The four "wild card", at-large spots could be filled at the promoter's option.

Conference champions earned 19 automatic berths; 29 at-large spots were awarded.

The at-large spots gave the alliance a chance to create the best competition.

The NEC's automatic access could come sooner than 2010 if its champion meets specified criteria of the Football Championship Committee for an at-large spot.

The at-large spot in the Fiesta Bowl was filled via a round-robin selection procedure defined by the other Bowl Championship series games and the automatic bids.

They have a 19-12 record and two losses this season to Syracuse, one of their rivals for the last few at-large spots available in the tournament.

South Carolina (23-10) and Vanderbilt (21-9) are expected to receive at-large spots in the N.C.A.A. tournament.

The Southwest Conference was scheduled to disband after the football season, but its champion was guaranteed one of the at-large spots in the Bowl Alliance.

For the Cadets, an independent, the Independence Bowl offers the only at-large spot beneath the elite-level alliance bowls.

A team must have at least seven wins to be eligible for an at-large spot.