Superconferences & Realignment

[Whiskeyjack]

Well thought out, however you neglect the jealousy the rest of the country. In that respect expect that the 4 superconferences will freeze out any independents.

Therein lies the real problem with ND remaining independent. 64 teams in 4 superconferences is looking more inevitable by the day. Such a structure will very likely lead to a CFB playoff, in which it would be very difficult to fairly incorporate non-conference teams.

The likelihood of getting frozen out of meaningful post-season play is what will make us pull the trigger.

 

[irishff1014]

I'd like that also but aren't Clemson and FSUngoin to the SEC

I would agree since the acc just bumped up the buyout to like 20 milliom dollars.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

The NY Time's Nate Silver has produced a fascinating article on how many fans each CFB program has and where they're located.

It offers some real insight as to how realignment is likely to happen and why.

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

“@BearcatLair: Sources tell BearcatLair.com that the SEC has turned down #WVU application for admittance.”

 

[Whiskeyjack]

“@BearcatLair: Sources tell BearcatLair.com that the SEC has turned down #WVU application for admittance.”

Whoa. Color me surprised.

smartfootball via Twitter:

Seems more like they'd just hang on to it RT @BearcatLair Sources: SEC has turned down WVU application for admittance.

 

[beryirish]

COMPLETE HYPOTHETICAL

Superconferences form and make a playoff.

ND says we are still independent.

Strikes up a deal with a 9-win or more season they get a play-in game against the lowest ranking in the playoff....huhhuh The Rat Tail Game

ND would have to win 3 games to win the NC.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

COMPLETE HYPOTHETICAL

Superconferences form and make a playoff.

ND says we are still independent.

Strikes up a deal with a 9-win or more season they get a play-in game against the lowest ranking in the playoff....huhhuh The Rat Tail Game

ND would have to win 3 games to win the NC.

How would at-large playoff bids work in such a scenario?

4 superconferences would produce 4 conference champions, which would lead to a 2-tier 3-game playoff (two semis and a final). Where does ND fit into that? Who would we play?

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

I think the SEC has a few other bigger fish it's trying to fry.

 

[beryirish]

How would at-large playoff bids work in such a scenario?

4 superconferences would produce 4 conference champions, which would lead to a 2-tier 3-game playoff (two semis and a final). Where does ND fit into that? Who would we play?

All the meaninful teams are in the 4 16-team conferences.

Just like how ND has a tie in with the BCS

8 team playoff ranking teams 1-8

If ND gets 9+ wins they have a play-in game with the #8 ranked team....if they beat them then they take their spot in the 8 team playoff

If ND doesn't have 9+ wins then it is simply a 8 team playoff

Again, my good friend Walter, it's just hypothetical fun.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Again, my good friend Walter, it's just hypothetical fun.

I'm not upset; I just don't see how ND fits into that scheme.

One of the most attractive aspects of a playoff is the ability to do away with ranking/ popularity contests. Everything is decided by Ws and Ls. Thus, the best 8 teams are all playing in the conference championship games for a shot at the semi-finals.

Working ND into that format would require (1) maintaining an otherwise unnecessary ranking system; and/or (2) unnecessarily expanding the playoffs beyond the four conference champions. I just don't see the system evolving that way. Once the superconferences form, unless there are several very powerful independents, you're either in or you're out.

 

[HereComeTheIrish]

I'm not upset; I just don't see how ND fits into that scheme.

One of the most attractive aspects of a playoff is the ability to do away with ranking/ popularity contests. Everything is decided by Ws and Ls. Thus, the best 8 teams are all playing in the conference championship games for a shot at the semi-finals.

Working ND into that format would require (1) maintaining an otherwise unnecessary ranking system; and/or (2) unnecessarily expanding the playoffs beyond the four conference champions. I just don't see the system evolving that way. Once the superconferences form, unless there are several very powerful independents, you're either in or you're out.

yessir...

 

[Old Man Mike]

The big bowls themselves may have something to say about whether they want a "Notre Dame payday" under certain winning circumstances. The conferences don't own the bowls; maybe even less so now than formerly.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

The big bowls themselves may have something to say about whether they want a "Notre Dame payday" under certain winning circumstances. The conferences don't own the bowls; maybe even less so now than formerly.

I'm sure the big bowls would be integrated somehow into the playoff system contemplated above.

Even if they aren't, once a playoff system robs the big bowls of their relevance, they won't be much of a consolation prize.

 

[micks60]

If there are four super conferences where would a team like Boise State end up? I could see them getting left out. Pac would be full, big 12 gone, Big 10 may be too far away.
I hope ND just joins the Big ten. This way they have more to play for when they lose at the start like this year.

 

[Old Man Mike]

Well, wasn't my point. The idea, which can easily be dead wrong as I don't understand the business elements of it, is that before an agreement was reached between the big bowls and whatever consortium of football conferences manifested and offered their playoff idea, the bowls, seeking maximization of revenues, might say, we want the possibility of the big Notre Dame market in this system in years where their record warrants it. Again, I'm no business genius, but I think that the concept would at least pass through my head if I cared about ratings/cash.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Well, wasn't my point. The idea, which can easily be dead wrong as I don't understand the business elements of it, is that before an agreement was reached between the big bowls and whatever consortium of football conferences manifested and offered their playoff idea, the bowls, seeking maximization of revenues, might say, we want the possibility of the big Notre Dame market in this system in years where their record warrants it. Again, I'm no business genius, but I think that the concept would at least pass through my head if I cared about ratings/cash.

I understand what you're getting at, but I still don't see how a "ND exception" can be reconciled with the most likely iteration of a CFB playoff. The most prominent benefits of a playoff are (1) it's inherent fairness and simplicity (no more polls), and (2) the massive amounts of money it will generate.

Perhaps I'm suffering from a lack of imagination here, but it seems that the only way an independent ND could participate in such a playoff would necessitate compromising (1), and any revenues that an ND postseason game might generate would be dwarfed by the profitability of the simple playoff system on offer from the superconferences.

There's a very real danger of being frozen out of meaningful postseason play if ND opts to remain outside the superconferences. I don't think Swarbrick will take that risk.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Yahoo! Sports' Dan Wetzel explains why ND should join the ACC immediately.

Good read. I'm inclined to agree with him.

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

Yahoo! Sports' Dan Wetzel explains why ND should join the ACC immediately.

Good read. I'm inclined to agree with him.

Yea hard not to agree.

 

[Chicago Irish Fan]

I also agree. The Big Ten would really restrict our recruiting, but the ACC would allow us to keep and even strengthen our pipelines all along the east coast.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Wetzel is catching a ton of crap from reactionary ND fans on Twitter. I can understand the sentiment; independence is in our DNA. But once you look at the evidence objectively, there's really no arguing against it.

 

[HereComeTheIrish]

Yahoo! Sports' Dan Wetzel explains why ND should join the ACC immediately.

Good read. I'm inclined to agree with him.

Good article and I agree. Strike while the iron is hot....but on our terms. Otherwise, we shop the Big Ten

 

[Chicago Irish Fan]

Exactly. As much as I love our independence, it is becoming increasingly inevitable that superconferences are going to happen.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

(Michigan fan) via Twitter:

@DanWetzel Just don't see how the recruiting would be better in the ACC compared to the B1G. ACC games r not all on TV and some r not HD.

DanWetzel via Twitter:

@djclippert No Big 10 schools in Florida, Georgia, Virginia, Carolinas, where the better players live. ND already in midwest

(Michigan fan) via Twitter:

@DanWetzel For the record. I am happy with the B1G the way it is and ND can do what it wants. Just sharing my opinion on recruiting part.

@DanWetzel Denard Robinson, Desmond Howard, Anthony Carter, Brian Griese. Michigan has never had trouble in Florida. ND would be no diff

I would love to leave B1G standing at the altar.

 

[tadman95]

Having grown up in ACC country, I would be thrilled to have Notre Dame in the conference. I know it's not perfect but seems to make more sense than the Big 10 (I'll admit my bias)

Besides, Rutgers ???? We don't need no stinking Rutgers!

 

[Grahambo]

Interesting to see what Swarbrick does with the other sports first. I still think ND football stays Independent. I don't see evidence as to why they need to at this point. Things can change though.

 

[Grahambo]

Having grown up in ACC country, I would be thrilled to have Notre Dame in the conference. I know it's not perfect but seems to make more sense than the Big 10 (I'll admit my bias)

Besides, Rutgers ???? We don't need no stinking Rutgers!

Rutgers brings the NY market of roughly 2.6 million people to the ACC. The geography article is a great read.

 

[Whiskeyjack]

Interesting to see what Swarbrick does with the other sports first. I still think ND football stays Independent. I don't see evidence as to why they need to at this point. Things can change though.

Did you read the article?

(1) The Big East is imploding, so ND needs a home for it's non-football sports; (2) the ACC is essentially holding a spot open for ND, but it won't wait forever; (3) the ACC won't agree to take all ND sports except football; and (4) there's a serious risk that if ND football isn't in a conference when the music stops, we could be frozen out of meaningful postseason play.

The dominos are falling as we speak. Sitting on our hands is becoming increasingly risky.

 

[HereComeTheIrish]

Did you read the article?

(1) The Big East is imploding, so ND needs a home for it's non-football sports; (2) the ACC is essentially holding a spot open for ND, but it won't wait forever; (3) the ACC won't agree to take all ND sports except football; and (4) there's a serious risk that if ND football isn't in a conference when the music stops, we could be frozen out of meaningful postseason play.

The dominos are falling as we speak. Sitting on our hands is becoming increasingly risky.

I'd say that's "evidence" enough....

 

[GoldenIsThyFame]

Makes sense for all sports except...... Hockey.

They still haven't picked a conference yet correct?

 

[Grahambo]

Did you read the article?

(1) The Big East is imploding, so ND needs a home for it's non-football sports; (2) the ACC is essentially holding a spot open for ND, but it won't wait forever; (3) the ACC won't agree to take all ND sports except football; and (4) there's a serious risk that if ND football isn't in a conference when the music stops, we could be frozen out of meaningful postseason play.

The dominos are falling as we speak. Sitting on our hands is becoming increasingly risky.

At work and on my phone so tough to read articles and such. I devote such time to IE.