The universities listed above are the hosts of the First Round. To qualify as a host school, you must finish in the 2nd Tier or ranked 17 through 32.
It is possible that this number is reduced to 29 schools if the three bowls that were omitted are awarded participation in the New Bowl Championship Series. As it stands throughout this detailed representation of what the New BCS would have looked like last year, if it were to have been held, is that of the 34 bowls played last year only 31 bowls are required. This leaves 3 bowls out or if that is deemed unfair or infeasible then those 3 bowls would be included taking the place of 3 host schools.