*** BREAKING - AP Pulls Out of BCS System ***

Both ESPN and Fox Sports are reporting today that the Associated Press has informed the BCS that it will not be part of the system in 2005. The AP Poll has been the center of a lot of controversy in the last couple of years, voting USC #1 in 2003 and not only having Cal at #4 in 2004 but also having Texas at #6. An article in yesterday's San Jose Mercury News recaps the nation-wide reaction to this year's problems with the BCS.

Pundits on ESPN's Pardon The Interruption say that this is the first step towards an official playoff system for Division I football. Currently, many of the lower divisions already have a playoff system in place.

Update: ESPN'S Ivan Maisel has written regarding the situation and why it spells the end for the BCS as we know it. The initially proposed replacement seems to be a lot closer to the March Madness setup than the current system.

Also, ABCNews has posted parts of the official AP letter to the BCS Commissioner. Apparently AP has sent a cease-and-decist letter, implying that the BCS has been using the AP Poll "without permission". An interesting quote:

"By stating that the AP poll is one of the three components used by BCS to establish its rankings, BCS conveys the impression that AP condones or otherwise participates in the BCS system," the letter said. "Furthermore, to the extent that the public does not fully understand the relationship between BCS and AP, any animosity toward BCS may get transferred to AP. And to the extent that the public has equated or comes to equate the AP poll with the BCS rankings, the independent reputation of the AP poll is lost."

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