AP decides to pull its poll out of BCS formula

NEW YORK (SI.com) -- The Associated Press has decided to pull its football poll from the Bowl Championship Series formula beginning with the 2005 season.

Big 12 commissioner Kevin Weiberg told the Boston Globe that the AP sent him a letter stating its concern about participating in the BCS formula, which is used to select teams for the national title game as well as the three other BCS bowls.

"We respect the decision of The Associated Press to no longer have its poll included in the BCS standings,'' Weiberg said in a statement obtained by the Boston Globe. "Since the inception of the BCS, the AP poll has been part of our standings. We appreciate the cooperation we have received from the organization in providing rankings on a weekly basis. We will discuss alternatives to the Associated Press poll at the upcoming BCS meetings and plan to conclude our evaluation of the BCS standings formula, including any other possible changes by our April meeting.''