Realignment Megathread (All The Moves)

[RustShack]

13 million people watched Alabama vs Georgia.

That’s what happens when two highly ranked teams play a prime time game. Not to mention teams who have recently won national championships and are both in the conversation to do it again. What happens when you alienate a large percentage of the college football fan base? What happens when half of your super league teams start having losing records on a regular basis? A large percentage of fans are fairweather fans who only support winning teams. Start losing games, start losing eyeballs, start seeing a lot of empty seats.

 

[ClubCy]

I could be out on a limb here. But my friends have dramatically increased their viewership of other teams due to fantasy football type gambling. I'm not a gambler, but to listen to these guys makes me think I'm missing out on the excitement of other games. Other than that, I couldn't agree with you more.
My college hierarchy still is: my team until we're completely out of contention and other conference games impacting ISU's ranking. After that my interest falls to practically nothing. Now NFL is definitely broader cause of all the ISU athletes spread around.

Wait…..you stop watching Iowa State as soon as we are out of contention?

 

[RustShack]

So, for instance, if a SL was created - with 20 teams I noted previously - then Michigan State fans and Iowa State fans would develop a default team in the top league and watch those games. And then those games would maintain and likely improve their ratings.

I don’t think many people will develop a new favorite college just because they are in a super league. They have the NFL for Pro sports.

 

[FriendlySpartan]

So, for instance, if a SL was created - with 20 teams I noted previously - then Michigan State fans and Iowa State fans would develop a default team in the top league and watch those games. And then those games would maintain and likely improve their ratings.

No because you would completely alienate fan bases. Or if somehow Iowa got in would you dedicate your fandom to them now? Doubt it. So you would just pick a school in another state then? Doubt you have the same passion or dedication to it even if you did.

 

[PSYclone22]

No because you would completely alienate fan bases. Or if somehow Iowa got in would you dedicate your fandom to them now? Doubt it. So you would just pick a school in another state then? Doubt you have the same passion or dedication to it even if you did.

Which fanbases are being alienated by creating a Super League?

Do you think that USC and LSU leaders give any credence to Iowa State fans? They couldn't care less about us. They look at their game they played in week 1 that drew 9 millions viewers and imagine a world where that's happening on the regular.

The argument will always come back to "what do the leaders of the top football schools WANT" above "what do the fans of all the teams want".

 

[2speedy1]

I dont think a super league of 20 teams is viable. I also dont think one of 72 teams is either.

If there is ever a super league that breaks away it will almost surely have to be somewhere in the middle. More in the lines of 36-48 teams, give or take. The money people will not want the lowest value teams, but the system will need enough teams to provide interest, content, and an overall system that works.

And the only way it happens, is if the people with the money want it to happen. If those people pull the strings, it will happen, regardless of the B1G and SEC wants. If their money brokers force their hand they will have no choice. But if those money brokers want to remain in the current system with conferences etc. It will not happen.

 

[FriendlySpartan]

Which fanbases are being alienated by creating a Super League?

Do you think that USC and LSU leaders give any credence to Iowa State fans? They couldn't care less about us. They look at their game they played in week 1 that drew 9 millions viewers and imagine a world where that's happening on the regular.

The argument will always come back to "what do the leaders of the top football schools WANT" above "what do the fans of all the teams want".

Every fan base that isn’t in the super league. You think USC wants to be playing in for y of even smaller crowds when they go 3-9 for several years? How will FSU fans feel when this year is the normal for them? How boring are the super league playoffs when it’s all the same repeated match ups.

What the leaders of those schools want, is exactly what is happening right now. Massive paychecks while still holding a massive advantage over most of their piers and racking up double digit win season with a clear path to the playoff.

 

[Big_Sill]

Then no one will watch and the league will implode, a super league of that size has no actual viability. For the millionth time this isn’t the NFL

Ok, if a super league of that size has no value (your words)...then you agree with me that schools not in the SEC and B10 should demand equal revenue sharing or threaten to break away. Force their hand.

 

[PSYclone22]

Every fan base that isn’t in the super league. You think USC wants to be playing in for y of even smaller crowds when they go 3-9 for several years? How will FSU fans feel when this year is the normal for them? How boring are the super league playoffs when it’s all the same repeated match ups.

What the leaders of those schools want, is exactly what is happening right now. Massive paychecks while still holding a massive advantage over most of their piers and racking up double digit win season with a clear path to the playoff.

I agree that the leaders want massive paychecks.

What happens when they get told by the networks that they'll make those paychecks 15% larger? They're not going to have a sudden turn to not take that money.

 

[RustShack]

Which fanbases are being alienated by creating a Super League?

Do you think that USC and LSU leaders give any credence to Iowa State fans? They couldn't care less about us. They look at their game they played in week 1 that drew 9 millions viewers and imagine a world where that's happening on the regular.

The argument will always come back to "what do the leaders of the top football schools WANT" above "what do the fans of all the teams want".

They aren’t drawing those eye balls when half of them have losing records and people lose interest. These super teams have a large following because they win. You lose that when you don’t win.

 

[PSYclone22]

They aren’t drawing those eye balls when half of them have losing records and people lose interest. These super teams have a large following because they win. You lose that when you don’t win.

When they have 10 games to choose from weekly, they can bury the teams with losing records. Texas is 2-4 in league play? They get the noon time slot against LSU.

 

[ClubCy]

They aren’t drawing those eye balls when half of them have losing records and people lose interest. These super teams have a large following because they win. You lose that when you don’t win.

How long will that take? A decade? A generation? That’s a future ESPN exec’s problem or 2 Athletic Directors from now problem. The school leaders and media only care about the money they can make now.

 

[simply1]

Every fan base that isn’t in the super league. You think USC wants to be playing in for y of even smaller crowds when they go 3-9 for several years? How will FSU fans feel when this year is the normal for them? How boring are the super league playoffs when it’s all the same repeated match ups.

What the leaders of those schools want, is exactly what is happening right now. Massive paychecks while still holding a massive advantage over most of their piers and racking up double digit win season with a clear path to the playoff.

It’s early in the process for the new teams who joined the p2. I’m not sure it will shake out that way, other than they’ll have all the playoff spots.

 

[FriendlySpartan]

Ok, if a super league of that size has no value (your words)...then you agree with me that schools not in the SEC and B10 should demand equal revenue sharing or threaten to break away. Force their hand.

Are you referring to the 20 team league he was taking about? Then yeah no value. What your talking about would result in the top ACC programs leaving and at that point you have close to a 40 team league which is much more viable but I wouldn’t call that a super league.

 

[Cloneon]

Wait…..you stop watching Iowa State as soon as we are out of contention?

Let's just say my priorities change.

 

[FriendlySpartan]

I agree that the leaders want massive paychecks.

What happens when they get told by the networks that they'll make those paychecks 15% larger? They're not going to have a sudden turn to not take that money.

Oh my gosh, 15%!?! A whole extra 10-15mil!?! That will certainly make them throw out a system that they love and are dominating in for that. Come one man at least say double the money or something.

Sports media deals keep going up, we saw it with college, we see that with the NBA, NFL, etc. If those ever start to stagnate then I agree your position has merit

 

[PSYclone22]

Oh my gosh, 15%!?! A whole extra 10-15mil!?! That will certainly make them throw out a system that they love and are dominating in for that. Come one man at least say double the money or something.

Sports media deals keep going up, we saw it with college, we see that with the NBA, NFL, etc. If those ever start to stagnate then I agree your position has merit

The 15% was an off the cuff estimate, please don't place much value in that.

 

[cykadelic2]

I dont think a super league of 20 teams is viable. I also dont think one of 72 teams is either.

If there is ever a super league that breaks away it will almost surely have to be somewhere in the middle. More in the lines of 36-48 teams, give or take. The money people will not want the lowest value teams, but the system will need enough teams to provide interest, content, and an overall system that works.

And the only way it happens, is if the people with the money want it to happen. If those people pull the strings, it will happen, regardless of the B1G and SEC wants. If their money brokers force their hand they will have no choice. But if those money brokers want to remain in the current system with conferences etc. It will not happen.

Any involuntary relegation that involves 25 or more additional schools beyond Oregon St and Washington St will trigger Federal intervention and/or anti-trust lawsuits. As JP recently mentioned on a Coaches Corner show, Oregon St and Wazzu weren't enough to move the Fed intervention needle even they though they got destroyed.

And this is why you're seeing the CST model being pushed even moreso now.

 

[FriendlySpartan]

The 15% was an off the cuff estimate, please don't place much value in that.

All good. Also my bad that was way snarkier than I meant. Just annoyed at work

 

[PSYclone22]

All good. Also my bad that was way snarkier than I meant. Just annoyed at work

Sorry that work is annoying!