After a century-plus of pushing, the immovable object has been nudged out of its entrenched position. Now it's time to get that sucker rolling.

That's the mindset as college football power brokers descend on south Florida this week for the annual BCS meetings. The beginning of a sea change in the game's postseason is at hand.

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The monolithic impediment to a playoff – the bowl system and all its apologists and cronies – finally has given ground in recent months. When Big Ten commissioner Jim Delany voiced his own playoff plan in February, it was like a Baptist minister drinking a shot of bourbon and declaring it good. When Delany saw the light, that was the signal that major change was inevitable.

These meetings will begin the process of turning change into something tangible. It won't be easy. Here is a brief primer on what will – and will not – happen in Florida this week.

Who is invited: The commissioners of all 11 FBS conferences, plus one athletic director from each league. Among the ADs expected in attendance: Jeremy Foley of Florida, Barry Alvarez of Wisconsin, Joe Castiglione of Oklahoma, Dan Radakovich of Georgia Tech, Pat Haden of USC, Tom Jurich of Louisville and Jack Swarbrick of independent Notre Dame. The bowls also will be represented, as will ESPN, which has the BCS TV contract. BCS executive director Bill Hancock is scheduled to address the media Wednesday and Thursday with updates on the talks.

Lots of power will be concentrated in the conference rooms. Lots of egos. And lots of competing agendas.

"It won't just be interesting," said one of the attendees, who asked not to be named. "It will be fascinating."

Who will be the most fascinating characters: SEC commissioner Mike Slive and Delany, as usual. When the commissioners get together, the rivalry between the two guys with the most clout comes out. Slive has been championing a playoff (or plus-one) since 2008, while Delany has successfully led the resistance on behalf of the BCS status quo. Now that dynamic is changing ... but how much?

[ Related: Dan Wetzel: College football playoff talk puts focus on broken bowl system ]

What will be discussed: A playoff, and how it will be implemented. A BCS memo acquired by USA Today says there are four primary alternatives for a four-team playoff:

1. Semifinals and final that are hosted by traditional bowls.

2. Semifinals and final that are played at neutral sites, independent of the bowls.

3. Semifinals at bowls, with a championship game that is bid out to a host city.

4. On-campus semifinals hosted by the top two seeds, with the final at a bowl site.







There are other plans that have been broached, including one floated by the Pac-12 and Big Ten that potentially would force the Rose Bowl into the semifinal mix as a sort of third semi. It's complicated, cumbersome and not completely embraced even by those that brought it up in the first place. And it has little chance.

"No friggin' way," was the characterization of that plan by one person who will be involved in the meetings.

What format looks like the leader: With most principals hugging their cards to their chests, it's hard to flag one plan as the favorite. But while a four-team playoff seems inevitable, so does a spirited bid by the Pac-12 and Big Ten to keep the Rose Bowl in a preferred position.

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