There are more total slots in games now. Read the link under the question "How many at-large spots are there?" in the following post.

http://www.cougarboard.com/board/message.html?id=12810785

Note that the bold and red text in that post under that question is talking about at-large spots. The Go5 champion is not considered an at-large. They are an auto-bid. Those bold and red text lists are the results after the top 4, the other contract bowls and the auto-bid for the Go5 have been selected.

Then remember that the committee has to go back to the highest ranked (according to their poll) and take them. Which means the team at #5 every year WILL be in one of those games even if they were not a contract or auto-bid....