Bowl System May Violate Federal Law

Congress explores launching antitrust probe, backing playoff
By Katherine Thompson,  Newser Staff
Posted Apr 18, 2008 11:31 AM CDT
Bowl System May Violate Federal Law
Boise State's Austin Pettis (87) heads upfield after making a catch in the Hawaii Bowl football game Sunday, Dec. 23, 2007, in Honolulu. East Carolina won 41-38.    (AP Photo)

A Congressional resolution could have the Justice Department looking into whether the college football bowl system is illegal, the AP reports. The authors of the resolution say  the system restricts trade because only the biggest schools seem to have a shot at being voted into the championship game. A look at the leglsiators' home addresses suggests a personal angle, however.

Hawaii, Georgia, and Idaho have all been relegated to smaller bowl games recently despite knockout seasons, and one lawmaker asks, "Who elected these NCAA people?" But they insist that their push for a playoff system isn't about local loyalties. "It's money," says one. "That's what this is all about." (More NCAA football stories.)

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