First it was the AP jumping the BCS ship back in December and now ESPN is doing the same. The cable sports broadcaster announced yesterday its withdrawal from the ESPN/USA Today coaches' poll which, along with the recently departed AP poll, comprised a major portion of the BCS ranking formula. As for it's reasoning, ESPN officials stated the reason for their departure revolved around the decision to keep the weekly coaches' poll results a secret. ESPN initially lobbied to have each week's results made public; the coaches' only agreed to publish their final poll of the year.

　　As of now, USA Today remains attached to the coaches' poll and a BCS spokeman said the poll will still be used as part of the BCS formula. With ESPN and the AP out of the picture, however, it will be interesting to see if BCS officials change the weight of the lone coaches' poll in the formula, as a single poll--one that is becoming more and more universally reviled for its secrecy--surely can't retain the same import it has had in recent years.

　　One more nail in the BCS coffin...