Harris poll to replace AP rankings in BCS standing

NT80 · July 12, 2005

Harris poll replaces Associated Press rankings in BCS standings

By Eric Ransom, Daily Texan

July 12, 2005

(U-WIRE) AUSTIN, Texas -- Football fans will have to check the latest Harris poll for the Bowl Championship Series rankings this season.

The committee announced on Monday that Harris Interactive is forming the newest poll for the BCS standings. The Harris poll will replace The Associated Press poll this season after the company, along with ESPN, pulled its poll from the calculations.

The BCS standings have attempted calculating the national champion since 1998, and the committee hopes the Harris poll's scientific method will work for football.

"We are moving forward with essentially the same components of the BCS standings a year ago," BCS coordinator and Big 12 Commissioner Kevin Weiberg said in a conference call from Dallas.

The BCS standings will be computed like last year, between the mixed poll, the coaches poll and the computer rankings.

Over 300 invitations were sent out in June to find voters for the Harris poll. The Harris group is aiming for 114 voting members and currently has over 80 spots filled in the same mold as the AP poll.

"There's no ideal voter, but the nominees were former players, coaches, administrators and members of the media as a legacy from the AP poll," Harris Interactive Project Director Eric Stone said.

The names of the voting members will be released before the season starts, and the final ballot of each voting member will be released with the final BCS standings in December. Members will be allowed to reveal their ballots weekly if they choose.

The Associated Press will continue its poll and will name a national champion, continuing the chance of a split national champion.

The new Harris poll will not include a preseason ranking. The first poll will be released in late September while the first BCS rankings will be released on Oct. 17.

BCS conferences helped choose 300 voter nominees; polls will have 114 members.

Voters will have names released, with the first poll out on Sept. 25.

The voters' final poll will be released to the public.