[KartyFan]

In addition to being the 100th edition, this Rose Bowl could be the last that is played between the Big Ten and Pac-12 champions for several years. In the college football playoff system, there are two ways in which the champion of each conference could meet in the Granddaddy:

1) The Rose Bowl is not a playoff semi-final (two out of every three years), and neither the Pac-12 champion nor the Big Ten champion is in the top four of the final standings.

2) The Rose Bowl is a semi-final (one out of every three years), and the Big Ten and Pac-12 Champion are ranked #1 and #4 OR #2 and #3. Also, because the selection committee does not want to give the higher ranked team a road environment, the Pac-12 team would in all likelihood need to be the #1 or #2 seed.

If one conference champion is in the top four and the other is not, they would not play each other in any circumstance.

Using the final BCS standings as a proxy for the committee’s selection process, you can see that the traditional matchup will not be as common as it was in the BCS era:

1998: one in, one out (one champion is in the top 4 and the other is not – no chance of meeting)
1999: both out (traditional Rose Bowl if it is a non-playoff year for the Rose Bowl)
2000: one in, one out
2001: one in, one out
2002: #2 and #4 – would not meet in semi-final
2003: #3 and #4 – would not meet in semi-final
2004: one in, one out
2005: #1 and #4 – USC vs. Ohio State (traditional Rose Bowl if it IS a playoff year for the bowl)
2006: one in, one out
2007: one in, one out
2008: Both out
2009: both out
2010: one in, one out
2011: one in, one out
2012: both out (because Ohio State was ineligible)
2013: one in, one out

In this 16-year snapshot, both conference champions would have missed the playoff in four of those years, and they were seeded #1 and #4 in one year (2005). On average (depending upon which years the Rose Bowl was a semi-final), the Pac-12 and Big Ten champions would have met 3 times, or 18.75% of the time.

Obviously this is a small sample size, but it is clear to me that the traditional Big Ten champion vs. Pac-12 champion matchup will become much more of a rarity. That is too bad, but it does make this Rose Bowl all the more special.

[KartyFan]

In addition to being the 100th edition, this Rose Bowl could be the last that is played between the Big Ten and Pac-12 champions for several years. In the college football playoff system, there are two ways in which the champion of each conference could meet in the Granddaddy:

1) The Rose Bowl is not a playoff semi-final (two out of every three years), and neither the Pac-12 champion nor the Big Ten champion is in the top four of the final standings.

2) The Rose Bowl is a semi-final (one out of every three years), and the Big Ten and Pac-12 Champion are ranked #1 and #4 OR #2 and #3. Also, because the selection committee does not want to give the higher ranked team a road environment, the Pac-12 team would in all likelihood need to be the #1 or #2 seed.

If one conference champion is in the top four and the other is not, they would not play each other in any circumstance.

Using the final BCS standings as a proxy for the committee’s selection process, you can see that the traditional matchup will not be as common as it was in the BCS era:

1998: one in, one out (one champion is in the top 4 and the other is not – no chance of meeting)
1999: both out (traditional Rose Bowl if it is a non-playoff year for the Rose Bowl)
2000: one in, one out
2001: one in, one out
2002: #2 and #4 – would not meet in semi-final
2003: #3 and #4 – would not meet in semi-final
2004: one in, one out
2005: #1 and #4 – USC vs. Ohio State (traditional Rose Bowl if it IS a playoff year for the bowl)
2006: one in, one out
2007: one in, one out
2008: Both out
2009: both out
2010: one in, one out
2011: one in, one out
2012: both out (because Ohio State was ineligible)
2013: one in, one out

In this 16-year snapshot, both conference champions would have missed the playoff in four of those years, and they were seeded #1 and #4 in one year (2005). On average (depending upon which years the Rose Bowl was a semi-final), the Pac-12 and Big Ten champions would have met 3 times, or 18.75% of the time.

Obviously this is a small sample size, but it is clear to me that the traditional Big Ten champion vs. Pac-12 champion matchup will become much more of a rarity. That is too bad, but it does make this Rose Bowl all the more special.

[stupac2]

I think you're overplaying the importance of seeding. I've read that the committee will try to keep the Rose B1G vs PAC as long as it's feasible. So if the PAC and a B1G champs are in the top 4 and the Rose is a playoff bowl, they'll meet in the Rose. It's possible that this won't happen, but I think that the bowls still hold enough power in this arrangement, and the Rose is so in love with the PAC-B1G matchup, that I'm reasonably confident in it.

Your overall point that it'll be less likely than it was before is undoubtedly correct, though.

[stupac2]

I think you're overplaying the importance of seeding. I've read that the committee will try to keep the Rose B1G vs PAC as long as it's feasible. So if the PAC and a B1G champs are in the top 4 and the Rose is a playoff bowl, they'll meet in the Rose. It's possible that this won't happen, but I think that the bowls still hold enough power in this arrangement, and the Rose is so in love with the PAC-B1G matchup, that I'm reasonably confident in it.

Your overall point that it'll be less likely than it was before is undoubtedly correct, though.

[dabigv13]

If the PAC and B1G teams are clearcut #1 and #2, or clearcut #3 and #4, I can't see them putting them together. I could maybe see some fudging if it's all a bit muddled, or maybe between a #1 and #3 or #2 and #4. If you have an undefeated SEC team and Big12 team playing each other in a semifinal while one loss PAC/B1G champs square off, I think you'd hear some howling.

[dabigv13]

If the PAC and B1G teams are clearcut #1 and #2, or clearcut #3 and #4, I can't see them putting them together. I could maybe see some fudging if it's all a bit muddled, or maybe between a #1 and #3 or #2 and #4. If you have an undefeated SEC team and Big12 team playing each other in a semifinal while one loss PAC/B1G champs square off, I think you'd hear some howling.

[Farm93]

The reality is that playing in the Rose Bowl will mean something very different in 2015 and beyond.  One goal for every Pac-12 team will be modified slightly.  No longer will it be win the conference and go to Pasadena.  In the future it will be win the conference.  And for me that's OK.

[Farm93]

The reality is that playing in the Rose Bowl will mean something very different in 2015 and beyond.  One goal for every Pac-12 team will be modified slightly.  No longer will it be win the conference and go to Pasadena.  In the future it will be win the conference.  And for me that's OK.

[stupac2]

If the PAC and B1G teams are clearcut #1 and #2, or clearcut #3 and #4, I can't see them putting them together. I could maybe see some fudging if it's all a bit muddled, or maybe between a #1 and #3 or #2 and #4. If you have an undefeated SEC team and Big12 team playing each other in a semifinal while one loss PAC/B1G champs square off, I think you'd hear some howling.

Yeah, could be, although I really do remember reading that if the PAC and B1G were in the playoff, they'd play in the Rose (and really, you could justify any seeding you want). But how often will that happen? Hard to say. I think we'll need to go through a few cycles to really know how it will work out.

[stupac2]

If the PAC and B1G teams are clearcut #1 and #2, or clearcut #3 and #4, I can't see them putting them together. I could maybe see some fudging if it's all a bit muddled, or maybe between a #1 and #3 or #2 and #4. If you have an undefeated SEC team and Big12 team playing each other in a semifinal while one loss PAC/B1G champs square off, I think you'd hear some howling.

Yeah, could be, although I really do remember reading that if the PAC and B1G were in the playoff, they'd play in the Rose (and really, you could justify any seeding you want). But how often will that happen? Hard to say. I think we'll need to go through a few cycles to really know how it will work out.

[oman]

If the PAC and B1G teams are clearcut #1 and #2, or clearcut #3 and #4, I can't see them putting them together. I could maybe see some fudging if it's all a bit muddled, or maybe between a #1 and #3 or #2 and #4. If you have an undefeated SEC team and Big12 team playing each other in a semifinal while one loss PAC/B1G champs square off, I think you'd hear some howling.

I'd howl if the committee pulls this kind of nonsense. 

[oman]

If the PAC and B1G teams are clearcut #1 and #2, or clearcut #3 and #4, I can't see them putting them together. I could maybe see some fudging if it's all a bit muddled, or maybe between a #1 and #3 or #2 and #4. If you have an undefeated SEC team and Big12 team playing each other in a semifinal while one loss PAC/B1G champs square off, I think you'd hear some howling.

I'd howl if the committee pulls this kind of nonsense. 

[KartyFan]

Does anybody have a link to an article mentioning a preference for the Big Ten vs. Pac-12 matchup? I would love to know, since my impression was that the seeding would not take the Rose Bowl's preference into account.

[KartyFan]

Does anybody have a link to an article mentioning a preference for the Big Ten vs. Pac-12 matchup? I would love to know, since my impression was that the seeding would not take the Rose Bowl's preference into account.

[stupac2]

Does anybody have a link to an article mentioning a preference for the Big Ten vs. Pac-12 matchup? I would love to know, since my impression was that the seeding would not take the Rose Bowl's preference into account.

I just recall reading it somewhere. If I'm wrong it might have been speculation, or I might be totally misremembering. I certainly don't have any idea how to search for it.

[stupac2]

Does anybody have a link to an article mentioning a preference for the Big Ten vs. Pac-12 matchup? I would love to know, since my impression was that the seeding would not take the Rose Bowl's preference into account.

I just recall reading it somewhere. If I'm wrong it might have been speculation, or I might be totally misremembering. I certainly don't have any idea how to search for it.

[yvonne]

This might help: http://content.usatoday.com/communities/...-playoff/1

The relevant passages:

Even with the positive reactions, the face of the game will be changed under the playoff system that makes it less likely the champions of both leagues will meet.

The Rose Bowl will participate in the semifinals in an undecided [number] of years, Scott said. Those games would pit Big Ten and Pac-12 champions only if both qualify and are seeded appropriately by the committee.

When there is no semifinal at the Rose Bowl, it's also likely at least one of the league's champions will qualify for the playoff, requiring a selection of a second team from the conference.

That could create an interesting controversy similar to what will be done by the playoff committee.

"The tradition is that if a Pac-12 or Big Ten team has to leave the Rose Bowl and to go play in the semifinal game or somewhere else, the next best Pac-12 or Big Ten team will fill the slot," Scott said.

What constitutes "next best" is open to interpretation. Unlike the past, there is a conference championship game for both teams.

[yvonne]

This might help: http://content.usatoday.com/communities/...-playoff/1

The relevant passages:

Even with the positive reactions, the face of the game will be changed under the playoff system that makes it less likely the champions of both leagues will meet.

The Rose Bowl will participate in the semifinals in an undecided [number] of years, Scott said. Those games would pit Big Ten and Pac-12 champions only if both qualify and are seeded appropriately by the committee.

When there is no semifinal at the Rose Bowl, it's also likely at least one of the league's champions will qualify for the playoff, requiring a selection of a second team from the conference.

That could create an interesting controversy similar to what will be done by the playoff committee.

"The tradition is that if a Pac-12 or Big Ten team has to leave the Rose Bowl and to go play in the semifinal game or somewhere else, the next best Pac-12 or Big Ten team will fill the slot," Scott said.

What constitutes "next best" is open to interpretation. Unlike the past, there is a conference championship game for both teams.