Provided (A) They're the top-ranked mid-major (check) (B) They won their conference (check) (C) They're ahead of at least one major conference champion (check, Louisville)
3. The champion of Conference USA, the Mid-American Conference, the Mountain West Conference, the Sun Belt Conference, or the Western Athletic Conference will earn an automatic berth in a BCS bowl game if either: A. Such team is ranked in the top 12 of the final BCS Standings, or, B. Such team is ranked in the top 16 of the final BCS Standings and its ranking in the final BCS Standings is higher than that of a champion of a conference that has an annual automatic berth in one of the BCS bowls. No more than one such team from Conference USA, the Mid-American Conference, the Mountain West Conference, the Sun Belt Conference, and the Western Athletic Conference shall earn an automatic berth in any year. (Note: a second team may be eligible for at-large eligibility as noted below.) If two or more teams from those conferences satisfy the provisions for an automatic berth, then the team with the highest finish in the final BCS Standings will receive the automatic berth, and the remaining team or teams will be considered for at-large selection if it meets the criteria. BCS Automatic Qualification, At-Large Eligibility and Selection Procedures, 2011-2014 Games Decided not to be lazy anymore and look it up. Sounds like if NIU is higher than Boise and in top 16 (21st going into weekend,) they make it. I don't know what Boise's co-championship means (20th in BCS.)
If anyone but Jimbo were FSU's HC, I wouldn't watch. Now, I know NIU has a very good chance of winning
Jordan Lynch and Timmy Jernigan will be an interesting match-up. I have no idea who NIU's interim coach is but I can assure you Jimbo will be in over his head.
Louisville is also in against Florida. I thought Herbstreits rant was pretty good on the BCS matchups.
