[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.