‘Plus one’ football playoff rejected by BCS commissioners

HOLLYWOOD, Fla. – Bowl Championship Series commissioners today rejected a “plus one” playoff model and have decided to continue with the current college football postseason format through the 2013 season.

“The consensus of our group is to move forward with the current format,” Atlanta Coast Conference commissioner and BCS coordinator John Swofford said.

The decision was not a surprise. The plus-one model, which would have pitted the top four teams in the BCS standings in a mini-playoff, was long opposed by the Pacific 10 and Big Ten conferences. A consensus to change the system was required among the 11 commissioners and Notre Dame Athletic Director Kevin White.

The plus-one model was introduced today by Southeastern Conference Commissioner Mike Slive.

“There isn’t enough support among the commissioners at this point to move ahead with this format,” Slive said.

The BCS has two years remaining on a four-year deal with Fox, which has an exclusive negotiating window after Sept. 1. The BCS needed to decide on any future format before those negotiations begin. The Rose Bowl has a separate contract with ABC that runs through the 2013 season.

The commissioners may reconsider the plus-one and other formats after that contract expires.

“We need to turn our attention to the next cycle and watch that cycle very carefully and see what that brings and keep our options open beyond that point,” Slive said.

chris.dufresne@latimes.com