Realignment Megathread (All The Moves)

[jctisu]

The problem with the thought process of having every matchup every weekend be big is that some of those big name teams are going to have average records. It wont be a bunch of 9-1 teams playing each other.

It’ll be a 4-6 Texas playing a 6-4 A&M followed by a 5-5 Michigan playing 3-7 UCLA.

Sounds like a lot of fun.

Not just that, but I am tired of hearing how it's just going to be Saturday after Saturday of huge games. For every Ohio State v. USC, you have two Rutgers v. Maryland type of games. So if they really want this to be NFL-esque and make it about huge matchups pretty much every game on every Saturday then you absolutely have to dump Vanderbilt, Rutgers, Mississippi State, Minnesota, etc. and pick just the top 30ish brands. That's the only way it could be what they keep saying it's going to be. Even then, it will still be tough because aside from the top-10 to 15 brands it drops off quick as you go further down the line.

Sure more people may start jumping in and finding one of those 30 teams to cheer for, but I doubt it will be enough to offset what happened to the sport as a whole. I don't think they will ever go to just 30 teams btw, but in order for this big matchup after big matchup thing to work, that's about where the number can be capped at.

 

[MJ271]

Stew is awful but he is spot on with this observation. Keeping the quote short to respect the paywall.

“The execs at Fox and ESPN don’t have any sort of civic responsibility toward Iowa State or Oregon State fans; their only obligation is to their shareholders. They are making a multi-billion dollar bet that while loyal, local college football fans may be alienated by the changing tides, they are going to draw in millions and millions of new fans with more NFL-esque version of the sport where every Saturday is Ohio State vs. Penn State, followed by Texas vs. Alabama, followed by Georgia vs. Oklahoma, followed by Michigan at USC. Less charm, more blockbusters.”

We know that the suits at Fox and ESPN don’t give a **** about us; that’s a fact. ESPN tried to G5 us because they thought it would be convenient for OU and Texas.

It’s clear that what Stew describes is their hope. It’s not at all clear to me that this hope would become reality. I watch football most of Saturday for most weeks in the fall; I’d almost certainly reduce that heavily (if not give it up entirely) and increase my NFL fandom if Iowa State got relegated.

He's correct with that observation. But it is annoying that he's acting like there is no responsibility in the media to bring attention to the non-brand name schools when they deserve it.

One thing that was indicative of that in his mailbag was the links to The Athletic's school pages. In that very paragraph quoted above, there is a link to every school's page except Iowa State and Oregon State. And where it says Oregon State, there's actually a link on the word Oregon for Oregon's page, but not Oregon State. Now maybe that's not his fault, but it certainly is The Athletic doing less than the bare minimum for these schools.

 

[CycloneBamaFan]

Not just that, but I am tired of hearing how it's just going to be Saturday after Saturday of huge games. For every Ohio State v. USC, you have two Rutgers v. Maryland type of games. So if they really want this to be NFL-esque and make it about huge matchups pretty much every game on every Saturday then you absolutely have to dump Vanderbilt, Rutgers, Mississippi State, Minnesota, etc. and pick just the top 30ish brands. That's the only way it could be what they keep saying it's going to be. Even then, it will still be tough because aside from the top-10 to 15 brands it drops off quick as you go further down the line.

Sure more people may start jumping in and finding one of those 30 teams to cheer for, but I doubt it will be enough to offset what happened to the sport as a whole. I don't think they will ever go to just 30 teams btw, but in order for this big matchup after big matchup thing to work, that's about where the number can be capped at.

Another factor in this issue is the NFL is fed by the draft and NCAAF is fed by recruiting. A lot of recruits do not pan out out of HS, likely at a higher rate than top draft picks from the NFL. If the end game is modeling College Football against the NFL, then how does the quality/talent of the football player play into the discussion? Will it change ultimately?

 

[FriendlySpartan]

Not just that, but I am tired of hearing how it's just going to be Saturday after Saturday of huge games. For every Ohio State v. USC, you have two Rutgers v. Maryland type of games. So if they really want this to be NFL-esque and make it about huge matchups pretty much every game on every Saturday then you absolutely have to dump Vanderbilt, Rutgers, Mississippi State, Minnesota, etc. and pick just the top 30ish brands. That's the only way it could be what they keep saying it's going to be. Even then, it will still be tough because aside from the top-10 to 15 brands it drops off quick as you go further down the line.

Sure more people may start jumping in and finding one of those 30 teams to cheer for, but I doubt it will be enough to offset what happened to the sport as a whole. I don't think they will ever go to just 30 teams btw, but in order for this big matchup after big matchup thing to work, that's about where the number can be capped at.

Yes there will be games like Rutgers/Maryland that happen just like those games happen now and they will be burried on a nothing channel/service like they are now unless they have a great year and are ranked. The networks really only care about the 3 main time slots and adding a team like USC gives them another power program to arrange matchups for. Last year the big ten had 7 of the highest rated teams and will now add USC. That's 28 potential games that will (most likely) be huge ratings gets. If it is spaced out correctly that's 8 weeks of the season where the three prime time slots can be given to those top teams which is almost the whole conference season. Add in some good non con scheduling like oregon/OSU last year plus if another non traditional power gets hot and you can have the majority of the season be very highly rated games.

 

[jctisu]

Yes there will be games like Rutgers/Maryland that happen just like those games happen now and they will be burried on a nothing channel/service like they are now unless they have a great year and are ranked. The networks really only care about the 3 main time slots and adding a team like USC gives them another power program to arrange matchups for. Last year the big ten had 7 of the highest rated teams and will now add USC. That's 28 potential games that will (most likely) be huge ratings gets. If it is spaced out correctly that's 8 weeks of the season where the three prime time slots can be given to those top teams which is almost the whole conference season. Add in some good non con scheduling like oregon/OSU last year plus if another non traditional power gets hot and you can have the majority of the season be very highly rated games.

But that's my point. There's no need for the BIG and SEC elite to subsidize Vanderbilt, Rutgers, etc. It's just eating into their margins, so cut those schools and make it the best of the best. Nobody can sit here (grandfathered in or not because everything has shown it can be undone since in the last decade) and say they want NFL-lite and only the best matchups and be ok with those teams staying at the table.

 

[ISUTex]

Isn't AAU leaning towards medical schools? Who really fu@@ing cares? 1% of the population?

When I want to watch top notch football on TV, that's my first question. "Which channel has the AAU teams?"

I'm sure that's what coaches and recruits worry about too. "Do our players who take basket weaving, take basket weaving at an AAU institution?"

 

[FriendlySpartan]

But that's my point. There's no need for the BIG and SEC elite to subsidize Vanderbilt, Rutgers, etc. It's just eating into their margins, so cut those schools and make it the best of the best. Nobody can sit here (grandfathered in or not because everything has shown it can be undone since in the last decade) and say they want NFL-lite and only the best matchups and be ok with those teams staying at the table.

The media is saying they want to be NFL lite, no one from the P2 conferences with any power is saying that. The top schools need the traditionally weaker schools in the conference to fluff up their resume.

 

[WhoISthis]

She’s just not that in to us. We gotta let it go.

The B1G is only interested in the USCs and Notre Dames now.

If you don’t think people view Iowa State and Ames kinda like Wazzu and Pullman (or Oregon State and Corvallis), you’re just too deep in the ISU-centric worldview. That is how we are perceived, fair or not. Kansas State and Manhattan is in this group as well.

Key word being “that”.

Lol. Why are you limiting it to now? Realignment has been going on for decades.


Oh, now you’re saying “kinda like”. Before you said the “exact same” Big difference.

WSU is known for being the most remote P5. ISU is known for not adding a new large market to other conferences. There’s a material difference.

 

[cyIclSoneU]

Oh, now you’re saying “kinda like”. Before you said the “exact same” Big difference.

Darn, you really got me.

We really need some actual news for this thread. Where is MHVer when you need him

 

[SEIOWA CLONE]

But that's my point. There's no need for the BIG and SEC elite to subsidize Vanderbilt, Rutgers, etc. It's just eating into their margins, so cut those schools and make it the best of the best. Nobody can sit here (grandfathered in or not because everything has shown it can be undone since in the last decade) and say they want NFL-lite and only the best matchups and be ok with those teams staying at the table.

That will be the last step to forming the super league, to purge the programs in the conferences that are not holding their weight, and replace them with a few left over schools that will bring in more money.

Just because you are in the B10 or SEC now, does not mean you will be when this all plays out. Too much money to be made, so the blue bloods will break off and go their own way.

 

[jctisu]

The media is saying they want to be NFL lite, no one from the P2 conferences with any power is saying that. The top schools need the traditionally weaker schools in the conference to fluff up their resume.

Until the networks tell them that's what they want and hang a massive price tag to entice them to create a new league. FOX and ESPN are running this show and any other network or streaming service that wants to get in on it. Money clearly has shown that's the only thing that matters because there's no reason the BIG schools need $100M+ per year just from TV contracts other than, "Hey! Why have an unGodly amount of money already when we can have an obscene amount of money to blow on who knows what?" Because that's exactly what is currently happening.

ESPN says hey BIG, here's the schools we need you to have (Ohio State, USC, Penn State, Michigan, etc.) and each is going to get $150M or more. You have to cut ties with Rutgers though. You don't think these greedy leaders wouldn't give it a serious thought?

And the NFL has divisions where you play home and away. So why not do it at the top college level? What's worth more, the fluffing of records against the bottom feeders they need OR a home and away with Ohio State and Michigan? And the resumes won't matter because they will have a clearly defined method of getting into the playoff along with the SEC. So much like the NFL, even at 9-8, if you won your division with that, hey you're in.

 

[WhoISthis]

Darn, you really got me.

We really need some actual news for this thread. Where is MHVer when you need him

I’m guessing you’ve never been to the Palouse .

But yes, any school not near a large city is kinda like WSU

And we do need more news.

 

[20eyes]

Isn't AAU leaning towards medical schools? Who really fu@@ing cares? 1% of the population?

When I want to watch top notch football on TV, that's my first question. "Which channel has the AAU teams?"

I'm sure that's what coaches and recruits worry about too. "Do our players who take basket weaving, take basket weaving at an AAU institution?"

The B1G cares. Every institution in it is a member of the AAU except UNL who was a member when they joined. Very soon the "top notch" college football on TV will include exactly two conferences. One of them being the B1G.

 

[FriendlySpartan]

Until the networks tell them that's what they want and hang a massive price tag to entice them to create a new league. FOX and ESPN are running this show and any other network or streaming service that wants to get in on it. Money clearly has shown that's the only thing that matters because there's no reason the BIG schools need $100M+ per year just from TV contracts other than, "Hey! Why have an unGodly amount of money already when we can have an obscene amount of money to blow on who knows what?" Because that's exactly what is currently happening.

ESPN says hey BIG, here's the schools we need you to have (Ohio State, USC, Penn State, Michigan, etc.) and each is going to get $150M or more. You have to cut ties with Rutgers though. You don't think these greedy leaders wouldn't give it a serious thought?

And the NFL has divisions where you play home and away. So why not do it at the top college level? What's worth more, the fluffing of records against the bottom feeders they need OR a home and away with Ohio State and Michigan? And the resumes won't matter because they will have a clearly defined method of getting into the playoff along with the SEC. So much like the NFL, even at 9-8, if you won your division with that, hey you're in.

Of course anything is possible but the conferences have a ton of value in their name and history, thats why the big ten has 16 teams and still calls itself the big ten. OSU could certainly do something like that but Michigan never would. If CFB ever created a super league their viewership and revenue would plummet because if it was only a league of 16 teams no one would care outside of those 16 states. As plenty of people have said they wont watch cfb if there team isn't a part of it or at least isnt in close relationship to it.

 

[Gonzo]

Until the networks tell them that's what they want and hang a massive price tag to entice them to create a new league. FOX and ESPN are running this show and any other network or streaming service that wants to get in on it. Money clearly has shown that's the only thing that matters because there's no reason the BIG schools need $100M+ per year just from TV contracts other than, "Hey! Why have an unGodly amount of money already when we can have an obscene amount of money to blow on who knows what?" Because that's exactly what is currently happening.

ESPN says hey BIG, here's the schools we need you to have (Ohio State, USC, Penn State, Michigan, etc.) and each is going to get $150M or more. You have to cut ties with Rutgers though. You don't think these greedy leaders wouldn't give it a serious thought?

And the NFL has divisions where you play home and away. So why not do it at the top college level? What's worth more, the fluffing of records against the bottom feeders they need OR a home and away with Ohio State and Michigan? And the resumes won't matter because they will have a clearly defined method of getting into the playoff along with the SEC. So much like the NFL, even at 9-8, if you won your division with that, hey you're in.

No.

 

[jctisu]

@FriendlySpartan Just want to point out I am not in the line of thought that what I said will happen, just that if we've gone this far, then the blue bloods don't make any sense if they don't take it all the way. Kind of hypocritical by them.

I am with you though in that I don't think teams will be voted out of a conference. A new one would probably be created to avoid litigation. And I tend to think it will settle on the P2 and there will be a third conference that is still in the mix that includes the forgotten schools from the PAC, Big 12 and ACC. These leaders aren't completely stupid in alienating the entire country aside from the biggest brands.

 

[jctisu]

No.

Yes

 

[SEIOWA CLONE]

Until the networks tell them that's what they want and hang a massive price tag to entice them to create a new league. FOX and ESPN are running this show and any other network or streaming service that wants to get in on it. Money clearly has shown that's the only thing that matters because there's no reason the BIG schools need $100M+ per year just from TV contracts other than, "Hey! Why have an unGodly amount of money already when we can have an obscene amount of money to blow on who knows what?" Because that's exactly what is currently happening.

ESPN says hey BIG, here's the schools we need you to have (Ohio State, USC, Penn State, Michigan, etc.) and each is going to get $150M or more. You have to cut ties with Rutgers though. You don't think these greedy leaders wouldn't give it a serious thought?

And the NFL has divisions where you play home and away. So why not do it at the top college level? What's worth more, the fluffing of records against the bottom feeders they need OR a home and away with Ohio State and Michigan? And the resumes won't matter because they will have a clearly defined method of getting into the playoff along with the SEC. So much like the NFL, even at 9-8, if you won your division with that, hey you're in.

That is what I have been saying all along, the money is great, but EIU already had 50 million more to spend each year than ISU, is another 25 or more really going to be that much of a game changer?
How many more times can they remodel their fields, more money will go into the secondary sports, but even there, few care, and what does it get them. Hey, EIU built a new baseball field, how does that effect ISU when we do not have a team? It doesn't.

Unless these schools can find a way to either start giving out more scholarships, going from say 85 to 100, or start spending that money on NIL, which then makes the players employees, I do not think it's going to be that big of a difference maker, for the Big 12 schools as long as we continue to make 45 to 55 million from TV.

 

[BryceC]

Not just that, but I am tired of hearing how it's just going to be Saturday after Saturday of huge games. For every Ohio State v. USC, you have two Rutgers v. Maryland type of games. So if they really want this to be NFL-esque and make it about huge matchups pretty much every game on every Saturday then you absolutely have to dump Vanderbilt, Rutgers, Mississippi State, Minnesota, etc. and pick just the top 30ish brands.

That's exactly what they'll do. They'll only highlight the big matchups, they'll push Minnesota/Illinois to the BTN's third overflow channel and act like it isn't even happening. On the BTN wrap up show they'll show 3 highlights in 20 seconds and move on.

They won't dump them from the conference they just will act like they don't exist and the big games are the only things that are happening.

 

[Gonzo]

Yes

Lol.