True National Title Game For College Football Closer

A true national championship game in college football, the game everyone wants but nobody seems capable of creating, could finally become a reality within 60 days and be played as early as January 1999.

Jack French, executive director of the Tournament of Roses Association, said Thursday the Rose Bowl is “very close” to a proposal with the bowl alliance that would integrate the Big Ten and Pac-10 into the national title mix.

French said he believes an agreement could be reached within 60 days.

The bowl alliance is comprised of the ACC, Big East, SEC, Big 12, Big Ten and Pac-10 conferences and Notre Dame. Since the Rose Bowl takes the Big Ten and Pac-10 champions, the alliance matches the highest-ranked teams available to play in either the Fiesta, Sugar or Orange bowls.

A deal to bring the Rose Bowl into the bowl alliance would take time because an assortment of contracts between conferences and TV networks would have to either expire or be re-worked.