INDIANAPOLIS, Jan. 13 (UPI) -- The NCAA has rejected a proposal for a one-game winner-take-all national championship game in Division 1-A college football.
There was a split title this past season. Oklahoma, which finished No. 1 in the Bowl Championship Series poll, lost to LSU in the BCS title game at the Sugar Bowl. USC beat Michigan in the Rose Bowl, but was voted champion of the Associated Press or writer's poll.
The results led to a co-national champion.
Gateway, the computer company, offered to put up a total of $31 million for an LSU-USC contest, but was rejected.
"Anyone who believes that higher education would jump at a cynical publicity stunt are mistaken and missing the point," said NCAA President Myles Brand in rejecting the offer.
Brand has maintained staunchly that college sports are about student-athletes and not money. NCAA rules prohibit college football games after Jan. 4, the date the Sugar Bowl was played.
"The NCAA's rules make no sense," said Gateway spokesman Dave Hallisey.
