BCS should the conference champion not have an average ranking of 12 or higher over a four-year period.
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As of right now, Boston College is the highest Big East remaining next year at #35 using BCS methodology. Last year, it was West Virginia at #16. For 2001, it was Syracuse at #13. For 2000, it's Pittsburgh at #39. Not only is that average above 12, but every year is too. The BCS thus has the legal means to expel the Big East.
Maybe BC should jump while they have the chance.