Something I spoke about back in 2010 was a fair solution to college football. I split the country into 5 quadrants and created 12 team leagues with another 12 teams set up as the lower division. The thought was to create a ‘socialist’ version of college football where everyone is included but the best teams would play one another.
This will never happen because there is no reason the have’s need to share with the ‘have-nots’. What has happened since then has proven this thought as the Big 5 have fleeced the other conferences for their best teams. Trying to predict how college football will look in 5 years is still a fun exercise and I thought I’d take a look at something similar using the changes from the last year.
Current members are in black, teams leaving are in red, and teams joining are in blue.
If there is one guarantee it is the above will not happen exactly as I have it. It is not out of the realm of possibility that something like this will occur. The reason is the Big Ten’s drive to add additional markets and the SEC moves to block. It is also in the Big 12’s interest to expand by at least two teams so they can have a championship game. Here’s how I see something like the above happening.
The B1G added two teams in the ACC – Virginia and Georgia Tech. That move encourages the Big 12 to move on Clemson and Florida State who they’ve coveted since last summer. The SEC moves into the ACC and grabs a North Carolina team along with Virginia Tech expanding their footprint (I used NC St as I think NC would prefer the B1G if they have to join another conference). When one of the North Carolina schools leaves the ACC it will be the death knell of the conference and all schools will be looking for options. The Big Ten will pick up North Carolina and Notre Dame will finally join the league (though the B12 is a option as many of their fans do not want to join the B1G). The Big 12 has a few options and can remain at 12 teams or add markets like BYU, Miami, Wake Forest, and Louisville (if I had to guess I ‘d say yes to the first two and no to the last two). The SEC can stand pat or go pick up the remaining worthwhile teams in the East of Syracuse and Pitt (which I doubt).
I have looked at the numbers in the past and most of these moves don’t makes sense, especially for big schools like Ohio State. The issue is Delany is looking 40 years down the line and I’m sure his numbers take many things into account I haven’t considered. Like 2010, the Big Ten will be the catalyst for further change in there bid for growing markets. It is possble the Big 12 will move first as they do need to get to 12 teams but Florida State is waiting to see how the Maryland exit fee works before they do anything. It is possible that Georgia Tech and Virginia are waiting on the same thing so once that ruling happens things may move fast..
It should be interesting…..
** – If you are wondering how the B1G will be able to compete with an 18 team conference it will be pretty simple.The teams are separated into East and West and there will be no conference games played between the divisions. Teams like Michigan are able to schedule games with teams like Notre Dame but it will be the same as a non-conference game. I like this solution as with 9 teams it allows an 8 game division schedule and great flexibility for the other 4 games.
