For those of you that need something to put you to sleep try wading through this ... :shock: (it does give you some idea of the importance of some of the polls for the at large selections). Of course, the best way to avoid this is to earn the automatic bid.
http://web1.ncaa.org/web_files/champ_handbooks/football/2010/10_1_football.pdf
Championship Selection
At-large teams shall be selected by the Division I football committee, assisted by four regional advisory committees that serve in an advisory capacity only.
The following principles shall apply when selecting at-large teams:
1. The committee shall select the best teams available on a national at-large basis to complete the bracket. Per NCAA Bylaw 31, the basic criteria used in the selection of at-large participants are (1) won-lost record, (2) strength-of-schedule, and (3) eligibility and availabilitiy of student-athletes for the NCAA championship;
2. There is no limit to the number of teams the committee may select from one conference;
3. The won-lost record of a team will be scrutinized to determine a team’s strength of schedule; however, less than seven Division I wins may place a team in jeopardy of not being selected;
4. The committee may give more consideration to those teams that have played all Division I opponents; and
5. If the team of a committee member is under consideration, the member may not vote for the team being considered and will not be in the room when a vote is taken.
6. For those conferences that qualify for automatic qualification but do not receive it, a guaranteed at-large position shall be awarded in any year in which its conference champion team meets all of the following conditions:
a. Team wins a minimum of eight Division I games during the season;
b. Team wins a minimum of two non-conference games against Division I teams representing a conference that has earned an automatic qualification in that year; and
c. Team finishes the season ranked 20 or higher in an average of the last regular season media, coaches and/or computer polls (which will be determined by the committee on an annual basis). For 2010, the media poll will be the Sports Network Poll, the coaches poll will be the FCS Coaches poll and the computer poll will be a variation of the Gridiron Power Index – using only the following computer rankings: The Massey Ratings, Wolfe Rankings, Ashburn Rankings, Self Rankings and the Laz Index.
Pairings
All pairings will be made by the Division I football championship committee. The following principles are applied when pairing teams:
1. Teams deemed by the committee to be the 12 best teams selected to the championship shall receive a first-round bye. The remaining eight teams shall play first-round games and will be paired according to geographic proximity.
2. The teams awarded the top five seeds are placed in the appropriate positions in the bracket (Nos. 1 and 4 in the upper half, and Nos. 2 and 3 in the lower half, and No. 5 in the upper half of the bracket adjacent to the No. 4 seed bracket such that they would be quarterfinal round opponents should they advance);
3. The committee shall determine the seven remaining teams that merit a first-round bye;
4. The No. 5 seed and the seven unseeded teams receiving a first-round bye shall be paired with teams that are in closest geographic proximity;
5. The remaining eight teams will play first-round games and will be paired according to geographic proximity and placed in the bracket according to geographic proximity of the top four seeds previously placed in the bracket;
6. The NCAA mileage threshold for mandatory team travel via ground is 400 miles;
7. Teams from the same conference will not be paired for first-round games or for second round games when both teams are playing their first games of the championship;
8. Once the first-round pairings have been determined, there will be no adjustments to the bracket (e.g., a top-four seed may play a conference opponent that advanced out of the first round.
http://web1.ncaa.org/web_files/champ_handbooks/football/2010/10_1_football.pdf
Championship Selection
At-large teams shall be selected by the Division I football committee, assisted by four regional advisory committees that serve in an advisory capacity only.
The following principles shall apply when selecting at-large teams:
1. The committee shall select the best teams available on a national at-large basis to complete the bracket. Per NCAA Bylaw 31, the basic criteria used in the selection of at-large participants are (1) won-lost record, (2) strength-of-schedule, and (3) eligibility and availabilitiy of student-athletes for the NCAA championship;
2. There is no limit to the number of teams the committee may select from one conference;
3. The won-lost record of a team will be scrutinized to determine a team’s strength of schedule; however, less than seven Division I wins may place a team in jeopardy of not being selected;
4. The committee may give more consideration to those teams that have played all Division I opponents; and
5. If the team of a committee member is under consideration, the member may not vote for the team being considered and will not be in the room when a vote is taken.
6. For those conferences that qualify for automatic qualification but do not receive it, a guaranteed at-large position shall be awarded in any year in which its conference champion team meets all of the following conditions:
a. Team wins a minimum of eight Division I games during the season;
b. Team wins a minimum of two non-conference games against Division I teams representing a conference that has earned an automatic qualification in that year; and
c. Team finishes the season ranked 20 or higher in an average of the last regular season media, coaches and/or computer polls (which will be determined by the committee on an annual basis). For 2010, the media poll will be the Sports Network Poll, the coaches poll will be the FCS Coaches poll and the computer poll will be a variation of the Gridiron Power Index – using only the following computer rankings: The Massey Ratings, Wolfe Rankings, Ashburn Rankings, Self Rankings and the Laz Index.
Pairings
All pairings will be made by the Division I football championship committee. The following principles are applied when pairing teams:
1. Teams deemed by the committee to be the 12 best teams selected to the championship shall receive a first-round bye. The remaining eight teams shall play first-round games and will be paired according to geographic proximity.
2. The teams awarded the top five seeds are placed in the appropriate positions in the bracket (Nos. 1 and 4 in the upper half, and Nos. 2 and 3 in the lower half, and No. 5 in the upper half of the bracket adjacent to the No. 4 seed bracket such that they would be quarterfinal round opponents should they advance);
3. The committee shall determine the seven remaining teams that merit a first-round bye;
4. The No. 5 seed and the seven unseeded teams receiving a first-round bye shall be paired with teams that are in closest geographic proximity;
5. The remaining eight teams will play first-round games and will be paired according to geographic proximity and placed in the bracket according to geographic proximity of the top four seeds previously placed in the bracket;
6. The NCAA mileage threshold for mandatory team travel via ground is 400 miles;
7. Teams from the same conference will not be paired for first-round games or for second round games when both teams are playing their first games of the championship;
8. Once the first-round pairings have been determined, there will be no adjustments to the bracket (e.g., a top-four seed may play a conference opponent that advanced out of the first round.
