Posted Monday December 03, 2012, About: ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit blasts NIU's BCS bid

That was under the old rules, before the NCG was a stand alone, so the BCS bowls rotated the game. That year, USC played in the NCG, hosted by Orange Bowl. Because the Rose Bowl lost its Pac-10 tie-in it got first choice in selecting an opponent for Michigan. California was ranked 5th, but Texas was ranked 4th. Under the-then "Kansas State Rule" a team in the top 4 was guaranteed a BCS slot. Utah, ranked 6th, got the Fiesta because of being a non AQ school ranked in the rop XXX (can't remember the position) and ahead of a AQ champion (Mich @ #12). So Cal (#5) got shut out because it was from an AQ conference but not the conference champion.

Posted Monday December 03, 2012, About: ESPN analyst Kirk Herbstreit blasts NIU's BCS bid

It wasn't the Badgers. The Rule says the an non-AQ must get a BCS bid if (1) it finishes in the top 16 of the final BCS, and (2) it is ranked above an AQ champ. (1) happened because of a number of reasons (e.g., Texas losing, UCLA losing and Badgers winning); (2) happened because NIU is ranked above the Badgers (Big Ten Champ and unranked) and Louisville (Big East co-champ, ranked 21). So even if Wisc had lost, NIU would be in because of Louisville,