Acting Big 12 Commissioner's Comments Have Negative Impact for ACC and Big East

The BCS appears to be on its' last legs these days. Everywhere you turn, someone is talking about what it would take to implement a playoff system of some sort. The more it is discussed, the clearer it becomes that certain conferences favor the four-team more than others.

What used to be the "Big Six," the SEC, Big 12, Pac-12, Big Ten, ACC and Big East, would inevitably become the "Big Four" under most of the suggested four-team playoff models. Interestingly enough, those that support the idea of a four-team playoff are the conferences that would most likely benefit from it most.

"I don't think the idea of a four-team playoff is hard to comprehend. The details come into site selection, team selection and how you develop the ranking system," acting Big 12 commissioner Chuck Neinas told Sports Illustrated.

It's clear who would make up the Big Four: The Big 12, SEC, Pac-12 and Big Ten. However, Neinas did also stress that the "eureka" idea had not been reached and that there are a number of ideas on the table.

The concern for the ACC and Big East being left out should come from the plus-one model that came to be after the Big 12 and SEC announced the formation of the Champions Bowl. Pac-12 commissioner Larry Scott also supports a four-team model where conference champions play a crucial part.

It is these ideas from leagues that are comfortably sitting within the Big Four that should worry the two that could be left out. If push comes to shove, a few of the suggested playoff options could really harm the ACC and Big East in post-season play.

While the Big East does support the four-team playoff, they also support an at-large team to have an opportunity. It seems this at-large team is the Big East's answer to trying to keep themselves relevant within the allegiances that have already been formed.

The ACC also supports the idea of a four-team playoff, which is interesting considering in the past 10 years, the ACC has finished in the top four of the BCS only once (Virginia Tech, 2007). It's concerning that the Big East and ACC have not pushed back more, considering the potential to not be eligible for the playoffs on a regular basis.

The positive in all of this comes from incoming Big 12 commissioner Bob Bowlsby, who takes a different stance than his fellow conference commissioners.

"I suppose that I have been back and forth a bit, relative to conference champions versus highest-ranked four," Bowlsby said to Sports Illustrated. "For the Big 12, the highest-ranked four is a good thing. It's a good example of where I think there needs to be compromise moving forward."

The BCS is not perfect and neither are the playoff suggestions just yet. Most importantly, the ACC and Big East need to really take a look at what a four-team playoff could mean for the futures of their conferences. Without a little more guarantee, the two could get left out.