Realignment Megathread (All The Moves)

FriendlySpartan

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A lot rides on how a conference will determine which 4 teams get the spots. If it's only based on conference record, than I do think those games are meaningless and would probably lose their appeal over time.

In order to prevent that from happening, I bet they go based on the top 4 overall ranked teams as opposed to using only conference standings, so that the non-con at lease matters some.

What I'm curious of is if a B1G/SEC challenge and (presumably) a Big 12/ACC challenge will lead to the end of the CyHawk game?
Agreed, I bet it still has the top teams based on a type of ranking similar to the playoff commentee rankings now.

Can’t make money off marquee non con if they have absolutely zero effect and are just exhibition games.
 
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isucy86

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I’ve always been against playoff expansion past 8 teams, going to 14/16 is just going to devalue the regular season even more.
Not only devalue the regular season but it will decrease interest in the 1st round of the playoffs. IMO there is big difference between teams ranked 1-4 and teams ranked 13-16, especially when teams 1-4 are playing at home.

They should address the elephant in the room which is Conference Championship Games are pretty meaningless in the expanded playoff. But since they are another revenue source, probably no chance they go away.

Leave the current structure the way it is for a few years before drawing any conclusions based on 1 year of the 12 team format.
 

ClubCy

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Not sure if it’s been mentioned but there is speculation by the media that they could completely overhaul championship weekend to have sort of a mini play-in playoff for the last two AQ spots.
Guess I should provide some context.

The SEC this past year would look like this:

Texas and Georgia get auto-bids and get Championship weekend off.

Then teams 3-6 would play two games and the winners get the next 2 auto bids.

So it would have been:

Tennesee vs South Carolina
Bama vs Ole Miss? Not sure how they would do the tie breakers.
 

1UNI2ISU

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Guess I should provide some context.

The SEC this past year would look like this:

Texas and Georgia get auto-bids and get Championship weekend off.

Then teams 3-6 would play two games and the winners get the next 2 auto bids.

So it would have been:

Tennesee vs South Carolina
Bama vs Ole Miss? Not sure how they would do the tie breakers.
Those games would rate better than any Championship Game you could put together.

Play the SEC games in Atlanta and New Orleans and the Big Ten games in Indy and Minneapolis and then print money.
 

FriendlySpartan

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Not only devalue the regular season but it will decrease interest in the 1st round of the playoffs. IMO there is big difference between teams ranked 1-4 and teams ranked 13-16, especially when teams 1-4 are playing at home.

They should address the elephant in the room which is Conference Championship Games are pretty meaningless in the expanded playoff. But since they are another revenue source, probably no chance they go away.

Leave the current structure the way it is for a few years before drawing any conclusions based on 1 year of the 12 team format.
I actually disagree with the takes on here about getting rid of conference championships as that’s how you determine the conference winner. That still matters and is pretty important
 

cykadelic2

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Guess I should provide some context.

The SEC this past year would look like this:

Texas and Georgia get auto-bids and get Championship weekend off.

Then teams 3-6 would play two games and the winners get the next 2 auto bids.

So it would have been:

Tennesee vs South Carolina
Bama vs Ole Miss? Not sure how they would do the tie breakers.
So there is no Conference Champion?

Even more absurdity with the existing mega-conferences.
 
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ClubCy

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So there is no Conference Champion?

Even more absurdity with the existing mega-conferences.
I guess technically Texas would be the conference champion with a 7-1 record but yes it could get messy and come down to tie breakers which feels unfulfilling.
 

ClubCy

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Those games would rate better than any Championship Game you could put together.

Play the SEC games in Atlanta and New Orleans and the Big Ten games in Indy and Minneapolis and then print money.
Agreed and that’s why it will probably happen in some shape or form. Anything to make more money.

Big 12 and ACC could do 2 vs 3 for our second autobid.
 
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isucy86

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I actually disagree with the takes on here about getting rid of conference championships as that’s how you determine the conference winner. That still matters and is pretty important
Like they did in the olden days, create rules like best conference record, highest ranking, etc. Remember the Big10's rule for going to Rose Bowl? Conference record and in the case of ties the team that hadn't played in Rose Bowl most recently got to go. As long as rules are transparent- most coaches & AD's won't have an issue.

And if the playoff expand to 14 or 16 teams, the top 8 teams would get home field. So pretty good chance the top 2 teams in 2 or 3 of the Power conferences would earn first round home field.

Good thing Oregon beat Penn State in the Big10 Championship game. Bet the Buckeyes are bummed they aren't 2024 Big10 Champs.;)
 

1UNI2ISU

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Agreed and that’s why it will probably happen in some shape or form. Anything to make more money.

Big 12 and ACC could do 2 vs 3 for our second autobid.
It absolutely keeps meaning in the regular season. Feels like a decent balance.
 

FriendlySpartan

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Like they did in the olden days, create rules like best conference record, highest ranking, etc. Remember the Big10's rule for going to Rose Bowl? Conference record and in the case of ties the team that hadn't played in Rose Bowl most recently got to go. As long as rules are transparent- most coaches & AD's won't have an issue.

And if the playoff expand to 14 or 16 teams, the top 8 teams would get home field. So pretty good chance the top 2 teams in 2 or 3 of the Power conferences would earn first round home field.

Good thing Oregon beat Penn State in the Big10 Championship game. Bet the Buckeyes are bummed they aren't 2024 Big10 Champs.;)
The Buckeyes are just pissed they didn’t beat Michigan lol. Also that’s why I want to keep the game, still gives Oregon their conference championship even though it screwed them based on the stupid seeding rules

Agreed with your first take but with the conference sizes now you need the championship game. Plus without the big ten west most years the championship game will actually be worth watching
 

MountainManHawk

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Agreed and that’s why it will probably happen in some shape or form. Anything to make more money.

Big 12 and ACC could do 2 vs 3 for our second autobid.
Yeah, as dumb as the guaranteed 4 bids to one conference are, I do think these extra games would be fun to watch. An article in the Athletic said one option they are exploring is for the Big10 and SEC to have the 1 seed play #8, 2 seed play #7, and so on so that all 4 auto bids are on the line so there is more fan interest in the games. And if there should happen to be big upsets, the odds are good that the loser would be in position for an at-large bid.

And to your point, I’m sure the Big12 and ACC will do something similar.
 

cykadelic2

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I actually disagree with the takes on here about getting rid of conference championships as that’s how you determine the conference winner. That still matters and is pretty important
For the SEC and B10, the CCGs value have been forever greatly diminished with guaranteed CFP multi-bids and unbalanced scheduling. Sankey's self-proclaimed "iconic" SEC CCG is no longer that and neither is the B10's.
 
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FriendlySpartan

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For the SEC and B10, the CCGs value have been forever greatly diminished with guaranteed CFP multi-bids and unbalanced scheduling. Sankey's self-proclaimed "iconic" SEC CCG is no longer that and neither is the B10's.
Still determines the conference champion so still has value
 
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Gonzo

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For the SEC and B10, the CCGs value have been forever greatly diminished with guaranteed CFP multi-bids and unbalanced scheduling. Sankey's self-proclaimed "iconic" SEC CCG is no longer that and neither is the B10's.
Every conference has unbalanced scheduling. CCG winner as of now gets a first round bye. There's no diminished value in that.
 

2speedy1

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At most no conference should be guaranteed more that 3, in any form. Really I think more than 1 is dumb, but as we saw the SEC was butt hurt that they got exposed this year and couldnt handle it.

I would be OK with:
B1G = 3
SEC = 3
B12 = 2
ACC = 2
G5 = 1
at large = 3-5 Depending on 14 or 16 teams.

I personally dont like byes either so, make it 16 or go back to the better number of 8.

And really all they are doing is trying to guarantee the SEC and B1G can game the system to keep themselves on top. If they really wanted to make it fair everyone should be treated equal, but that will never happen.

Somehow the system gets more screwed up as time goes on instead of better.
 

2speedy1

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Every conference has unbalanced scheduling. CCG winner as of now gets a first round bye. There's no diminished value in that.
Except with 14 or 16 teams that goes away totally or at least mostly. And we all know at 14 teams those auto bids will only ever go to the B1G and SEC. Because reasons.