College Football Realignment

[WVRed]

Here is my idea for radical realignment for college sports:

A couple of months ago, John Calipari proposed a system of creating four unique superconferences. These conferences would basically break up some major conferences, namely the Big East and Big Twelve, and create a radical realignment. These conferences would ultimately play for a football playoff and all teams would be eligible for a basketball tournament.

I decided to create my own version of this and expand it even further. Basically, how to fix college sports, I've created four separate conferences:

Western Conference: Pac-12 teams, Big 12
Northern Conference: Big Ten teams, Big East, as well as Iowa State
Eastern Conference: ACC teams and remaining Big East
Southern Conference: SEC teams, Houston, UCF, and Louisville

The Western Conference breaks down as follows:

Arizona
Arizona State
Baylor
Boise State
California
Colorado
Oregon
Oregon State
Stanford
Texas
Texas A&M
Texas Tech
UCLA
USC
Utah
Washington
Washington State

Now to simplify it, each team will be in 4 divisions of 4-5 teams each. The winner of each conference would ultimately play in a playoff format in college football to determine a champion:

California division:
California
Stanford
UCLA
USC

Pacific Northwest division:
Oregon
Oregon State
Washington
Washington State

Texas Division:
Texas
Texas A&M
Texas Tech
Baylor
Utah

Desert Division:
Arizona
Arizona State
Colorado
Oklahoma
Oklahoma State

Onto the Northern Conference:

Cincinnati
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Iowa State
Marquette
Michigan
Michigan State
Minnesota
Nebraska
Northwestern
Notre Dame
Ohio State
Penn State
Pittsburgh
Purdue
West Virginia
Wisconsin

Geographical breakdown:

Central Division:
Illinois
Indiana
Northwestern
Purdue
Notre Dame
Great Lakes Division:
Minnesota
Wisconsin
Michigan
Michigan State
Marquette*

Northeastern Division:
Penn State
Pittsburgh
West Virginia
Cincinnati

Northern Division:
Iowa
Iowa State
Ohio State
Nebraska

Next up, the Eastern Conference:

Boston College
Clemson
Connecticut
Duke
Florida State
Georgia Tech
Maryland
Miami
UNC
North Carolina State
Providence
Rutgers
South Florida
Syracuse
Villanova
Virginia
Virginia Tech
Wake Forest

Northeastern Division:
Boston College
Connecticut
Syracuse
Rutgers
Providence



Carolina Division:
Duke
UNC
North Carolina State
Wake Forest
Clemson

Southeastern Division:
Florida State
Georgia Tech
Miami
South Florida

Eastern Division:
Maryland
Virginia
Virginia Tech
Villanova

And last but not least, the Southern Conference:

Alabama
Arkansas
Auburn
Central Florida
Florida
Georgia
Houston
Kansas
Kansas State
Kentucky
Louisville
LSU
Missouri
Mississippi State
Ole Miss
South Carolina
Tennessee
Vanderbilt


Southern Division:
Florida
Georgia
South Carolina
UCF
Houston


Central Division:
LSU
Mississippi State
Ole Miss
Alabama
Auburn

Midwestern Division:
Kentucky
Louisville
Tennessee
Vanderbilt

Kansas Division:
Missouri
Kansas
Kansas State
Arkansas

Enjoy and pick apart as you please.

[paintmered]

Strong rumors are that Texas A&M and Florida State are headed to the SEC.

It's time to set all the many pieces in motion. Here we go...

Assuming the rumors are true, here's my guesses as to how things will fall out (with a little homer optimism thrown in)...

- Texas goes independent
- Oklahoma, Okie State, Texas Tech and Baylor all go west to the Pac-10/12/16
- The B1G-10/12 makes the move to 16 and the Northeast by adding Syracuse, Pitt, UCONN and Rutgers
- The ACC regains its 12th member by poaching West Virginia

This leaves UC, Louisville, TCU and South Florida to break from the catholic schools, join Mizzou, Kansas, K-State and Iowa State to get to eight. This new conference then adds anywhere from 2-4 CUSA or other mid majors to get to 10-12.

If the B1G-whatever does not decide to make the move to 16, then the Big East moves to 12 by adding the remaining B-XII schools.

The wild card in all of this is that the Big East turned down a contract that would pay the schools more money than what the ACC is getting (The Big East is about to get paid in a very big way). The ACC might not have a play to the Big East schools like they did in 2003 since they can't simply throw money at schools this time around.

[Caveat Emperor]

Originally Posted by WVRed

16 could happen, but 14 is more feasible, especially if you slide Alabama or Auburn to the SEC East:

SEC East:
Alabama
Florida
Georgia
Kentucky
South Carolina
Tennessee
Vanderbilt

SEC West:
Arkansas
Auburn
LSU
Mississippi
Mississippi State
Oklahoma
Texas A&M

The SEC West needs a Vanderbilt-style punching bag. Bring Tulane home! We'll gladly take an 0-fer in SEC play to balance things out.

[Slyder]

Originally Posted by paintmered

Strong rumors are that Texas A&M and Florida State are headed to the SEC.

It's time to set all the many pieces in motion. Here we go...

Assuming the rumors are true, here's my guesses as to how things will fall out (with a little homer optimism thrown in)...

- Texas goes independent
- Oklahoma, Okie State, Texas Tech and Baylor all go west to the Pac-10/12/16
- The B1G-10/12 makes the move to 16 and the Northeast by adding Syracuse, Pitt, UCONN and Rutgers
- The ACC regains its 12th member by poaching West Virginia

This leaves UC, Louisville, TCU and South Florida to break from the catholic schools, join Mizzou, Kansas, K-State and Iowa State to get to eight. This new conference then adds anywhere from 2-4 CUSA or other mid majors to get to 10-12.

If the B1G-whatever does not decide to make the move to 16, then the Big East moves to 12 by adding the remaining B-XII schools.

The wild card in all of this is that the Big East turned down a contract that would pay the schools more money than what the ACC is getting (The Big East is about to get paid in a very big way). The ACC might not have a play to the Big East schools like they did in 2003 since they can't simply throw money at schools this time around.

I am telling you the ONLY way the Big 10+many takes a Big East school is that it lands them Notre Dame. There is ZERO chance that the Big Infinity would take ANY of those schools if it weren't for Notre Dame. I've read the reports also about the TV deal. And I would talk with the Big 10 and Notre Dame and try to see if there be any way to get that done without having to poach schools because here is what I see.

Big East adds: Va Tech, BC, and Big 12 remaints (K State, Kansas).
SEC adds: aTm and Clemson
Pac adds: TT, Oklahoma, Ok St., and Baylor
Big 10+ many adds: Notre Dame, Virginia, Missouri, and Ga Tech.
ACC Tobacco Road+ a crap ton of garbage from CUSA, MWC, etc.

[WVRed]

Originally Posted by Slyder

I am telling you the ONLY way the Big 10+many takes a Big East school is that it lands them Notre Dame. There is ZERO chance that the Big Infinity would take ANY of those schools if it weren't for Notre Dame. I've read the reports also about the TV deal. And I would talk with the Big 10 and Notre Dame and try to see if there be any way to get that done without having to poach schools because here is what I see.

Big East adds: Va Tech, BC, and Big 12 remaints (K State, Kansas).
SEC adds: aTm and Clemson
Pac adds: TT, Oklahoma, Ok St., and Baylor
Big 10+ many adds: Missouri, Virginia, Missouri, and Ga Tech.
ACC Tobacco Road+ a crap ton of garbage from CUSA, MWC, etc.

I don't see the Big East or Big 12 surviving. The Big East has been rumored to be poached forever and the Longhorn Network is going to be the downfall of the Big 12.

I think the SEC will add two more besides T A&M and FSU. I'm going to guess and say both Oklahoma and Oklahoma State.

If the Big East collapses, I'm more interested in where WVU ends up. Geographically the ACC makes the most sense and the potential is there for rivalries. I'd love to see WVU in the SEC but it doesn't make much geographic sense and they would be a second fiddle team like Georgia or Tennessee in football.

[Unassisted]

Originally Posted by WVRed

the Longhorn Network is going to be the downfall of the Big 12.

The NCAA's declaration that it can't carry high school sports took a bunch of the wind out of those sails, IMO.

I'm still not convinced that A&M is offended enough by the Long Horn Network (the acronym they're using at UT) to be willing to travel to other states for ALL of its conference schedule in every sport.

I could be wrong. We'll see on Monday.

[paintmered]

Originally Posted by Slyder

I am telling you the ONLY way the Big 10+many takes a Big East school is that it lands them Notre Dame. There is ZERO chance that the Big Infinity would take ANY of those schools if it weren't for Notre Dame. I've read the reports also about the TV deal. And I would talk with the Big 10 and Notre Dame and try to see if there be any way to get that done without having to poach schools because here is what I see.

Big East adds: Va Tech, BC, and Big 12 remaints (K State, Kansas).
SEC adds: aTm and Clemson
Pac adds: TT, Oklahoma, Ok St., and Baylor
Big 10+ many adds: Notre Dame, Virginia, Missouri, and Ga Tech.
ACC Tobacco Road+ a crap ton of garbage from CUSA, MWC, etc.

I disagree. Mizzou all but begged the B1G-10 for an invite the last go around, and the B1G-10 wanted no part of them. Why would the B1G-10 go after them this time when they could have earlier and chose not to?

And besides, why would the B1G-10 choose to not enter the big east coast markets? Market share and cable subscribers is driving the boat. The Big East has schools in the biggest of the east coast markets, which is why NBC is about to throw all kinds of money at the conference. Big East schools are going to get a bigger check than ACC schools after this is all said and done. They're not nearly as vulnerable as they were in 2003, no matter how weak the rest of the country perceives them to be at football.

[Slyder]

Originally Posted by paintmered

I disagree. Mizzou all but begged the B1G-10 for an invite the last go around, and the B1G-10 wanted no part of them. Why would the B1G-10 go after them this time when they could have earlier and chose not to?

And besides, why would the B1G-10 choose to not enter the big east coast markets? Market share and cable subscribers is driving the boat. The Big East has schools in the biggest of the east coast markets, which is why NBC is about to throw all kinds of money at the conference. Big East schools are going to get a bigger check than ACC schools after this is all said and done. They're not nearly as vulnerable as they were in 2003, no matter how weak the rest of the country perceives them to be at football.

Notre Dame adds more to the tv sets alone than what the entire big east minus MAYBE WVU (and I fully admit my bias might be blinding me) does by themselves in the northeast. They don't care about UConn, Syracuse, or any other of the schoools they want the gem that is the Fighting Leprechaun. If they have to take extra mouths to get it so be it but if they don't and still get ND they would take it to the bank. Notre Dame would add THAT much (and probably more) to any tv package for the B1g Many network.

Mizzou would be a kick back to Nebraska. I think in the case that they get Notre Dame without the extra mouths they reexamine Missouri. Until then I expect Missouri to land with the rest of the Big 12 remainants in the Big East. If they decide its not a fit with Missouri then I would fully expect Maryland (which is in DESPERATE financial straits to come willing to pay whatever price). The Dark Horse school for me would be if Vanderbilt is tired of being the Harvard of the SEC (little to no chance). In a prime TV area (in between Memphis and Nashville I believe) maybe they would have some more success facing schools with closer academic standards to their own? Unlikely I know but it's something I'd at least set feelers out for.


Although if aTm, OK, and Ok Jr. Leave could the rest of the schools vote to kick out Texas and then just invite the football Big East Schools and thus "save" the BcS and conference per say? I ask because there are rumors that the SEC is suppose to be discussing/voting Monday on expansion and discussing aTm, Oklahoma and Oklahoma Jr (Ok St), Virginia Tech, and/or Florida State (at least thats the rumor I heard).

[Hoosier Red]

If the Big Ten is going after markets, I'd go after Virginia and Maryland. That gets you the DC market pretty much locked up.

While Notre Dame is always mentioned, I really thing they'd be a bad fit except for football. Of course Football is the only thing that matters so I'm sure they'll move if the Big 10 moves to 16.

I think the other spot could be Missouri, Rutgers, Va. Tech, or any one else.

[Hoosier Red]

A point I've seen from a lot of writers on twitter, It's remarkable that the entire landscape of college athletics is changing because of a school that hasn't won a bowl game in a decade and hasn't won it's conference since 1993. (I assume it was ineligible to win it in 1994.)

[WMR]

Originally Posted by Hoosier Red

A point I've seen from a lot of writers on twitter, It's remarkable that the entire landscape of college athletics is changing because of a school that hasn't won a bowl game in a decade and hasn't won it's conference since 1993. (I assume it was ineligible to win it in 1994.)

Meh, it just shows that dollars are driving the bus not W/L records.

[Slyder]

I wanted to expand on the reasoning behind big 10 and Notre Dame.

Notre Dame as everyone knows is a member of the Big East in every other sport besides football. The Big 10 thinks that by destabilizing the Big East as a viable option for their non-revenue sports then Notre Dame's hand would be forced to join another conference. Notre Dame is unlikely to find another conference willing to let their football remain independent and be viable for their other sports and thus the choice at that time is join the MAC (or some other mid major conference) or join the big 10 in all sports.

[Slyder]

Originally Posted by WVRed

I don't see the Big East or Big 12 surviving. The Big East has been rumored to be poached forever and the Longhorn Network is going to be the downfall of the Big 12.

I think the SEC will add two more besides T A&M and FSU. I'm going to guess and say both Oklahoma and Oklahoma State.

If the Big East collapses, I'm more interested in where WVU ends up. Geographically the ACC makes the most sense and the potential is there for rivalries. I'd love to see WVU in the SEC but it doesn't make much geographic sense and they would be a second fiddle team like Georgia or Tennessee in football.

The Big East still has one really really key trump card they can pull out if they need to. They're the last of the major conferences to renegotiate a tv deal. If the rumors are true (plus if the ACC losses one of or some combination of Va Tech, Clemson, Florida State, etc.) then the Big East deal is going to put the ACC to SHAME (some rumors are the Big East already walked out on a 15 mil per school per year deal with ESPN).

FYI the new ACC tv deal pays ~$13 mil per year per school average.

Here's the deal according to news networks.
http://www.aolnews.com/2010/05/17/re...sion-contract/

[RiverRat13]

Texas has completely overplayed its hand. There simply isn't enough programming for its own network. If Texas goes independent, it kills every other sport in the program other than football, and I think football would take a hit as well.

[TheBigLebowski]

Originally Posted by Caveat Emperor

The SEC West needs a Vanderbilt-style punching bag. Bring Tulane home! We'll gladly take an 0-fer in SEC play to balance things out.

Petrino will flee Arkansas soon enough and Miss State is only decent once every ten years. Seriously - you get cokes in their stadium from two liter bottles. No drink machines. Vandy's weaker than both of the aforementioned but MSU, Arky and Ole Miss's combined mediocrity makes up for it.