NCAA Council: Bowls must pick 6-6 squads over 5-7 teams

The NCAA's Division I Council streamlined the football postseason qualification process Wednesday, forcing bowls to select teams with 6-6 records before more attractive teams with 5-7 marks.

Only 77 teams were eligible for a record 40 bowl games last year, forcing three bowls to pick three 5-7 teams. Those three — Nebraska, Minnesota, San Jose State — received invitations based on their prowess in the multiyear academic progress rate. Coincidentally, all three teams won their bowls.

If two or more 5-7 teams tie for a bowl slot, the squad with the highest single-year APR will receive the bid.

'It's impossible to project how many eligible bowl teams we will have,' said Bob Bowlsby, chair of the football oversight committee and commissioner of the Big 12 Conference, in a statement. 'We think we have a selection process in the postseason that makes sense and is fair to the schools and the bowls.'

In April, the council placed a moratorium on new bowl games through 2020.

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