ABC, BCS Agree to Extend Pact

Hopes for a national college playoff any time soon were dashed Thursday when ABC and members of the bowl championship series agreed to a four-year, $400-million extension through the 2006 bowl games.

The BCS, comprising the Pacific 10, Big Ten, Atlantic Coast, Big 12, Big Ten, Southeastern conferences and Notre Dame, was formed in 1998 to guarantee a matchup of the No. 1 and No. 2 teams in college football through use of a four-pronged ratings system.

The BCS produced the top matchup each of the last two seasons.

ABC exercised its three-year option on the original four-year contract and added an additional year through the 2005 season, which coincides with the end of the Rose Bowl’s contract with the Pac-10 and Big Ten and provides each of the BCS bowls--Fiesta, Sugar, Orange, Rose--another opportunity to host the national title game. The Rose Bowl will be the championship game in 2002.