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Commissioners support adding bowl

Published: October 27, 2012 

Cincinnati Louisville Football

Louisville wide receiver DeVante Parker (9) tries to pull in a pass in the end zone, while surrounded by Cincinnati defenders Drew Frey (26), Arryn Chenault, behind Frey, and Deven Drane (11) on the last play of the first half in an NCAA college football game in Louisville, Ky., Friday, Oct. 26, 2012. Parker could not hold on to the ball. At right is Louisville's Damian Copeland (7). (AP Photo/Garry Jones)

Garry Jones — the associated press

Big East hoping for better access in future

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Clemson 42, Wake Forest 13

Delaware St. 28, Morgan St. 23

Big East commissioner Mike Aresco says support for adding a bowl game to college football’s new postseason system has not waned.

Earlier this week, ESPN.com reported the chances of a seventh game being added to the playoff rotation that starts in 2014 had decreased because of various concerns, ranging from the value of the game’s television rights to where it will be played.

The original playoff plan had the national semifinals rotating among six major bowl games. Last month, the conference commissioners discussed expanding to the pool to seven games to give better access to the Big East, Mountain West, Conference USA , Sun Belt and Mid-American Conference.

“None of us had heard anything about the game being in any jeopardy,” Aresco said Friday.

The proposed plan for a seventh game calls for the top-rated champion from the Big East and the other four conferences to play either a Pac-12 or a Big 12 team in years when that game is not hosting a semifinal.

Yet tepid interest in the game from possible television partners is a potential stumbling block. How much TV rights would be for such a game is uncertain. Speculation has been anywhere from $20 million per year to about $55 million.

“We’re trying to put the game together,” Aresco said. “We think there will be significant interest from TV entities, but it’s premature. We haven’t gone that far.”

Aresco said the goal is to find a permanent home for the game. A site has not been determined, but Aresco is confident a good one can be found.

Pac-12 Commissioner Larry Scott said during a radio interview Thursday on the “Tim Brando Show” that a decision on adding a seventh game could be six to nine months away.

Aresco spearheaded the push for a seventh game because the Big East stands to benefit most from its addition.

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