What do you think is the end result of conference realignment?

[WoadBlue]

For a long time, the loud crowd asserted that 'the plan' was to have 4 Power/Major conferences, each with 16, or perhaps only 14, teams. Now that same loud crowd is arguing that there will only be 2 Major/Power Conferences: SEC and Big Ten, and each will have 20 or maybe 24 members.

I think the SEC would be happy for things to stand as now arranged, because the SEC adding OU and UT will become richer tan the 14 member BT and be even more overwhelming in football. But the BT is not going to accept that. The BT worships money and what money can deliver far more than it wants to win at sports. There is no 2 team addition that can both get BT money definitely back above what the next SEC deal will bring and secure more football talent and quality for the BT. So the BT almost certainly is now plotting how to expand to 20, possibly 24. Because the SEC knows the BT, the SEC also is planning moves to match any BT moves, meaning the SEC also is thinking about expanding to 20, possibly 24.

ESPN can stop that process dead in its tracks in EST by paying the ACC what it is worth. The ACC has the 3rd largest number of TV viewers for football (after SEC and BT) and the 2nd largest for basketball (behind the BT) but gets paid worse than even the Pac, which is a far distant #5 in TV viewers for both revenue sports. If ESPN does not do that, the BT is going to act sooner rather than later, which guarantees that the SEC also will act sooner rather than later.

Fox and ESPN could both pay the Pac what it is worth, which is far less than it now gets, which would surely mean that the BT thinks very hard about adding 6 Pac schools. If the BT could get CA (SC, UCLA, Cal, and Stanford), Oregon, and Washington, the BT could maximize the value of those schools while adding a lot of football talent to the BT footprint. It would make no sense geographically, but it would boost the BT ego.

Even if the BT made that move, the ACC would not be safe if ESPN refuses to pay it what it is worth.

 

[cuse309]

For a long time, the loud crowd asserted that 'the plan' was to have 4 Power/Major conferences, each with 16, or perhaps only 14, teams. Now that same loud crowd is arguing that there will only be 2 Major/Power Conferences: SEC and Big Ten, and each will have 20 or maybe 24 members.

I think the SEC would be happy for things to stand as now arranged, because the SEC adding OU and UT will become richer tan the 14 member BT and be even more overwhelming in football. But the BT is not going to accept that. The BT worships money and what money can deliver far more than it wants to win at sports. There is no 2 team addition that can both get BT money definitely back above what the next SEC deal will bring and secure more football talent and quality for the BT. So the BT almost certainly is now plotting how to expand to 20, possibly 24. Because the SEC knows the BT, the SEC also is planning moves to match any BT moves, meaning the SEC also is thinking about expanding to 20, possibly 24.

ESPN can stop that process dead in its tracks in EST by paying the ACC what it is worth. The ACC has the 3rd largest number of TV viewers for football (after SEC and BT) and the 2nd largest for basketball (behind the BT) but gets paid worse than even the Pac, which is a far distant #5 in TV viewers for both revenue sports. If ESPN does not do that, the BT is going to act sooner rather than later, which guarantees that the SEC also will act sooner rather than later.

Fox and ESPN could both pay the Pac what it is worth, which is far less than it now gets, which would surely mean that the BT thinks very hard about adding 6 Pac schools. If the BT could get CA (SC, UCLA, Cal, and Stanford), Oregon, and Washington, the BT could maximize the value of those schools while adding a lot of football talent to the BT footprint. It would make no sense geographically, but it would boost the BT ego.

Even if the BT made that move, the ACC would not be safe if ESPN refuses to pay it what it is worth.

 

[sufandu]

My increased apathy for college football.

 

[JustPherU]

Be careful what you wish for.

 

[Chris02M]

nothing is going to happen right now

 

[qdawgg]

Freeing up saturdays within the next 10 years

 

[Hoo's That]

The end result? Out-and-out paying the players. The conferences, as they're constituted in 2025, will dissolve. Some of the names might be reused, but the membership will be different as schools will be forced to choose whether they will pay the players or not. I think speculating on who will be part of the 64 or 65 is a waste of time because there won't be that many that pay the players. Notre Dame has already said they won't pay, and a sojourn through past discussions on NDNation will confirm that.. I don't see Vandy, Wake, and Duke paying their players with the added proviso that they won't play against any "school" that does. Ga Tech probably won't pay theirs. I'd like to believe UVa won't pay theirs. I haven't the foggiest idea what UNC will do, WoadBlue . Maybe you give us your view.

 

[David321]

It’s just so hard to predict. I’d like to think that the ACC will remain as is or add two more teams. I really enjoy following our conference in addition to our team.

 

[Cusefan78]

I think big time college football for teams like us are on the clock. The truth of the matter is nil and the portal is going to destroy small market teams with no support. My guess is you will see 20 or so teams always at the top that can get players exposure and money. The rest of the teams will be relegated. I think this will trickle down and also have an effect on the basketball team. Syracuse’s days are numbered. It’s pretty sad but college sports is done! Greed has ruined it

 

[HtownOrange]

The schools and conferences realize they should act like the pro leagues and work out one contract with all parties. Once this is done, regional conferences can be re-established, like the pro leagues (minus Dallas in the NFC East). This takes another 15-25 years.

All conferences are underpaid, The Mickey Mouse network and Fox are making bank. NBC's UND deal makes money. All the alphabet networks get in on the act and college football is restored to it's natural beauty of regional rivals.

O.K., I may be wearing Orange colored glasses.

 

[MSOrange]

Alsacs wll be the only one left standing.

 

[Cuse69]

Small moves I'd guess the Big12 adds Boise and Memphis, ACC adds Liberty. Overall I don't think this is good for CFB, but we shall see...

 

[SWC75]

There will be two super conferences and then there will be college football.

the question is: where do we want to be?

 

[kcsu]

There will be two super conferences and then there will be college football.

the question is: where do we want to be?

Its more like where can we afford to be.

 

[Newhouser]

Its more like where can we afford to be.

I second this and in 20 years we aren't at the big boy football table.

 

[Shrmdougluvr]

During the next ten years, the conferences will be the same, but the schools will reconfigure slightly.

Once the big gors and TV contracts expire, it will be a complete reconfiguration for football, and a super conference will form for awhile, until those schools start gouging each other's eyes out.

In 20-30 years, colleges will get out of the biz altogether because for most, they'll realize the "juice isn't worth the squeeze" (paying kids to play while simultaneously maiming them) and there will just be minor league professional football in conjunction with some expansion of the NFL. Schools that are still interested will shift to rugby, flag, 7s, or some other variation of the sport.

 

[elimunelson]

Its more like where can we afford to be.

I refuse to believe northeast football will cease to exist. for that to happen, football regionally has to die off. Parents will still want kids to go to school locally so they can watch them play. Syracuse is a 5 hour drive from NY/Mass/CT/NJ and that matters still.

 

[OrangeCrush22]

I think eventually there will be a split from the NCAA. The P5 as well as any other schools or conferences willing to pay the money to compete. Boise State and Liberty for examples may want to join. Some of the basketball conferences will likely come along too. Definitely the Big East. The NCAA tournament is big time money and the new entity will want to keep that.

Ironically, it seems like this new entity would only be destined to grow into something like the NCAA. What if for their brand recognition the Ivy League decides it wants in, but it’s still not going to pay players? Same with Notre Dame. Does this NCAA competitor say no these massive collegiate brands?

 

[OrangeOnions]

I'm really hopeful for a centralized association to organize all of the schools to negotiate on behalf of the best interest of the sport

 

[nd1973]

Gratefully ND will be done if pay for play (player become employees) comes to fruition. I would officially be done with CFB and gladly reclaim my Saturdays (my wife will be happy). The game is at a crossroads and I really have no clue what will happen next. I am viewing this season and next as maybe being the last 2 where CFB possesses any semblance of the sport that I love and followed since I was a kid.

 

[FrancoPizza]

I think big time college football for teams like us are on the clock. The truth of the matter is nil and the portal is going to destroy small market teams with no support. My guess is you will see 20 or so teams always at the top that can get players exposure and money. The rest of the teams will be relegated. I think this will trickle down and also have an effect on the basketball team. Syracuse’s days are numbered. It’s pretty sad but college sports is done! Greed has ruined it

Thanks for the pep talk.

 

[ForCuseSake]

Gratefully ND will be done if pay for play (player become employees) comes to fruition. I would officially be done with CFB and gladly reclaim my Saturdays (my wife will be happy). The game is at a crossroads and I really have no clue what will happen next. I am viewing this season and next as maybe being the last 2 where CFB possesses any semblance of the sport that I love and followed since I was a kid.

I understand why large state universities would agree to "pay to play" to keep the tv revenue flowing but I don't see it working out well for any of those institutions.

Are the players (i.e. employees) at these schools going to collectively bargain like their NFL counterparts?

How will Joe and Jane Public feel about funding the pensions and healthcare obligations of these new state employees? How will these state universities reconcile their future healthcare expense risks (i.e. what happens 20 years after college football players become paid employees and those middle aged guys have health problems from playing CFB)?

I think conference realignment is pushing toward this end.

And I'll be in the same boat as you and others that Saturdays will no longer revolve around college football for me.

 

[SWC75]

I think college football will survive and college sports in general, precisely because they put small markets like us on the map and we need that. But the corporate football factories will leave it like a balloon a child lets go of and good riddance. I home Michigan, Texas and USC like going 3-9 in a super-conference where everybody makes the money they are making and has the facilities, coaching staff and recruiting budget they do.

What will be left is something on the FCS level or like college baseball, something still fun but saner. We'll still care.

 

[Atlcuse44]

I think college football will survive and college sports in general, precisely because they put small markets like us on the map and we need that. But the corporate football factories will leave it like a balloon a child lets go of and good riddance. I home Michigan, Texas and USC like going 3-9 in a super-conference where everybody makes the money they are making and has the facilities, coaching staff and recruiting budget they do.

What will be left is something on the FCS level or like college baseball, something still fun but saner. We'll still care.

I agree with this. I think you will have your elite 40 or so team league that will be the semi pro league for the NFL. The rest, Syracuse included, will resort to a true student athlete league. Meaning, no pay and the teams are full of players who know that football is most likely not going to be their career.

 

[Cusefan78]

I agree with this. I think you will have your elite 40 or so team league that will be the semi pro league for the NFL. The rest, Syracuse included, will resort to a true student athlete league. Meaning, no pay and the teams are full of players who know that football is most likely not going to be their career.

That sounds like a super exciting league to watch. Can we just put backyard touch football games on cbs