What was speculated last week has now become reality, as the Big East's champion will not be among the teams receiving an automatic bid into college football's new playoff system, which goes into effect for the 2014 season.
This news comes after the Orange Bowl announced a 12-year partnership with the ACC, allowing the ACC's champion automatic entry into the playoff system.
Despite the fact that the BCS bowl system is being phased out, the playoff system looks like it'll reflect something very similar. As it stands, the Big Ten and Pac-12 champions will still meet in the Rose Bowl -- something that could very well be a national semifinal game. The SEC and Big 12 champions will play in their new Champions Bowl, again, something that could be a national semifinal game.
An ACC team, if in title contention, could use the Orange Bowl as one of the semifinals as well, leading up to the national title game.
The Big East, however, is without a bowl tie-in once the college football playoffs start, which could very well drive some institutions out of the conference.