For instance, what if ECU beats SC, UNC, and VT and then wins all conference games except one on the road to a UC team that finishes undefeated in conference but loses to Ohio State and Miami. In that scenario ECU would certainly be ranked ahead ahead of UC (and almost certainly any other team throughout the G5) but would the Pirates be eligible for the access bowl without winning the AAC?

ESPN specifies in it's article about it that it has to be a champion. I am not sure if they use tiebreakers or if co-champions would be eligible.

I believe the answer is YES. UC is the highest rated G5 champ, they would go in that scenario as the G5 champ. If ECU is considered one of the top 8 teams and there is an access opening, they could in theory go. Just depends on how many access spots they are.

Assumes all Conf Champs in playoffs & no cannibalization of Conf Champs of Access slots (IE - 2015 Pac 12 not in play-off thus gets access spot)
2015 - Semi Final Rose & Sugar - 5 access spots at most Cotton, Peach, Fiesta
2016 - Semi Orange & Cotton - 3 access Spots at most (Peach & Fiesta)
2017 - Semi Fiesta & Peach - 1 access Spot only (Cotton)

I hope they change the model the following three years so it is just 3 access spots every year. One Tie-in bowl, One Open Slot bowl.

Definitely yes. Been stated in the media many times. Unless they somehow change the criteria between now and then, which seems doubtful.

(03-19-2014 08:32 AM)Indiana Bones Wrote:  For instance, what if ECU beats SC, UNC, and VT and then wins all conference games except one on the road to a UC team that finishes undefeated in conference but loses to Ohio State and Miami. In that scenario ECU would certainly be ranked ahead ahead of UC (and almost certainly any other team throughout the G5) but would the Pirates be eligible for the access bowl without winning the AAC?

you have to be a conference champ

in your scenerio uc or more likely another g5 champ are the only ones eligible

(03-19-2014 08:50 AM)msm96wolf Wrote:  I believe the answer is YES. UC is the highest rated G5 champ, they would go in that scenario as the G5 champ. If ECU is considered one of the top 8 teams and there is an access opening, they could in theory go. Just depends on how many access spots they are.

Assumes all Conf Champs in playoffs & no cannibalization of Conf Champs of Access slots (IE - 2015 Pac 12 not in play-off thus gets access spot)
2015 - Semi Final Rose & Sugar - 5 access spots at most Cotton, Peach, Fiesta
2016 - Semi Orange & Cotton - 3 access Spots at most (Peach & Fiesta)
2017 - Semi Fiesta & Peach - 1 access Spot only (Cotton)

I hope they change the model the following three years so it is just 3 access spots every year. One Tie-in bowl, One Open Slot bowl.

1 thing as well-
2015- 5 access spots- realistically it'll at least be 3- going to have at least 2 conference champs be in the playoffs.
2016- 2-3 access spots- (if ACC is in playoff 3, if not 2)
2017- 1 access spot

Even if they switched to what you are saying, could have as few as 1 access spot if say it's the Rose and Peach hosting SF- and Big Ten/Pac 12 doesn't get a team in the SF.

(03-19-2014 09:05 AM)TripleA Wrote:  Definitely yes. Been stated in the media many times. Unless they somehow change the criteria between now and then, which seems doubtful.

Correct. It's no different than the non-AQ bid to the now-old BCS system in that respect. You HAVE to be the conference champ. For example, Boise State was ranked #7 in the final BCS standings in 2011 (being higher ranked than both the Big Ten and ACC champs), but that meant nothing in terms of getting any auto-bid because they didn't win the MWC. Boise State was sent to the Las Vegas Bowl to play a pre-Christmas game against 6-6 Arizona State.