A Mid Major Team in The Rose Bowl?

Could an upstart mid major team play in the Grand Daddy of them all, The Rose Bowl? Stranger things have happened, who would have thought Buster Douglas, 90 days out of alcohol treatment would knock out Heavy Weight Champ Mike Tyson, but he did.

So is it possible that a Utah, Boise State or other mid major team can access the crown jewel of bowl games, The Rose Bowl? According to an article in the Idaho Statesman, a journalistic wonder, by Brian Murphy, there might be change in the winds.

News released divulging the terms of the new contract with ESPN that begins at the conclusion of the 2010 regular season indicate things are changing in Pasadena.

Starting as early as the 2011 Rose Bowl a mid major invasion of this storied bowl game is possible. It can happen if A. The Rose Bowl loses either the Big 10 or PAC 10 conference champion to the national title game and B. a mid major is BCS Bowl eligible. Which means following the 2010 season a mid major could grace the hallowed grounds of Pasadena's Rose Bowl.

It is easy to imagine either Ohio State or the USC Trojans making it to the NC game and a qualified mid major playing either the PAC 10 or Big 10 conference champion New Years Day 2011.

This is one time where the BCS got things right. All the BCS Bowls should be open to the mid major schools. So far the burden has been carried by the Fiesta Bowl and the Sugar Bowl, each hosting a mid major school twice.

Opening things up more is good for the bowls , college football and the fans who pay the bills.

If you are a mid major fan like myself, then this is good news, ESPN has been a boon to college football and to the smaller schools from the mid majors down.

I believe thanks to ESPN's coverage of the lesser known schools they have done more than anyone to bring about parity in college football. Young talents are able to see and scout more teams than pre ESPN days. Bringing more equality in college football. Remember Appalachian State beating Michigan in the Big House and last years Sugar Bowl winners over Alabama , the Utah Utes defeating the Wolverines at home.

Good for ESPN good for the Rose Bowl, allowing the mid majors in is good for football.