(09-15-2014 01:31 PM)stever20 Wrote:  I do not think the ACC controls the selection for the Orange Bowl at all. I think it's done totally based off the committee's ratings. If SEC team is #5 they have to take them. I think Dodd was totally wrong there.

S20, ACC has a lot of influence on the opponent than you realize. That was the main reason for committing a bid to the other side to avoid a G5 team ever coming to the Orange.

Committee really has power for only open slots, not committed slots. One reason why I think the G5 puts way too much stock in the committee view on SOS for for the non playoff games. The main goal for these games is to get the best TV and attendance match-up. Basically the entertainment before the playoff games.

(09-15-2014 02:34 PM)msm96wolf Wrote:  

(09-15-2014 01:31 PM)stever20 Wrote:  I do not think the ACC controls the selection for the Orange Bowl at all. I think it's done totally based off the committee's ratings. If SEC team is #5 they have to take them. I think Dodd was totally wrong there.

S20, ACC has a lot of influence on the opponent than you realize. That was the main reason for committing a bid to the other side to avoid a G5 team ever coming to the Orange.

Committee really has power for only open slots, not committed slots. One reason why I think the G5 puts way too much stock in the committee view on SOS for for the non playoff games. The main goal for these games is to get the best TV and attendance match-up. Basically the entertainment before the playoff games.

From the Orange Bowl's site:
"The selection of the opponent will be based on the guiding principle of securing the highest-ranked team in the final standings available from the Big Ten, SEC or Notre Dame, but will also utilize criteria that shares the minimum appearance standards as agreed upon by all parties. The standards include at least three guaranteed appearances over the 12 years for both the Big Ten and the SEC and a maximum of two with no minimum for Notre Dame"

As we get later in the process- yes, you might not see the highest ranked team taken. But that would be say in the 5th or 6th time- where say in the 6th time- SEC has gone 4 times and ND 1 time. Big Ten would then have to go. The first times, it's going to be the highest ranked pretty much no matter what.

(09-15-2014 02:29 PM)stever20 Wrote:  

(09-15-2014 02:17 PM)jaminandjachin Wrote:  

(09-15-2014 02:01 PM)stever20 Wrote:  

(09-15-2014 01:58 PM)jaminandjachin Wrote:  Actually I think ND has a very good shot this year considering how down the B1G is. The rest of the top SEC teams will get sucked up by the other access bowls. If ND finishes 11-1 or even 10-2, they'll still probably be top 10. The SEC would have to have 4 teams ranked ahead of ND at the end of the year for the choice to still be SEC. Then if the OB gets Clemson, you have to hope the teams in front of ND aren't SC and Georgia which is quite possible.

If ND is 11-1, they're in the playoff.

The Orange Bowl picks BEFORE the other access bowls. If LSU is 5, they would be Orange Bowl bound.

ND will not get in the playoffs over an undefeated FSU, Oregon, Oklahoma, and a one-loss SEC team.

If you look at the AP top 10, 5 of them are from one division in the SEC. They all must play each other. ND will benefit from the carnage.

If any of FSU, Oregon, or Oklahoma slip up- ND would be in at 11-1. Odds pretty solid at least 1 of those 3 will lose at least 1 game.

Also, if SEC West has an undefeated champ, the runner up- if they are 11-1, in the scenario where ND doesn't make the playoff- the SEC runner up could easily be ahead of ND in the ratings. If not likely. Remember- that then wouldn't be for getting in a playoff- so the ratings could be a lot truer.

They could but I was under the assumption when the Sugar Bowl hosts the playoffs, the SEC participant would get placed in another bowl (outside of getting a team in the playoffs). If that is the case, that would come before the OB selection.

(09-15-2014 02:58 PM)jaminandjachin Wrote:  

(09-15-2014 02:29 PM)stever20 Wrote:  

(09-15-2014 02:17 PM)jaminandjachin Wrote:  

(09-15-2014 02:01 PM)stever20 Wrote:  

(09-15-2014 01:58 PM)jaminandjachin Wrote:  Actually I think ND has a very good shot this year considering how down the B1G is. The rest of the top SEC teams will get sucked up by the other access bowls. If ND finishes 11-1 or even 10-2, they'll still probably be top 10. The SEC would have to have 4 teams ranked ahead of ND at the end of the year for the choice to still be SEC. Then if the OB gets Clemson, you have to hope the teams in front of ND aren't SC and Georgia which is quite possible.

If ND is 11-1, they're in the playoff.

The Orange Bowl picks BEFORE the other access bowls. If LSU is 5, they would be Orange Bowl bound.

ND will not get in the playoffs over an undefeated FSU, Oregon, Oklahoma, and a one-loss SEC team.

If you look at the AP top 10, 5 of them are from one division in the SEC. They all must play each other. ND will benefit from the carnage.

If any of FSU, Oregon, or Oklahoma slip up- ND would be in at 11-1. Odds pretty solid at least 1 of those 3 will lose at least 1 game.

Also, if SEC West has an undefeated champ, the runner up- if they are 11-1, in the scenario where ND doesn't make the playoff- the SEC runner up could easily be ahead of ND in the ratings. If not likely. Remember- that then wouldn't be for getting in a playoff- so the ratings could be a lot truer.

They could but I was under the assumption when the Sugar Bowl hosts the playoffs, the SEC participant would get placed in another bowl (outside of getting a team in the playoffs). If that is the case, that would come before the OB selection.

That would be for the champion only. Remember the runner-ups aren't guaranteed anything. So since the champion is in the playoff- that's a moot point. What you are saying would apply to the Big Ten champ- they would not be eligible for the Orange Bowl.

Let's say final standings are
1 FSU
2 Oregon
3 Oklahoma
4 Alabama
5 Mich St(Big 10 champ)
6 LSU
7 Notre Dame

The Orange Bowl would have to take LSU.

(09-15-2014 02:31 PM)Soobahk40050 Wrote:  Should the Big 10/SEC strategy be to schedule more ACC opponents in the regular season to get the extra "skipped over" school into an access bowl?

Not really. Going to the Orange would be worth a lot more money than going to the access bowls. Especially for the SEC.

The OB was a complete disaster for the ACC.

1. The ACC should have way more room to let ND jump a B1G/SEC team. As it stands right now, I don't think ND will play in the game this 12 year cycle. They have to be the right mix of good, but not too good.

2. Splitting the money 50-50 is crazy.

3. Picking after the at-large picks is extremely disappointing.

(09-15-2014 03:27 PM)nzmorange Wrote:  The OB was a complete disaster for the ACC.

1. The ACC should have way more room to let ND jump a B1G/SEC team. As it stands right now, I don't think ND will play in the game this 12 year cycle. They have to be the right mix of good, but not too good.

2. Splitting the money 50-50 is crazy.

3. Picking after the at-large picks is extremely disappointing.

The ACC was at a pretty big low when this came around. If it's 2 years later, things are totally different.

ONe correction- the Orange picks BEFORE the at large picks. So they could get a #5 SEC Runner up for instance.

(09-15-2014 03:44 PM)stever20 Wrote:  

(09-15-2014 03:27 PM)nzmorange Wrote:  The OB was a complete disaster for the ACC.

1. The ACC should have way more room to let ND jump a B1G/SEC team. As it stands right now, I don't think ND will play in the game this 12 year cycle. They have to be the right mix of good, but not too good.

2. Splitting the money 50-50 is crazy.

3. Picking after the at-large picks is extremely disappointing.

The ACC was at a pretty big low when this came around. If it's 2 years later, things are totally different.

ONe correction- the Orange picks BEFORE the at large picks. So they could get a #5 SEC Runner up for instance.

Yes, the Commitee must fufill the contract bowls requirements first.

(09-15-2014 03:01 PM)stever20 Wrote:  

(09-15-2014 02:58 PM)jaminandjachin Wrote:  

(09-15-2014 02:29 PM)stever20 Wrote:  

(09-15-2014 02:17 PM)jaminandjachin Wrote:  

(09-15-2014 02:01 PM)stever20 Wrote:  If ND is 11-1, they're in the playoff.

The Orange Bowl picks BEFORE the other access bowls. If LSU is 5, they would be Orange Bowl bound.

ND will not get in the playoffs over an undefeated FSU, Oregon, Oklahoma, and a one-loss SEC team.

If you look at the AP top 10, 5 of them are from one division in the SEC. They all must play each other. ND will benefit from the carnage.

If any of FSU, Oregon, or Oklahoma slip up- ND would be in at 11-1. Odds pretty solid at least 1 of those 3 will lose at least 1 game.

Also, if SEC West has an undefeated champ, the runner up- if they are 11-1, in the scenario where ND doesn't make the playoff- the SEC runner up could easily be ahead of ND in the ratings. If not likely. Remember- that then wouldn't be for getting in a playoff- so the ratings could be a lot truer.

They could but I was under the assumption when the Sugar Bowl hosts the playoffs, the SEC participant would get placed in another bowl (outside of getting a team in the playoffs). If that is the case, that would come before the OB selection.

That would be for the champion only. Remember the runner-ups aren't guaranteed anything. So since the champion is in the playoff- that's a moot point. What you are saying would apply to the Big Ten champ- they would not be eligible for the Orange Bowl.

Let's say final standings are
1 FSU
2 Oregon
3 Oklahoma
4 Alabama
5 Mich St(Big 10 champ)
6 LSU
7 Notre Dame

The Orange Bowl would have to take LSU.

Not necessarily. If the Sugar is not a playoff bowl, then LSU would go to the Sugar, because the SEC's contract with the Sugar trumps its contract with the Orange.

Also, even if the Sugar is a playoff bowl, the Orange could skip LSU to avoid a rematch, if say the ACC representative is Clemson, and LSU and Clemson played earlier.

(09-15-2014 02:34 PM)msm96wolf Wrote:  

(09-15-2014 01:31 PM)stever20 Wrote:  I do not think the ACC controls the selection for the Orange Bowl at all. I think it's done totally based off the committee's ratings. If SEC team is #5 they have to take them. I think Dodd was totally wrong there.

S20, ACC has a lot of influence on the opponent than you realize. That was the main reason for committing a bid to the other side to avoid a G5 team ever coming to the Orange.

The ACC may have been influential in getting the Orange to sign with the SEC and B1G (I doubt it, but maybe), but it will have zero influence on who the opponent is on a yearly basis. That is totally determined by the formula specified in the contract among those parties and Notre Dame, and based on the rankings of the CFP committee.

(09-15-2014 03:55 PM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(09-15-2014 03:01 PM)stever20 Wrote:  

(09-15-2014 02:58 PM)jaminandjachin Wrote:  

(09-15-2014 02:29 PM)stever20 Wrote:  

(09-15-2014 02:17 PM)jaminandjachin Wrote:  ND will not get in the playoffs over an undefeated FSU, Oregon, Oklahoma, and a one-loss SEC team.

If you look at the AP top 10, 5 of them are from one division in the SEC. They all must play each other. ND will benefit from the carnage.

If any of FSU, Oregon, or Oklahoma slip up- ND would be in at 11-1. Odds pretty solid at least 1 of those 3 will lose at least 1 game.

Also, if SEC West has an undefeated champ, the runner up- if they are 11-1, in the scenario where ND doesn't make the playoff- the SEC runner up could easily be ahead of ND in the ratings. If not likely. Remember- that then wouldn't be for getting in a playoff- so the ratings could be a lot truer.

They could but I was under the assumption when the Sugar Bowl hosts the playoffs, the SEC participant would get placed in another bowl (outside of getting a team in the playoffs). If that is the case, that would come before the OB selection.

That would be for the champion only. Remember the runner-ups aren't guaranteed anything. So since the champion is in the playoff- that's a moot point. What you are saying would apply to the Big Ten champ- they would not be eligible for the Orange Bowl.

Let's say final standings are
1 FSU
2 Oregon
3 Oklahoma
4 Alabama
5 Mich St(Big 10 champ)
6 LSU
7 Notre Dame

The Orange Bowl would have to take LSU.

Not necessarily. If the Sugar is not a playoff bowl, then LSU would go to the Sugar, because the SEC's contract with the Sugar trumps its contract with the Orange.

Also, even if the Sugar is a playoff bowl, the Orange could skip LSU to avoid a rematch, if say the ACC representative is Clemson, and LSU and Clemson played earlier.

Except we are talking about this year only, I believe. But yes you are correct the Sugar and Rose for that matter trumps when not hosting for the SEC/B1G pick for the Orange.

(09-15-2014 04:45 PM)MWC Tex Wrote:  

(09-15-2014 03:55 PM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(09-15-2014 03:01 PM)stever20 Wrote:  

(09-15-2014 02:58 PM)jaminandjachin Wrote:  

(09-15-2014 02:29 PM)stever20 Wrote:  If any of FSU, Oregon, or Oklahoma slip up- ND would be in at 11-1. Odds pretty solid at least 1 of those 3 will lose at least 1 game.

Also, if SEC West has an undefeated champ, the runner up- if they are 11-1, in the scenario where ND doesn't make the playoff- the SEC runner up could easily be ahead of ND in the ratings. If not likely. Remember- that then wouldn't be for getting in a playoff- so the ratings could be a lot truer.

They could but I was under the assumption when the Sugar Bowl hosts the playoffs, the SEC participant would get placed in another bowl (outside of getting a team in the playoffs). If that is the case, that would come before the OB selection.

That would be for the champion only. Remember the runner-ups aren't guaranteed anything. So since the champion is in the playoff- that's a moot point. What you are saying would apply to the Big Ten champ- they would not be eligible for the Orange Bowl.

Let's say final standings are
1 FSU
2 Oregon
3 Oklahoma
4 Alabama
5 Mich St(Big 10 champ)
6 LSU
7 Notre Dame

The Orange Bowl would have to take LSU.

Not necessarily. If the Sugar is not a playoff bowl, then LSU would go to the Sugar, because the SEC's contract with the Sugar trumps its contract with the Orange.

Also, even if the Sugar is a playoff bowl, the Orange could skip LSU to avoid a rematch, if say the ACC representative is Clemson, and LSU and Clemson played earlier.

Except we are talking about this year only, I believe. But yes you are correct the Sugar and Rose for that matter trumps when not hosting for the SEC/B1G pick for the Orange.

If we are talking this year only, then yes, LSU would go to the Orange, because MSU would go to the Rose, leaving LSU as the highest-rated B1G/SEC/ND team available.

"The selection of the opponent will be based on the guiding principle of securing the highest-ranked team in the final standings available from the Big Ten, SEC or Notre Dame, but will also utilize criteria that shares the minimum appearance standards as agreed upon by all parties. The standards include at least three guaranteed appearances over the 12 years for both the Big Ten and the SEC and a maximum of two with no minimum for Notre Dame."

This is not the language of the contract, this is the language of the Orange Bowl site distilled - paraphrased.

Sometimes is means is? and sometimes is means is. There is plenty of wiggle room in that language to get ND into the Orange Bowl anytime they get close.

(09-15-2014 05:19 PM)lumberpack4 Wrote:  "The selection of the opponent will be based on the guiding principle of securing the highest-ranked team in the final standings available from the Big Ten, SEC or Notre Dame, but will also utilize criteria that shares the minimum appearance standards as agreed upon by all parties. The standards include at least three guaranteed appearances over the 12 years for both the Big Ten and the SEC and a maximum of two with no minimum for Notre Dame."

This is not the language of the contract, this is the language of the Orange Bowl site distilled - paraphrased.

Sometimes is means is? and sometimes is means is. There is plenty of wiggle room in that language to get ND into the Orange Bowl anytime they get close.

look at this:
http://game.orangebowl.org/assets/1/7/Ro...Week_3.pdf

The Orange Bowl In the Next 12 Years - The Orange Bowl will host a College Football Playoff Semifinal every
three years: December 31 in 2015, 2018, 2021 and 2024 at either 5 p.m. or 8:30 p.m. During the eight years
when the Orange Bowl does not host a semifinal it will feature the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Champion,
or if the champion is participating in the College Football Playoff the next highest ranked ACC school (selected by
the CFP selection committee), against the highest ranked available school from either the Big Ten Conference,
Southeastern Conference (SEC) or Notre Dame (as chosen by the CFP selection committee). The Big Ten and
SEC will receive a minimum of three Orange Bowl appearances each during the eight games and Notre Dame
may make up to two appearances in the eight games.

does not look like any ambiguity in that at all.... This is straight from the Orange Bowl......

(09-15-2014 05:19 PM)lumberpack4 Wrote:  "The selection of the opponent will be based on the guiding principle of securing the highest-ranked team in the final standings available from the Big Ten, SEC or Notre Dame, but will also utilize criteria that shares the minimum appearance standards as agreed upon by all parties. The standards include at least three guaranteed appearances over the 12 years for both the Big Ten and the SEC and a maximum of two with no minimum for Notre Dame."

This is not the language of the contract, this is the language of the Orange Bowl site distilled - paraphrased.

Sometimes is means is? and sometimes is means is. There is plenty of wiggle room in that language to get ND into the Orange Bowl anytime they get close.

I don't see the wiggle room. The statement is clear: The B1G and SEC must appear at least 3 times each, and Notre Dame can appear no more than 2 times, and, subject to those constraints and the "rematch" clause, in any given year the team that plays will be the highest ranked of the available SEC and B1G teams, and Notre Dame.

(09-15-2014 07:16 PM)quo vadis Wrote:  

(09-15-2014 05:19 PM)lumberpack4 Wrote:  "The selection of the opponent will be based on the guiding principle of securing the highest-ranked team in the final standings available from the Big Ten, SEC or Notre Dame, but will also utilize criteria that shares the minimum appearance standards as agreed upon by all parties. The standards include at least three guaranteed appearances over the 12 years for both the Big Ten and the SEC and a maximum of two with no minimum for Notre Dame."

This is not the language of the contract, this is the language of the Orange Bowl site distilled - paraphrased.

Sometimes is means is? and sometimes is means is. There is plenty of wiggle room in that language to get ND into the Orange Bowl anytime they get close.

I don't see the wiggle room. The statement is clear: The B1G and SEC must appear at least 3 times each, and Notre Dame can appear no more than 2 times, and, subject to those constraints and the "rematch" clause, in any given year the team that plays will be the highest ranked of the available SEC and B1G teams, and Notre Dame.

Also, according to the committee "All FBS conference teams have a chance for the playoffs"

(09-15-2014 05:38 PM)stever20 Wrote:  

(09-15-2014 05:19 PM)lumberpack4 Wrote:  "The selection of the opponent will be based on the guiding principle of securing the highest-ranked team in the final standings available from the Big Ten, SEC or Notre Dame, but will also utilize criteria that shares the minimum appearance standards as agreed upon by all parties. The standards include at least three guaranteed appearances over the 12 years for both the Big Ten and the SEC and a maximum of two with no minimum for Notre Dame."

This is not the language of the contract, this is the language of the Orange Bowl site distilled - paraphrased.

Sometimes is means is? and sometimes is means is. There is plenty of wiggle room in that language to get ND into the Orange Bowl anytime they get close.

look at this:
http://game.orangebowl.org/assets/1/7/Ro...Week_3.pdf

The Orange Bowl In the Next 12 Years - The Orange Bowl will host a College Football Playoff Semifinal every
three years: December 31 in 2015, 2018, 2021 and 2024 at either 5 p.m. or 8:30 p.m. During the eight years
when the Orange Bowl does not host a semifinal it will feature the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Champion,
or if the champion is participating in the College Football Playoff the next highest ranked ACC school (selected by
the CFP selection committee), against the highest ranked available school from either the Big Ten Conference,
Southeastern Conference (SEC) or Notre Dame (as chosen by the CFP selection committee). The Big Ten and
SEC will receive a minimum of three Orange Bowl appearances each during the eight games and Notre Dame
may make up to two appearances in the eight games.

does not look like any ambiguity in that at all.... This is straight from the Orange Bowl......

Have you read the CONTRACT? No you have not. If you have not read the CONTRACT you do not know what it really says and what the language allows. The short blurbs on the Orange Bowl's website are not contractual language.

"against the highest ranked available school from either the Big Ten Conference,Southeastern Conference (SEC) or Notre Dame"

One way to read the highlighted section is that it's the highest ranked team from the pool of 29 teams in the B10/SEC/ND. A second way to read it is the committee can place the highest ranked team out of the three discrete conferences/ND in the Orange Bowl.

What I know for sure is that the Orange Bowl will want ND as soon as they can get them and so will the ACC as the ACC makes more money that way.

(09-15-2014 03:47 PM)MWC Tex Wrote:  

(09-15-2014 03:44 PM)stever20 Wrote:  

(09-15-2014 03:27 PM)nzmorange Wrote:  The OB was a complete disaster for the ACC.

1. The ACC should have way more room to let ND jump a B1G/SEC team. As it stands right now, I don't think ND will play in the game this 12 year cycle. They have to be the right mix of good, but not too good.

2. Splitting the money 50-50 is crazy.

3. Picking after the at-large picks is extremely disappointing.

The ACC was at a pretty big low when this came around. If it's 2 years later, things are totally different.

ONe correction- the Orange picks BEFORE the at large picks. So they could get a #5 SEC Runner up for instance.

Yes, the Commitee must fufill the contract bowls requirements first.

Assume both the SEC #1 and B1G #1 make the FF. It's my understanding that the SEC #1 plays in the Sugar Bowl and the B1G #1 plays in an at-large spot in the Peach/Cotton/Fiesta (Assuming the Rose is hosting). Then the OB can select the higher of the B1G #2, the SEC #2, and Notre Dame, provided that the SEC/B1G hasn't 't already gone 3x and that ND hasn't already gone 2x. Then that team is excluded.

That's BS. The OB *should* get the first pick out of the teams that would be playing in the Rose/Sugar (regardless of conference affiliation) when the Rose/Sugar hosts and the OB *should* pay the visitor slightly more than the Access Bowls and the ACC should pocket the rest. Otherwise, the ACC should be given a wide latitude to pick ND over higher-ranked B1G/SEC teams so long as ND is ranked within x spaces (or something like that).

Failure to secure either of the above described agreements is a complete failure on Swofford. The TV contract filled with nepotism is pretty bad, but the OB agreement is inexcusable. I don't care when it was negotiated. Things were never *that* bleak. The OB agreement is absolute garbage.

(09-15-2014 09:08 PM)lumberpack4 Wrote:  

(09-15-2014 05:38 PM)stever20 Wrote:  

(09-15-2014 05:19 PM)lumberpack4 Wrote:  "The selection of the opponent will be based on the guiding principle of securing the highest-ranked team in the final standings available from the Big Ten, SEC or Notre Dame, but will also utilize criteria that shares the minimum appearance standards as agreed upon by all parties. The standards include at least three guaranteed appearances over the 12 years for both the Big Ten and the SEC and a maximum of two with no minimum for Notre Dame."

This is not the language of the contract, this is the language of the Orange Bowl site distilled - paraphrased.

Sometimes is means is? and sometimes is means is. There is plenty of wiggle room in that language to get ND into the Orange Bowl anytime they get close.

look at this:
http://game.orangebowl.org/assets/1/7/Ro...Week_3.pdf

The Orange Bowl In the Next 12 Years - The Orange Bowl will host a College Football Playoff Semifinal every
three years: December 31 in 2015, 2018, 2021 and 2024 at either 5 p.m. or 8:30 p.m. During the eight years
when the Orange Bowl does not host a semifinal it will feature the Atlantic Coast Conference (ACC) Champion,
or if the champion is participating in the College Football Playoff the next highest ranked ACC school (selected by
the CFP selection committee), against the highest ranked available school from either the Big Ten Conference,
Southeastern Conference (SEC) or Notre Dame (as chosen by the CFP selection committee). The Big Ten and
SEC will receive a minimum of three Orange Bowl appearances each during the eight games and Notre Dame
may make up to two appearances in the eight games.

does not look like any ambiguity in that at all.... This is straight from the Orange Bowl......

Have you read the CONTRACT? No you have not. If you have not read the CONTRACT you do not know what it really says and what the language allows. The short blurbs on the Orange Bowl's website are not contractual language.

"against the highest ranked available school from either the Big Ten Conference,Southeastern Conference (SEC) or Notre Dame"

One way to read the highlighted section is that it's the highest ranked team from the pool of 29 teams in the B10/SEC/ND. A second way to read it is the committee can place the highest ranked team out of the three discrete conferences/ND in the Orange Bowl.

What I know for sure is that the Orange Bowl will want ND as soon as they can get them and so will the ACC as the ACC makes more money that way.

I think I'll believe something that is from the actual bowl game over an ACC fanboy's wishes. And the statement has no ambiguity at all- it's the highest ranked from those 3 pools. This statement reflects what has been reported by pretty much everyone from the get go of the Orange Bowl announcement.

(09-15-2014 09:08 PM)lumberpack4 Wrote:  "against the highest ranked available school from either the Big Ten Conference,Southeastern Conference (SEC) or Notre Dame"

One way to read the highlighted section is that it's the highest ranked team from the pool of 29 teams in the B10/SEC/ND. A second way to read it is the committee can place the highest ranked team out of the three discrete conferences/ND in the Orange Bowl.

I'm not sure that's ambiguous--I don't see that they've left themselves another option, so it would be embarrassing if they pulled secret language out of their briefcases and bypassed #8 Minnesota for #10 Missouri or whatever.

What _is_ ambiguous, I think, is the term "highest ranked available school". Does the Orange Bowl get to pick before the Access Bowls, or after?