With the addition of a fifth BCS bowl game for this season, Bowl Championship Series officials announced a slight easing of the at-large qualification requirements:

- Instead of having to finish in the top 12 of the final BCS standings, teams finishing in the top 14 will now be eligible for a BCS game.

- Any Division I-A team is eligible for at-large consideration.

- Automatic qualifiers:

- No. 1 and No. 2 teams in the final BCS standings
- Big East, Big Ten, SEC, Pac10, Big 12 and ACC champions
- Notre Dame (if it finishes in the top eight)
- a non-BCS team that finishes in the top 12, or in the top 16 if they’re ahead of a BCS champion