***It’s because the Big Ten and the Pac-10 have the Rose Bowl, which is the best. It has aura that no other bowl has.***
This year it was the toilet bowl.
***Why would the Pac-10 and Big Ten voluntarily give that up? The only way I could see the Big Ten and Pac-10 actually agreeing to a plus one scenario is if the Rose Bowl decided to abandon the Pac-10 / Big Ten ties. Absent that, it won’t happen.***
Who says they have to give it up? First of all, when the Rose hosts 1 v. 2, they do give it up so there is some incentive. Secondly, there is nothing that requires tradition to give up its selection in a plus 1 format. But, when you play Ill. as USC in a plus 1 format, you kinda write yourself out of contention for a title game for the sake of your tradition.
I think the real reason is that the Pac-10 is weak and the Big-10 is weak. Thus, you won’t get many shots at a title.
That no longer happens. The national title game is a separate bowl. Won't see a plus 1.