Michael Tranghese, Commissioner of The BIG EAST Conference, in response to inquiries about the conference’s bowl selection procedures, has issued the following information.

The BIG EAST would like to clarify the guidelines for its bowl selection process.  Recent public statements have created some confusion as to which teams are eligible to be selected.

After the BIG EAST’s representative for the Bowl Championship Series has been determined, either the Brut Sun Bowl or the Konica Minolta Gator Bowl may select a BIG EAST team or Notre Dame.

Teams that complete their regular seasons with 6-6 records may be selected only after it is assured that teams with winning records have received a bowl invitation under the conference’s affiliated bowls.

According to the 2008 NCAA Postseason Football Handbook, “In the case of conference contractual affiliation, all conference teams with winning records must be placed in one of the contracted bowl games before any institution with a record of six wins and six losses may be placed in a contracted bowl game.” 

The BIG EAST has agreements with five bowl games in addition to the Bowl Championship Series.  Currently, Cincinnati, West Virginia, Pittsburgh, Connecticut and USF all have at least seven wins.  Rutgers has six victories.  If Rutgers reaches seven wins, there will be no opportunity in the BIG EAST bowl alignment for a 6-6 team.

Rutgers and Louisville meet on Thursday, Dec. 4, in the final regular-season game for both teams.  If Rutgers wins, its record will be 7-5.

If Louisville wins, Rutgers and Louisville will finish 6-6, enabling a BIG EAST-affiliated bowl to select a 6-6 team.  Notre Dame’s record is 6-5 with one game remaining, Nov. 29 at USC.

The BIG EAST has already received several inquiries from other bowls regarding the possibility of inviting a 6-6 BIG EAST team.