Superconferences & Realignment

[Rockin’Irish]

Cal and Stanford going ACC? Those kids gonna have a bajillion frequent flyer miles

The Coast To Coast Conference, CCC

 

[NDWarrior]

Just when you thought you'd seen the worst of click-bait articles out there with last week's realignment craziness, this one comes along - Anyone have a subscription? I'm curious who this writer's source is (and I use the word writer loosely - I'm not even sure this is English?) EXCLUSIVE: Stanford and Notre Dame's to Join Big 10 Conference The article teaser reads: ”By the 2026 season both Stanford and Notre Dame will join the Big 10 Conference,” the source said. With those two universities joining the Big 10's expansion would likely be completed. Those moves coincided with the expiration is Notre Dame's football-exclusive TV contract with NBC.

 

[TNUtoNotreDame]

Just when you thought you'd seen the worst of click-bait articles out there with last week's realignment craziness, this one comes along - Anyone have a subscription? I'm curious who this writer's source is (and I use the word writer loosely - I'm not even sure this is English?) EXCLUSIVE: Stanford and Notre Dame's to Join Big 10 Conference The article teaser reads: ”By the 2026 season both Stanford and Notre Dame will join the Big 10 Conference,” the source said. With those two universities joining the Big 10's expansion would likely be completed. Those moves coincided with the expiration is Notre Dame's football-exclusive TV contract with NBC.

Real dawg has sources

 

[Irish#1]

Pony Excess to the ACC!

Sources: ACC considering SMU in addition to Cal and Stanford in expansion talks

At a meeting of league presidents on Tuesday, executives explored the possibility of adding Cal, Stanford and SMU, or only inviting the two Pac-12 members.

sports.yahoo.com

This comment is interesting

As Yahoo Sports reported last week, the league (ACC) seriously explored adding five Pac-12 schools — Arizona, Arizona State, Utah, Cal and Stanford — before three of those five joined the Big 12.

I have no idea what revenue sharing comparisons were, but travel is less expensive and quicker by going to the Big12.

 

[BleedBlueGold]

The ND model is the only way forward: Football becomes independent and all other sports remain in their respective conferences. It's really that simple.

The ACC grabbing schools in California is a move of desperation and honestly, it's pretty ridiculous.

 

[beryirish]

The ND model is the only way forward: Football becomes independent and all other sports remain in their respective conferences. It's really that simple.

The ACC grabbing schools in California is a move of desperation and honestly, it's pretty ridiculous.

That's been my take as well this whole time. College football is in its own realm and anyone can play/be with anyone. But keep the other sports regional for sake of the kids and practicality.

 

[ACamp1900]

I have to admit I love the idea of SC joining the big in part to get away from Oregon only for Oregon to follow them,…

Idk how it will work but someone needs to make the late games the pac was great for continue to be a thing. I know it’ll be hard for Penn State to play a late start at Oregon but they have to work something out,…

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

The ACC grabbing schools in California is a move of desperation and honestly, it's pretty ridiculous.

It's just so Big Ten, you know?

 

[BleedBlueGold]

It's just so Big Ten, you know?

Right. The whole thing is stupid. I was just singling out the comment from Irish#1's post.

 

[GATTACA!]

I have to admit I love the idea of SC joining the big in part to get away from Oregon only for Oregon to follow them,…

Idk how it will work but someone needs to make the late games the pac was great for continue to be a thing. I know it’ll be hard for Penn State to play a late start at Oregon but they have to work something out,…

Nothing better than staying up late to watch Utah or Washington State end USCs season.

 

[Jiggafini19Deux]

I remember back in the day when ND, WVU, Penn State, FSU, Miami were all independent. Around the late 80s early 90s everyone started joining conferences. It all felt kind of weird.

In five years from now, I doubt any of this is even going to be an afterthought to anyone at that point. This idea that college football is going to fall apart only happens when the market and demand dry up. I just don't see that happening.

 

[GATTACA!]

I remember back in the day when ND, WVU, Penn State, FSU, Miami were all independent. Around the late 80s early 90s everyone started joining conferences. It all felt kind of weird.

In five years from now, I doubt any of this is even going to be an afterthought to anyone at that point. This idea that college football is going to fall apart only happens when the market and demand dry up. I just don't see that happening.

As soon as these TV contracts start to dry up everything will go back to regionality because these schools won't be able to justify the travel expenses.

 

[thekid33]

A smart CFB Tsar would
1)make the Top 48-60 schools independent
2) Mandate that they can only have one game scheduled with a school not in that group
3) Work out the TV deals so that each team in that group gets the same amount of $ and that marquee games are scheduled evenly each week and within each time slot of those weeks

 

[BobbyMac]

The Coast To Coast Conference, CCC

They'll grab Tulane and then it's the All Coasts Conference

 

[BobbyMac]

A smart CFB Tsar would
1)make the Top 48-60 schools independent
2) Mandate that they can only have one game scheduled with a school not in that group
3) Work out the TV deals so that each team in that group gets the same amount of $ and that marquee games are scheduled evenly each week and within each time slot of those weeks

The top 48 or so will be independent soon enough.

Independent from the NCAA at least.

 

[stlnd01]

A smart CFB Tsar would
1)make the Top 48-60 schools independent
2) Mandate that they can only have one game scheduled with a school not in that group
3) Work out the TV deals so that each team in that group gets the same amount of $ and that marquee games are scheduled evenly each week and within each time slot of those weeks

And everybody winds up with a record between 4-8 and 8-4.

 

[thekid33]

And everybody winds up with a record between 4-8 and 8-4.

There would absolutely be more parity in terms of records. But, that's mostly because most P5 teams currently schedule 3-4 easy W's to pad their record that nobody wants to watch and nobody but the 3rd string kids want to play in.

 

[IrishLax]

The simplest solution is a 40 team upper division of football separate from the NCAA. Four ten team conferences, and you play 3 games outside of your pod with whoever you want. The champs from each conference advance to a 4 team playoff. The conferences are strictly regional like a professional league with an emphasis on rivalries. This would add maximum emphasis to the regular season while still preserving a "fair" way of crowning a champion.

This would look something like:

WEST
USC
UCLA
Oregon
Washington
Arizona
Arizona State
Utah
Colorado
BYU
?

SOUTH
Texas
Texas A&M
Oklahoma
Mississippi
Alabama
Auburn
Georgia
Florida
Tennessee
?

EAST
Florida State
Miami
Clemson
South Carolina
UNC
Virginia Tech
Pittsburgh
Penn State
West Virginia
?

NORTH
Michigan
Michigan State
Ohio State
Notre Dame
Wisconsin
Nebraska
Missouri
Iowa
?
?

Who says no to that besides the "have nots"?

 

[NDohio]

Make it a six team playoff and I agree. Top two ranked teams get a bye.

 

[NDPhilly]

Big Ten & SEC contracts are so large that idk why theyd agree to a ~40 upper league

 

[greyhammer90]

The simplest solution is a 40 team upper division of football separate from the NCAA. Four ten team conferences, and you play 3 games outside of your pod with whoever you want. The champs from each conference advance to a 4 team playoff.

Who says no to that besides the "have nots"?

I freaking hate that this sterile, soulless format is looking appealing compared to reality.

 

[greyhammer90]

A smart CFB Tsar would
1)make the Top 48-60 schools independent
2) Mandate that they can only have one game scheduled with a school not in that group
3) Work out the TV deals so that each team in that group gets the same amount of $ and that marquee games are scheduled evenly each week and within each time slot of those weeks

Add relegation and you would have some fun with this one.

 

[BobbyMac]

Big Ten & SEC contracts are so large that idk why theyd agree to a ~40 upper league

They won't. They'll be the NFC & AFC of the P1.

It'll be whatever # brings in the most amount of money per team.

 

[NDPhilly]

They won't. They'll be the NFC & AFC of the P1.

It'll be whatever # brings in the most amount of money per team.

Yeah I think the opportune time to arrange something like a 40-50 team "upper league" was a decade+ ago. The Big 10 and SEC are so far ahead of the rest of the conferences $ wise that a "Big 10 East and West" and "SEC East and West" that equal 40+ team is far more likely than tearing it all down. We're past the point of no return.

 

[calvegas04]

 

[GATTACA!]

The simplest solution is a 40 team upper division of football separate from the NCAA. Four ten team conferences, and you play 3 games outside of your pod with whoever you want. The champs from each conference advance to a 4 team playoff. The conferences are strictly regional like a professional league with an emphasis on rivalries. This would add maximum emphasis to the regular season while still preserving a "fair" way of crowning a champion.

This would look something like:

WEST
USC
UCLA
Oregon
Washington
Arizona
Arizona State
Utah
Colorado
BYU
?

SOUTH
Texas
Texas A&M
Oklahoma
Mississippi
Alabama
Auburn
Georgia
Florida
Tennessee
?

EAST
Florida State
Miami
Clemson
South Carolina
UNC
Virginia Tech
Pittsburgh
Penn State
West Virginia
?

NORTH
Michigan
Michigan State
Ohio State
Notre Dame
Wisconsin
Nebraska
Missouri
Iowa
?
?

Who says no to that besides the "have nots"?

LSU in the South

 

[GATTACA!]

And hockey. Get your shit together Brett.

 

[forkbeard3777]

Why would Notre Dame care in regard to what Stanford and/or Cal does?

Truthfully, Notre Dame can remain independent. Why? THE PLAYOFFS WILL EXPAND TO 16-TEAMS, AND IT WILL HAPPEN VERY SOON (2026 - likely). TV execs aren't going to sit back and concede to their best inventory (teams 1-4) - having a "bye week." It will be just like one division in a March Madness bracket (i.e., 1 vs 16; 2 vs. 15; 3 vs. 14; 4 vs. 14, and so on...).

With 16-teams in the mix and Notre Dame's new TV deal, it serves no point for them to join in.

 

[pumpdog20]

I like Lax idea, except make it four 16 team pods broken out into two divisions. Each division champ is in the playoffs, seeds based on schedule record.

If you want to do 40 teams, then you having some type of soccer type relegation would be more fair.

 

[stlnd01]

Why would Notre Dame care in regard to what Stanford and/or Cal does?

I don’t think anyone gives a shit about Cal. But making our annual Stanford game into one of our five ACC games would protect that “rivalry” while opening up a date and saving us yet another game against some middleweight from the Carolinas. Smart move for us.

Also I suspect our Olympic sports coaches would support the occasional trip to California for recruiting purposes.