After yet another BCS debacle, the AP pulled it's rankings from the BCS formula. Now ESPN has followed suit and is disassociating itself from the rankings formula. ESPN wasn't necessarily upset with football matchups being determined by complex computer formulas and popularity contests. They just wanted the voting to be out in the open for everyone to see. Since the Coaches votes will continue to remain anonymous, ESPN is taking their ball and going home.

"There will still be a coaches' poll, and it will be used by the BCS, but we don't have a comment on ESPN's decision," said Bob Burda, spokesman for BCS coordinator Kevin Weiberg.

The AP poll and the ESPN/USA Today coaches' poll had been the major components of the BCS rankings.

However, the AP said such use was never sanctioned and had reached the point where it threatened to undermine the independence and integrity of its poll.

ESPN had sponsored the coaches' poll with USA Today since 1997.

I'm sure this has nothing to do with ABC's losing television rights for the Fiesta, Orange, and Sugar Bowls to network rival FOX (starting in 2007). Although ABC and ESPN are both owned by Disney, I doubt ESPN would do anything to undermine the importance of the major bowls.