Ugh. I'd prefer 4-team pods.
Ideally, this would yield a 9 game schedule (every team in the pod and 2 from each other pod). I could see UND objecting to 9 games, which results in every team in the pod, 2 teams from 2 other pods and one game against a team from the remaining pod. Alternatively, pick a fixed cross-pod game from 2 pods and play one remaining team from each of the other pods.
If a 4-team conference playoff is too much, simply pick the two highest ranked pod champions to play for the conference title.
15 may work better than 16.
You would need pods because UVA has to play UNC every year. No way they agree to make that a once in four years game.
IMO if I am the ACC I shoot for the stars. I offer the following to ND, Texas, and FSU...
-You are each in separate three divisions and play division mates every year (5 games)
-You play each other every year (2 games)
-You are eligible for the ACC CG
-You control TV for your OOC games
So this means that ND, Texas, and FSU each play 7 ACC games and then get 5 OOC games. Texas can put their 3 OOC home games on the LHN if they choose. Or sell them to NBC, FOX, or CBS. ND can put their 2-3 OOC home games on NBC. FSU can sell theirs to whomever. It also allows the three to keep OOC rivalries. Texas can fit in OU without being overwhelmed. Same goes for FSU and Florida. ND can keep USC, Stanford, Navy, and Michigan. They would have to drop one or both of Purdue/Michigan St though. But they would have a true national schedule: 5 ACC Northeast teams, 2 California teams, a Florida team, a Texas team, a Midwest team, and Navy who they can play wherever. Basically these three schools would be semi ACC FB members and semi Indies, which should make all three happy.
As to the divisions they would be:
North- ND, Pitt, SU, MD, BC, RU
Central- Texas, VT, UVA, UNC, NC St, Duke
South- FSU, Miami, Clemson, GA Tech, Louisville, Wake
This keeps all major rivalries in tact. Teams would play in division then rotate cross division for a total of 9 games. For instance SU would play ND, Pitt, MD, BC, and RU every year. They would never play Texas or FSU. They would get 2 Central and 2 South teams every year on a rotating basis. So SU would play home and away once every five years for the cross division teams.
For the ACC CG you take the two best division winners. In BBall you play everyone once and your primary rival a 2nd time. This is as round robin as possible and allows for a fair league champ.
UNC-Duke
SU-MD
Louisville-Texas
ND-Pitt
NC St-Wake
GA Tech-Clemson
FSU-Miami
BC-RU
UVA-VT
This would easily be the best BBall conference in all the land. And the ACCT would be awesome. Using RPI last year woulda been:
SU vs the winner of Texas vs the winner of UVA vs the winner of Wake vs GA Tech
UNC vs the winner of NC St vs the winner of Miami vs the winner of RU vs BC
Duke vs the winner of ND vs the winner of Pitt vs Clemson
FSU vs the winner of Louisville vs the winner of MD vs VT
That round of 8 would be something.
