The Case For The 16 Team Super Conferences

MeanGreen61 · June 16, 2008

Some way out stuff here & as usual UNT is told "bend over".

http://blogs.orlandosentinel.com/sports_co...or-th.html#more

Green Mean · June 16, 2008

I had an idea like this when I was ten but overall but it is pretty bad how he aligned the conferences and the teams in it.

UNTflyer · June 16, 2008

Tim Stephens is insane. Get a straightjacket.

FireFightnJoey · June 16, 2008

Mo-Mo-Mo-Mo-Moron ... look at me, i've got a wooden spoon!

June 17, 2008

There are better odds on my winning the largest lottery ever and financing the new stadium single-handedly than any of that happening.

Arkstfan · June 17, 2008

Does he write that EVERY summer?

16 makes sense if:

1. You can create two divisions of 8 that don't care if they play people in the other division. For example take 8 Pac-10 schools and 8 Big 12. That would work. Take 8 Sun Belt and 8 WAC (7 Sun Belt plus La.Tech and 8 WAC schools). Then you have a conference that is for most purposes two independent conferences of 8 that act jointly as one economic unit. The Big 8 and SWC toyed with this idea.

2. You can make more money as a joint operation than independently. The Big East is currently in this circumstance but it makes more basketball money than any other conference and the power in basketball that makes that possible is almost evenly divided among football and basketball members. The basketball members bring the league into TV markets they cannot reach in football. If the balance shifts on who is producing income, they will splinter quickly.

UNTflyer · June 17, 2008

Not to mention this guy's insane fantasy hinges on a BUNCH of teams moving up to Div I-A, which the NCAA says "No way" at this point.

134 teams??

VideoEagle · June 17, 2008

Does he write that EVERY summer?

I think he does. Maybe he goes on vacation this time of year and want to do a column he can just recycle without putting in much work.

NT91 · June 17, 2008

WESTERN ATHLETIC CONFERENCE (12)

Raided of its top programs, The WAC regroups by pulling in new West Coast programs and some Texas newbies. The WAC has been written off before and probably would be again. But it eventually would regroup and find its footing.

West: San Jose State, Utah State, New Mexico State, Idaho, Sacramento State, UC Davis

East: *Lamar, Louisiana Tech, North Texas, Sam Houston State, *Texas- San Antonio, Texas State

June 17, 2008

Nice respect there: 'Back to a Southland-type conference for you.' But then, it is coming from someone with some serious sour grapes feelings: 'The Big East didn't take us, so it will disappear. Then USF will be right back here with us where they belong.' Yeah right. The feeling of frustration and jealousy and hopelessness must have driven Mr. Stephens mad. Wow, I can really identify. However, I'm angry now because he has no right to be THAT upset. I see UCF as having come out of nowhere. In fact I can't even really tell them apart from Army, though Army is a lot more recognizable. If Mr. Stephens were a North Texas fan instead, I bet he would understand the scenario that I now visualize: college sports will develop an affiliation structure like professional baseball. Within this exciting new world, UCF will be the farm team for Army. You can let your troubled imaginations run wild with the rest of the possibilities. See, Mr. Stephens, that is the kind of fantasy that some REAL frustration as a fan will bring on. You're welcome, and enjoy!

Chrisattsu · June 17, 2008

Wait so let me get this straight-

The Pac-16 includes Texas Tech, and UT goes to the SEC? Really??

I forget, but didn't UT consider the Pac10, and snub the SEC, at the end of the SWC due to academics?

That would seriously piss some people off.

Hook 'em & Go Green · June 17, 2008

Since I'm bored during the LONG off-season, I'll take a stab at future conference realignments in Division 1-A (FBS). I have 10 conferences with 12 teams each, except for 2 of the conferences having 14 teams. I have a Mountain West/WAC merger which would drop the WAC from D 1-A. Since all conferences would have at least 12 teams, each one would play a conference championship game. Each of the 10 conference champions would receive an automatic BCS Bowl berth, thereby leveling the playing field in D 1-A by adding automatic bids to champions of C-USA, MAC, MWC, and the SBC. My idea would produce 124 teams in D 1-A (FBS), adding South Alabama (which is already tentatively scheduled to join the Sun Belt by 2013), Appalachian St., Georgia Southern, and Texas St. from D 1-AA (FCS). Let me know what y'all think of my idea for the D 1-A (FBS) college football landscape. Thanks and enjoy!

My Ideas For Future Alignments of NCAA Division 1-A College Football (Football Bowl Subdivision)

Atlantic Coast Conference

Atlantic Division

1. Boston College Eagles

2. Clemson Tigers

3. Florida St. Seminoles

4. Maryland Terrapins

5. North Carolina St. Wolfpack

6. Wake Forest Demon Deacons

Coastal Division

1. Duke Blue Devils

2. Georgia Tech Yellow Jackets

3. Miami Hurricanes

4. North Carolina Tar Heels

5. Virginia Cavaliers

6. Virginia Tech Hokies

Big East Conference

North Division

1. Connecticut Huskies

2. Marshall Thundering Herd

3. Pittsburgh Panthers

4. Rutgers Scarlet Knights

5. Syracuse Orange

6. West Virginia Mountaineers

South Division

1. Central Florida Knights

2. Cincinnati Bearcats

3. East Carolina Pirates

4. Louisville Cardinals

5. Memphis Tigers

6. South Florida Bulls

Big Ten Conference

East Division

1. Michigan Wolverines

2. Michigan St. Spartans

3. Notre Dame Fighting Irish

4. Ohio St. Buckeyes

5. Penn St. Nittany Lions

6. Wisconsin Badgers

West Division

1. Illinois Fighting Illini

2. Indiana Hoosiers

3. Iowa Hawkeyes

4. Minnesota Golden Gophers

5. Northwestern Wildcats

6. Purdue Boilermakers

Big 12 Conference

North Division

1. Colorado Buffaloes

2. Iowa St. Cyclones

3. Kansas Jayhawks

4. Kansas St. Wildcats

5. Missouri Tigers

6. Nebraska Cornhuskers

South Division

1. Baylor Bears

2. Oklahoma Sooners

3. Oklahoma St. Cowboys

4. Texas Longhorns

5. Texas A&M Aggies

6. Texas Tech Red Raiders

Conference USA

East Division

1. Army Black Knights

2. Louisiana Tech Bulldogs

3. Navy Midshipmen

4. Southern Mississippi Golden Eagles

5. Temple Owls

6. Tulane Green Wave

7. UAB Blazers

West Division

1. Houston Cougars

2. North Texas Mean Green

3. Rice Owls

4. SMU Mustangs

5. TCU Horned Frogs

6. Tulsa Golden Hurricane

7. UTEP Miners

Mid-American Conference

East Division

1. Akron Zips

2. Bowling Green Falcons

3. Buffalo Bulls

4. Kent St. Golden Flashes

5. Miami (Ohio) Redhawks

6. Ohio Bobcats

West Division

1. Ball St. Cardinals

2. Central Michigan Chippewas

3. Eastern Michigan Eagles

4. Northern Illinois Huskies

5. Toledo Rockets

6. Western Michigan Broncos

Mountain West Conference

East Division

1. Air Force Falcons

2. Boise St. Broncos

3. Colorado St. Rams

4. New Mexico Lobos

5. New Mexico St. Aggies

6. Utah St. Aggies

7. Wyoming Cowboys

West Division

1. Fresno St. Bulldogs

2. Hawaii Warriors

3. Idaho Vandals

4. Nevada Wolfpack

5. San Diego St. Aztecs

6. San Jose St. Spartans

7. UNLV Rebels

Pacific 12 Conference

North Division

1. California Golden Bears

2. Oregon Ducks

3. Oregon St. Beavers

4. Stanford Cardinal

5. Washington Huskies

6. Washington St. Cougars

South Division

1. Arizona Wildcats

2. Arizona St. Sun Devils

3. BYU Cougars

4. UCLA Bruins

5. USC Trojans

6. Utah Utes

Southeastern Conference

East Division

1. Florida Gators

2. Georgia Bulldogs

3. Kentucky Wildcats

4. South Carolina Gamecocks

5. Tennessee Volunteers

6. Vanderbilt Commodores

West Division

1. Alabama Crimson Tide

2. Arkansas Razorbacks

3. Auburn Tigers

4. LSU Tigers

5. Mississippi Rebels

6. Mississippi St. Bulldogs

Sun Belt Conference

East Division

1. Appalachian St. Mountaineers

2. Florida Atlantic Owls

3. Florida International Golden Panthers

4. Georgia Southern Eagles

5. Middle Tennessee St. Blue Raiders

6. Western Kentucky Hilltoppers

West Division

1. Arkansas St. Red Wolves

2. Louisiana-Lafayette Ragin’ Cajuns

3. Louisiana-Monroe Warhawks

4. South Alabama Jaguars

5. Texas St. Bobcats

6. Troy Trojans

greenminer · June 17, 2008

Since I'm bored during the LONG off-season, I'll take a stab at future conference realignments in Division 1-A (FBS). I have 10 conferences with 12 teams each, except for 2 of the conferences having 14 teams. I have a Mountain West/WAC merger which would drop the WAC from D 1-A. Since all conferences would have at least 12 teams, each one would play a conference championship game. Each of the 10 conference champions would receive an automatic BCS Bowl berth, thereby leveling the playing field in D 1-A by adding automatic bids to champions of C-USA, MAC, MWC, and the SBC. My idea would produce 124 teams in D 1-A (FBS), adding South Alabama (which is already tentatively scheduled to join the Sun Belt by 2013), Appalachian St., Georgia Southern, and Texas St. from D 1-AA (FCS). Let me know what y'all think of my idea for the D 1-A (FBS) college football landscape. Thanks and enjoy!
My Ideas For Future Alignments of NCAA Division 1-A College Football (Football Bowl Subdivision)

edit: nvm found them!

Edited June 17, 2008 by greenminer

UNTflyer · June 17, 2008

Since I'm bored during the LONG off-season, I'll take a stab at future conference realignments in Division 1-A (FBS). I have 10 conferences with 12 teams each, except for 2 of the conferences having 14 teams. I have a Mountain West/WAC merger which would drop the WAC from D 1-A. Since all conferences would have at least 12 teams, each one would play a conference championship game. Each of the 10 conference champions would receive an automatic BCS Bowl berth, thereby leveling the playing field in D 1-A by adding automatic bids to champions of C-USA, MAC, MWC, and the SBC.

This is very similar to my idea, I just didn't have all the realignment going on. Conference champions must be allowed into any playoff scheme. My idea was to allow the current 12 conference champs + 4 at-large teams (the 4 top ranked conference championship game losers).

The conference championships would become the old lower tier bowl games (New Orleans Mobile, GMAC bowl, Humanitarian bowl, etc). As each round progresses, the more prestigious bowls come into play (Gator, Citrus, Cotton, etc.) Finally, the Final Eight would play in the current BCS bowls (Fiesta, Sugar, Orange, Rose). Two of those sites would serve as the semifinal sites, and a third would serve as the Championship Game. One bowl would be left out, then serve as one of the semi sites the following 2 years, then the Championship game.

So what if the SBC has pretty much zero chance of making it all the way? At least there is a legitimate shot for all teams.

Hook 'em & Go Green · June 17, 2008

I tried to use logic, something that seems to be lacking from the powers that be or even so-called journalists. Since I am a grad student at UNT, I have a vested interest in seeing UNT get into a higher conference one day or at least have access toward playing for a national championship in football. By that I mean a D 1-A playoff. In basketball, all conference tournament champions are given an automatic bid into the tournament thereby giving each of the 315+ Division 1 basketball teams access toward winning a national championship. The same is true in baseball or any other sport in collegiate athletics. Look at Rice winning the baseball NC a few years ago and this year Rice and Fresno St. are in Omaha right now in the CWS (much to my chagrin knocking out my Horns this year). I am a UT grad so that one hurt... I thought we might be able to get back to Omaha after winning the Big 12 Tournament in OKC.

Anyway, back to the topic at hand. If major college football ever finally implements a playoff system, it MUST include all conference champions. Schools like Rice, UNT, or Fresno St. would never have a prayer in the current format. I think things are slowly improving with Hawaii, Utah, and Boise St. breaking through at least be invited to the BCS party. A playoff makes the best sense to me. I'd like to see a 16-team playoff bracket, with each conference champion receiving an automatic bid to the tournament and the next highest rated 5 teams regardless of conference affiliation receiving the at-large berths. In the meantime, I think the BCS should expand to add the Cotton and Capital One (formerly Citrus) Bowls to the mix and have all 11 conference receive automatic berths, plus the next 3 highest rated teams regardless of conference affiliation receive the at-large berths. This would allow each team in D 1-A to at least have the chance to prove their worth on the field and compete for the national championship. That's simply how it should be. As a UNT fan and student, that bothers me that there is no access for non-BCS teams. As a UT fan and alumnus, what bothers me the most is that the Big Ten, Big East, and Pac-10 don't play a conference championship game like we do in the Big 12, and the SEC & ACC. It should be all or none for the conference championship games to level the playing field in that regard. Since Ohio St. doesn't have to contend with surviving an extra week with the CCG, they are able to bypass it straight to the championship game. If that were true for the Big 12, we may well have seen a Missouri-Ohio St. NCG last season. Instead, Mizzou had to play OU again and didn't make it. If Ohio St. had to play Illinois or someone for the Big 10 Title, maybe they would have lost too.

That's my two cents... I've been reading too much Phil Steele!

Hook 'em & Go Green!

forevereagle · June 17, 2008

As a UT fan and alumnus, what bothers me the most is that the Big Ten, Big East, and Pac-10 don't play a conference championship game like we do in the Big 12, and the SEC & ACC. It should be all or none for the conference championship games to level the playing field in that regard. Since Ohio St. doesn't have to contend with surviving an extra week with the CCG, they are able to bypass it straight to the championship game. If that were true for the Big 12, we may well have seen a Missouri-Ohio St. NCG last season. Instead, Mizzou had to play OU again and didn't make it. If Ohio St. had to play Illinois or someone for the Big 10 Title, maybe they would have lost too.

In all fairness, the Big East doesn't need to have the conference championship game in their current format. Any conference where all teams play each other, the game is not necessary. There is no excuse for the Big Ten (11) and PAC-10.

Hook 'em & Go Green · June 17, 2008

In all fairness, the Big East doesn't need to have the conference championship game in their current format. Any conference where all teams play each other, the game is not necessary. There is no excuse for the Big Ten (11) and PAC-10.

I realize the Big East plays a full round robin format and has only 8 teams. Actually the Pac-10 now plays nine conference games and a full round robin conference schedule too. All I am advocating is that each conference should expand to have 12 schools and play the CCG or else none should have to play it. In a perfect world, my ideas of realignment would take place and the National Champion would be decided on the field in a 16-team playoff.

chomp · June 17, 2008

I am really torn about a playoff. While I think that it would be great to watch and good for my Gators, I really fear what it would do to the fabric of college football because I have no confidence that teams from non-BCS conferences would be allowed to participate. A playoff would force a change in how postseason revenue is distributed and, given that revenue distribution is so unfairly skewed to the BCS conferences, it would seem certain that that revenue distribution under a playoff would have to become less favorable for the BCS conferences as leagues like the Sunbelt, WAC, and CUSA get a more fair share along the lines of the NCAA basketball tournament. If you look at what the postseason revenue distribution looks like now, my worry is that the only way that a playoff would happen (or what would soon follow it) is that the major programs in the SEC, Big 10, PAC 10, ACC, and B12 would split from the rest of the Football Bowl Subdivision into some sort of super conference purely as a means of maximizing the amount of revenue that they receive from the postseason. That would be a travesty as one of the best things about watching college football is knowing that any week Louisiana-Monroe can beat Alabama or FAU can beat Minnesota. Plus, the major football programs in BCS conferences are already over-professionalized, this would be the last step to them simply becoming farm teams for the NFL with little attachment to their educational institutions.

2006-2007 Bowl Revenue (from NCAA report)

ACC Totals 28,266,175

Big East Totals 21,888,675

Big Ten Totals 35,403,095

Big Twelve Totals 30,568 259

Pac-10 Totals 24,786,399

SEC Totals 40, 119,611

Conference USA Totals 3,675,000

Mid-American Totals 2,839,252

Mountain West Totals 2,369,252

Sun Belt Totals 1,075,000

WAC Totals 828,000

UNTflyer · June 17, 2008

2006-2007 Bowl Revenue (from NCAA report)

That's 48 times more for the top money maker compared to the bottom.

Edited June 17, 2008 by UNTflyer

chomp · June 17, 2008

Forgot to add the link: 2006-2007 Bowl Revenue

As bad as the revenue numbers are, the profit is even worse. The SEC made 28 million after expenses, the Mountain West and WAC lost money.

UNTflyer · June 17, 2008

Wait, how did the WAC, which sent teams to a BCS bowl two straight years, end up with less bowl revenue than the Sun Belt? That makes no sense.

TIgreen01 · June 17, 2008

I am really torn about a playoff. While I think that it would be great to watch and good for my Gators, I really fear what it would do to the fabric of college football because I have no confidence that teams from non-BCS conferences would be allowed to participate. A playoff would force a change in how postseason revenue is distributed and, given that revenue distribution is so unfairly skewed to the BCS conferences, it would seem certain that that revenue distribution under a playoff would have to become less favorable for the BCS conferences as leagues like the Sunbelt, WAC, and CUSA get a more fair share along the lines of the NCAA basketball tournament. If you look at what the postseason revenue distribution looks like now, my worry is that the only way that a playoff would happen (or what would soon follow it) is that the major programs in the SEC, Big 10, PAC 10, ACC, and B12 would split from the rest of the Football Bowl Subdivision into some sort of super conference purely as a means of maximizing the amount of revenue that they receive from the postseason. That would be a travesty as one of the best things about watching college football is knowing that any week Louisiana-Monroe can beat Alabama or FAU can beat Minnesota. Plus, the major football programs in BCS conferences are already over-professionalized, this would be the last step to them simply becoming farm teams for the NFL with little attachment to their educational institutions.

Excellent post.