Conference Realignment Sucks

[KidSilverhair]

This thread is for people who are against change.

I’ll give you change - eight 10-team conferences, all geographically based, including as many long-held rivalries as possible, round-robin conference schedules, all the champions go to an eight-team playoff. Teams would be able to print money with that setup.

How’s that for change?

But oh noes, “SEC tradition” and “Big Ten footprint” and “there’s too many contracts for ESPN/FOX to write up with this” and “this doesn’t destroy the less-deserving schools, we must have that to sate our blood lust.”

 

[cayin]

I’ll give you change - eight 10-team conferences, all geographically based, including as many long-held rivalries as possible, round-robin conference schedules, all the champions go to an eight-team playoff. Teams would be able to print money with that setup.

How’s that for change?

But oh noes, “SEC tradition” and “Big Ten footprint” and “there’s too many contracts for ESPN/FOX to write up with this” and “this doesn’t destroy the less-deserving schools, we must have that to sate our blood lust.”

you could actually make it 7 conferences of 10 teams. I think there are currently 70 power 5 school(with new Big 12 schools). Everyone gets 3 non con and everyone plays 9 games round robin. Penn State would be in the Big East. Each league would have about 2-4 blue bloods.

 

[Kinch]

Yep. The '90s contained the first big realignment/shake-up wave.

Including (no specific order of timeline or impact):

• SWC implosion/formation of Big 12
• Big East hitches wagon to football, begins gradual expansion
• Florida State (independent) joins ACC
• Penn State (independent) joins Big Ten

(Secondary impact, but notable):

• WAC bloats to 16, eventually leading to MWC formation/break-off
• Conference USA forms mainly as collective of Metro/Great Midwest schools, gathers stragglers from SWC & independent for football purposes

All because of OU's lawsuit. Suddenly, the NCAA became irrelevant in football and conferences gained a lot of power.

 

[Die4Cy]

All because of OU's lawsuit. Suddenly, the NCAA became irrelevant in football and conferences gained a lot of power.

And they have chosen to make themselves irrelevant in their handling of transfers and NIL in basketball and other sports. Real talk, the NCAA, they are not long for this world as a governing body.

 

[HawaiiClone]

O

Beyond that, if you're in LA you have options. Between MLB, NBA, NFL, and college, it just isn't possible to be a full-time attendee at all of them whether it be from a time or a money standpoint. So people go to the teams when they're doing well.

There are so many people in LA that those many options can be separately chosen by people of different persuasions. Before the NFL returned there, USC wasn't packing their stadium as much as the population would allow even though they and UCLA were the only 2 top level football options. There just isn't the same level of devotion to their college teams there as there is in the midwest or south.

 

[HawaiiClone]

And they have chosen to make themselves irrelevant in their handling of transfers and NIL in basketball and other sports. Real talk, the NCAA, they are not long for this world as a governing body.

The NCAA is made up of representatives from the universities. If they aren't doing a good job, it seems like the universities could replace them.

 

[Cloneon]

Well, this was certainly fun to read:
SI Hogs prediction

 

[Dr.bannedman]

Well, this was certainly fun to read:
SI Hogs prediction

that guy is high

 

[jdoggivjc]

And they have chosen to make themselves irrelevant in their handling of transfers and NIL in basketball and other sports. Real talk, the NCAA, they are not long for this world as a governing body.

You know why the NCAA is irrelevant? Because time and again they choose to punish Cleveland St for Kentucky’s cheating.

There isn’t a college football fan out there that doesn’t think the NCAA isn’t a joke. Either you’re a fan of a blue blood and you chuckle because you know the NCAA isn’t going to do anything, or you’re a fan of one of the other schools and long ago you’ve thrown your hands up and stopped caring because you know the NCAA isn’t going to do anything.

 

[JM4CY]

Well, this was certainly fun to read:
SI Hogs prediction

Wow… There’s certainly no shortage of slapdick articles like these now.

 

[KidSilverhair]

that guy is high

Oh, I don’t know, Oregon State makes so much sense



plus PODS PODS PODS

 

[clonehome]

I once live on Sheffield Ave., which several blocks north ran past Wrigley's right field. Could hear the roar of the crowd from my apt. Could stroll up the street, scalp a ticket for $5, and soak up a baseball game. THAT was nice!

I lived at Belmont and Sheffield across from the Vic Theater right out of college ‘92-94. We’d walk 4 blocks up Sheffield and scalp a cheap ticket in the outfield bleachers. That’s when the outfield became a thing. It was awesome. The outcome of the game mattered naught.

 

[Gonzo]

I lived at Belmont and Sheffield across from the Vic Theater right out of college ‘92-94. We’d walk 4 blocks up Sheffield and scalp a cheap ticket in the outfield bleachers. That’s when the outfield became a thing. It was awesome. The outcome of the game mattered naught.

We lived in Roscoe Village around Belmont/Damen. Beat Kitchen was our regular hang, also loved hitting the Vic, saw Pavement play there. Awesome area.

 

[trevn]

I think where I've landed is I hate the fact that the leadership in college football appears to be coming from TV execs at ESPN and Fox. Until there is an entity that is looking out for the good of the sport instead of the school, we're going to keep going around on this crazy ride.

 

[KnappShack]

I lived at Belmont and Sheffield across from the Vic Theater right out of college ‘92-94. We’d walk 4 blocks up Sheffield and scalp a cheap ticket in the outfield bleachers. That’s when the outfield became a thing. It was awesome. The outcome of the game mattered naught.

On a side note....saw Robert Plant at the Vic a few years ago.

I'm all for burning that place to the ground.

 

[WhoISthis]

I think where I've landed is I hate the fact that the leadership in college football appears to be coming from TV execs at ESPN and Fox. Until there is an entity that is looking out for the good of the sport instead of the school, we're going to keep going around on this crazy ride.

That is not true. Consolidation has been happening for decades. The schools are driving this now.

 

[trevn]

That is not true. Consolidation has been happening for decades. The schools are driving this now.

Couldn't disagree more. If the schools weren't being offered ridiculous amounts of money for media rights to shift around conferences, there wouldn't be near the amount of movement we have been seeing.

 

[WhoISthis]

Couldn't disagree more. If the schools weren't being offered ridiculous amounts of money for media rights to shift around conferences, there wouldn't be near the amount of movement we have been seeing.

That is crazy.
The networks would be more than willing to pay these schools nothing. Who do you think is asking the networks make less in profit?

Networks are about revenue, they are doing their job. Are schools supposed to be about that?

The schools are in an arms race. They have a thirst for more money. The root problem is frankly big business being shoehorned into amateurism, resulting in ballooning budget arms race. Had we just paid the players and had a NCAA wide CBA, there is a lot less greed.

If you're doing that, blame the fans? Where do you think that money is coming from? The networks are giving people what they want.

 

[trevn]

That is crazy.
The networks would be more than willing to pay these schools nothing. Who do you think is asking the networks make less in profit?

Networks are about revenue, they are doing their job. Are schools supposed to be about that?

The schools are in an arms race. They have a thirst for more money. The root problem is frankly big business being shoehorned into amateurism, resulting in ballooning budget arms race. Had we just paid the players and had a NCAA wide CBA, there is a lot less greed.

If you're doing that, blame the fans? Where do you think that money is coming from? The networks are giving people what they want.

We are talking about the same thing. Especially the bolded part. Who is big business paying? You’re just being argumentative.

 

[WhoISthis]

We are talking about the same thing. Especially the bolded part. Who is big business paying? You’re just being argumentative.

You're not being argumentative?

We fundamentally disagree. The schools are driving realignment. They are the greed. They are making the decision to prioritize money. The networks are just the banks.

College athletics are big business. They are paying everyone except the players. It is an arms race.