College football is eating its institutions alive

[SWC75]

https://www.cnn.com/2023/08/24/opinions/college-football-conferences-realignment-pac-12-acc-sec-big-12-leitch/index.html

I thoroughly agree that it's time to decouple football from the other sports and let it seek the conference alignments it wants while the other sports seek alignments more appropriate to them. I'd do that for all sports. SU football should be in its most appropriate conference, SU basketball in its most appropriate conference, SU lacrosse in its most appropriate conference, same for SU soccer, women's sports and everything else. What's being done to the non-revenue sports is almost criminal.

 

[Stern]

So, the Big Boy football schools in the SEC and BIG 10 want to separate from us "smaller football schools" and won't share the big money with us when they do...but its the smaller school's job now to help the Big Boy football program schools and their softball, lacrosse, soccer, track and field, field hockey, and non-revenue sports?

To quote Randy Jackson from American Idol, "It's gonna be a no from me dawg"

The SEC and BIG 10 and Big Boy football programs made this mess, if it means UCLA softball has to travel to Rutgers and Maryland, sorry not sorry! That's a YOU PROBLEM!

 

[Newhouser]

The whining over big bad football is getting tiring. Schools offering non revenue sports have to get creative and figure out a sustainable solution. Football created this current mess, but also helped sustain the groups who feel their now being hurt. The schools and the athletic leaders in those schools need to do some work. The gravy train is evolving to a high speed train and the seats are filling fast. Stop moaning and find yourself a solution.

 

[sufandu]

One move would fix most everything, but greed won't allow it to happen. Distribute all TV money evenly across all FBS. Then conferences can can go back to regional rivalries and competitive advantage would be reduced. The factories would still have donor advantages for facilities and NIL but the overall disparities would be reduced. Then you go to 9 team regional conferences that facilitate rivalries people actually care about and leave plenty of room for fun non-conference match-ups. And a fringe benefit would be going back to double round robin basketball schedules.

 

[JustPherU]

One move would fix most everything, but greed won't allow it to happen. Distribute all TV money evenly across all FBS. Then conferences can can go back to regional rivalries and competitive advantage would be reduced. The factories would still have donor advantages for facilities and NIL but the overall disparities would be reduced. Then you go to 9 team regional conferences that facilitate rivalries people actually care about and leave plenty room for fun non-conference match-ups. And a fringe benefit would be going back to double round robin basketball schedules.

Every fan in the country wants that, even the big boy schools fans want that.Nobody I know likes what is happening to college sports, but greed always wins.Only a complete boycott of college sports could end this mess but how the heck could us sports fans pull off something like that?

 

[sufandu]

Every fan in the country wants that, even the big boy schools fans want that.Nobody I know likes what is happening to college sports, but greed always wins.Only a complete boycott of college sports could end this mess but how the heck could us sports fans pull off something like that?

We never could because we're addicts.

 

[DoctorBombay]

One move would fix most everything, but greed won't allow it to happen. Distribute all TV money evenly across all FBS. Then conferences can can go back to regional rivalries and competitive advantage would be reduced. The factories would still have donor advantages for facilities and NIL but the overall disparities would be reduced. Then you go to 9 team regional conferences that facilitate rivalries people actually care about and leave plenty room for fun non-conference match-ups. And a fringe benefit would be going back to double round robin basketball schedules.

Aka The NFL Model. Wherein a team in Green Bay Wisconsin gets an equal share to the team in NYC. It's worked wonders for the growth and prosperity of the league.

 

[TheCusian]

One move would fix most everything, but greed won't allow it to happen. Distribute all TV money evenly across all FBS. Then conferences can can go back to regional rivalries and competitive advantage would be reduced. The factories would still have donor advantages for facilities and NIL but the overall disparities would be reduced. Then you go to 9 team regional conferences that facilitate rivalries people actually care about and leave plenty room for fun non-conference match-ups. And a fringe benefit would be going back to double round robin basketball schedules.

This is the best post on realignment I’ve read on this site in a long while.

The tv networks and 2 big conferences seem hellbent on making this the NFL lite, when the NFL has succeeded on parity through salary caps and revenue sharing (the complete opposite of CFB model) and a national audience.

 

[sufandu]

Aka The NFL Model. Wherein a team in Green Bay Wisconsin gets an equal share to the team in NYC. It's worked wonders for the growth and prosperity of the league.

That's exactly what I was thinking. Eventually, as teams get left out, the fans of those teams will stop caring and stop watching, especially with the unique emotional connection college fans have with their teams. I know I'm not watching Alabama or Ohio State, if SU is in a completely different system than them. The haves need to recognize this for their own long term benefit.

 

[SmilinBob]

One move would fix most everything, but greed won't allow it to happen. Distribute all TV money evenly across all FBS. Then conferences can can go back to regional rivalries and competitive advantage would be reduced. The factories would still have donor advantages for facilities and NIL but the overall disparities would be reduced. Then you go to 9 team regional conferences that facilitate rivalries people actually care about and leave plenty of room for fun non-conference match-ups. And a fringe benefit would be going back to double round robin basketball schedules.

Wouldn't more schools apply to be in the FBS to get that money thus diluting the total payout for each school? The boosters like their advantage just like the factory schools themselves and while it would be nice if what you said happened, the hypocritical University/College masters that say and teach one thing, do the exact opposite.

 

[sufandu]

Wouldn't more schools apply to be in the FBS to get that money thus diluting the total payout for each school? The boosters like their advantage just like the factory schools themselves and while it would be nice if what you said happened, the hypocritical University/College masters that say and teach one thing, do the exact opposite.

You establish strict requirements that limit who can be FBS. I believe I addressed what you say in the second sentence when I say greed won't allow it to happen.

 

[Cusefan0307]

College football is declining in popularity. Attendance and Ratings have been going down for a decade. One could argue the people in charge are making terrible business decisions.

 

[JustPherU]

College football is declining in popularity. Attendance and Ratings have been going down for a decade. One could argue the people in charge are making terrible business decisions.

Attendance last year had the 2nd biggest jump in history

 

[Cusefan0307]

Attendance last year had the 2nd biggest jump in history

Need to see more data. That was after a decade plus long decline that lead to the worst attended season since 1981 and least viewed title game in 25 years.

 

[Cheriehoop]

Attendance last year had the 2nd biggest jump in history

It’s far from a trend and well below the average attendance in 2014.

College football attendance rose in 2022 with largest year-over-year increase since 1982

More fans attended college football games last season than any year since 2018

www.cbssports.com

FBS attendance​

SEASON	ATTENDANCE	CHANGE
2014	44,603	-1,068
2015	43,933	-670
2016	43,612	-321
2017	42,203	-1,409
2018	41,856	-347
2019	41,477	-379
2021	39,848*	-1,629
2022	41,840^	+1,992

 

[OrangeFoo]

This is the best post on realignment I’ve read on this site in a long while.

The tv networks and 2 big conferences seem hellbent on making this the NFL lite, when the NFL has succeeded on parity through salary caps and revenue sharing (the complete opposite of CFB model) and a national audience.

The NFL has succeeded on parity because it's an oligarchy with a limited number of teams. Whenever CFB gets down to a "premier league" there will be parity because the schools will have similar resources and I be there will be an even rev share model across those thirty or so teams. The issue with the current model is that money needs to be distributed across too many schools. Cut down the schools by 60% and that problem goes away immediately. TV networks will love it because every game will be a must see event... kinda like the NFL. The schools that are in the club will love it because they will get even more money than today.

The only saving grace is, at least for now, there are a LOT of football players in this country and they can't all play for the same 30 schools so there should be some good competition in the outsiders league. But the schools not in the club need to accept that they are just feeder schools.

This really is going the way of the European Super League idea that was pitched for soccer. And fwiw that idea did not have relegation/promotion. If you are in you are in... The only thing that has stopped the European Super League (so far) from happening is the fans DID boycott and said enough is enough. I agree with the poster who said boycotts will never happen here in the US... and at some point there will be a European Super League that includes a bunch of Saudi teams as well.

 

[Cusefan0307]

The NFL has succeeded on parity because it's an oligarchy with a limited number of teams. Whenever CFB gets down to a "premier league" there will be parity because the schools will have similar resources and I be there will be an even rev share model across those thirty or so teams. The issue with the current model is that money needs to be distributed across too many schools. Cut down the schools by 60% and that problem goes away immediately. TV networks will love it because every game will be a must see event... kinda like the NFL. The schools that are in the club will love it because they will get even more money than today.

The only saving grace is, at least for now, there are a LOT of football players in this country and they can't all play for the same 30 schools so there should be some good competition in the outsiders league. But the schools not in the club need to accept that they are just feeder schools.

This really is going the way of the European Super League idea that was pitched for soccer. And fwiw that idea did not have relegation/promotion. If you are in you are in... The only thing that has stopped the European Super League (so far) from happening is the fans DID boycott and said enough is enough. I agree with the poster who said boycotts will never happen here in the US... and at some point there will be a European Super League that includes a bunch of Saudi teams as well.

People who watch the NFL will watch the NFL because they best players are playing in competitive games. Northeasterners and west coasters are not going to be dragged into this because there's some new idea. The same teams that are good now will be good if there's a "premier league" They aren't going to jump into college to watch Ohio State beat UNC 55-10. The sport is getting less popular with the changes they are making. The more likely scenario is it becomes a regional sport like baseball.

 

[sufandu]

The NFL has succeeded on parity because it's an oligarchy with a limited number of teams. Whenever CFB gets down to a "premier league" there will be parity because the schools will have similar resources and I be there will be an even rev share model across those thirty or so teams. The issue with the current model is that money needs to be distributed across too many schools. Cut down the schools by 60% and that problem goes away immediately. TV networks will love it because every game will be a must see event... kinda like the NFL. The schools that are in the club will love it because they will get even more money than today.

The only saving grace is, at least for now, there are a LOT of football players in this country and they can't all play for the same 30 schools so there should be some good competition in the outsiders league. But the schools not in the club need to accept that they are just feeder schools.

This really is going the way of the European Super League idea that was pitched for soccer. And fwiw that idea did not have relegation/promotion. If you are in you are in... The only thing that has stopped the European Super League (so far) from happening is the fans DID boycott and said enough is enough. I agree with the poster who said boycotts will never happen here in the US... and at some point there will be a European Super League that includes a bunch of Saudi teams as well.

The money isn't distributed as many ways but you will also lose viewers. People watch college sports because of some sort of affiliation with the school. When you cut out 1/2 to 2/3 of the schools, you lose a lot of those fans too. I know I wouldn't care. If I'm watching football just to watch football, I'll watch NFL and free up my saturdays for other things.

 

[MikeSU02]

Need to see more data. That was after a decade plus long decline that lead to the worst attended season since 1981 and least viewed title game on 25 years.

They literally gloss over what is likely the biggest reason:

"Perhaps 2022 marked a further recovery from the ravages of pandemic, reflected in the stands. Two years removed from the COVID-19-shortened 2020 season, more fans were out and about."

So the stats, even with people craving to be back to normal, it only got back to 2018/19 numbers.

You are exactly right that the trend is alarming and we'll see how it ends up the next few years, but I would imagine that it aligns back to the downward trend that has been consistent before a once-a-century pandemic.

 

[OrangeFoo]

The money isn't distributed as many ways but you will also lose viewers. People watch college sports because of some sort of affiliation with the school. When you cut out 1/2 to 2/3 of the schools, you lose a lot of those fans too. I know I wouldn't care. If I'm watching football just to watch football, I'll watch NFL and free up my saturdays for other things.

Maybe you wouldn't care... maybe I don't care either. The powers that be are betting that a lot more people will care than don't. The interesting factor is that we will all know one way or another because this will eventually come down to who will pay for a CFB super league package. I will not because to your point I don't care... but I'm sure there are tens of millions who will pay for it. It will be interesting to see if they bundle a college football package with a college hoops package.

But would I pay for a European Super League package? For sure but only because Liverpool will be in it... if Liverpool is not in it I wouldn't. I don't even what Champions League any more unless Liverpool is playing. So yeah... sports is killing the golden goose.

 

[sufandu]

Maybe you wouldn't care... maybe I don't care either. The powers that be are betting that a lot more people will care than don't. The interesting factor is that we will all know one way or another because this will eventually come down to who will pay for a CFB super league package. I will not because to your point I don't care... but I'm sure there are tens of millions who will pay for it. It will be interesting to see if they bundle a college football package with a college hoops package.

But would I pay for a European Super League package? For sure but only because Liverpool will be in it... if Liverpool is not in it I wouldn't. I don't even what Champions League any more unless Liverpool is playing. So yeah... sports is killing the golden goose.

Yeah, we'll see if the powers that be have a bet that pays off. How addicted are we? I'll tell ya, by addiction gets weaker every year.

 

[SWC75]

Maybe you wouldn't care... maybe I don't care either. The powers that be are betting that a lot more people will care than don't. The interesting factor is that we will all know one way or another because this will eventually come down to who will pay for a CFB super league package. I will not because to your point I don't care... but I'm sure there are tens of millions who will pay for it. It will be interesting to see if they bundle a college football package with a college hoops package.

But would I pay for a European Super League package? For sure but only because Liverpool will be in it... if Liverpool is not in it I wouldn't. I don't even what Champions League any more unless Liverpool is playing. So yeah... sports is killing the golden goose.

But will it be more people than care now? That's how you make more money - getting more fans by providing a better product. Of course, if your real intent is to not share the money with as many people as you are sharing it with now, this could work.

 

[Cusefan0307]

Maybe you wouldn't care... maybe I don't care either. The powers that be are betting that a lot more people will care than don't. The interesting factor is that we will all know one way or another because this will eventually come down to who will pay for a CFB super league package. I will not because to your point I don't care... but I'm sure there are tens of millions who will pay for it. It will be interesting to see if they bundle a college football package with a college hoops package.

But would I pay for a European Super League package? For sure but only because Liverpool will be in it... if Liverpool is not in it I wouldn't. I don't even what Champions League any more unless Liverpool is playing. So yeah... sports is killing the golden goose.

I pay for as much NFL content as possible even when the team(s) I root for suck because of gambling, fantasy, and the competitiveness of games. College football isn’t as interesting because most of the games suck. It’s not exciting to see the same 5 schools dominate(mostly) every year. I used to somewhat pull for Michigan because that was my 2nd choice for undergrad when my Dad lived in Detroit in the late 90’s. Including last years playoff I can’t remember the last time I caught a full game outside of Syracuse. Nobody has mentioned that Gen Z cares about college football less than every previous generation.

 

[NKR1978]

It'll be interesting to see what happens to the Super League teams that fall into a rut. Will the fans and boosters of programs used to going 10-2 going to be able to handle 2-10 season?

ESPN and Fox aren't going to be paying crazy amount of money to see schools pad their records. There's always a bottom feeder, someday soon that bottom feeder might be Wisconsin or Oklahoma.

 

[All4SU]

Need to see more data. That was after a decade plus long decline that lead to the worst attended season since 1981 and least viewed title game in 25 years.

The post Covid bounce.