What's so special about 16?

[PoppyHart]

Why not 20, 24, 32 or more? The greed of these schools has already made a mockery of any regional, geographical, or cultural affiliation.

The move to 12 several years ago was motivated by the ability to play a conference championship game. Except for the SEC and Big 12, these games were major disappointments in terms of attendance and TV ratings. The ACC often played in half-full stadiums at 12:00 in the afternoon.

Moving to 16 does not further the championship game objective. Perhaps it's less hairy logistically to deal with 16 teams, which creates 2 natural divisions of 8, with the winners competing for a BCS spot.

But this is really about TV contracts and ratings, so why not create the largest league fathomable? 16 seems so myopic.

 

[jordoo]

Lots of things. Fball mainly though.

2-8 team divisions
4 Championship game (one for each 16 team super conf)
4 teams left for a fball championship

Bball you control 64 teams and all the top say 30ish teams the NCAA wants in the torney.
You control all the TV money for fball and bball.
Now these 4 conf can tell the NCAA to off and the NCAA will have to go along or die by the wayside with substandard athletics from any of the teams not in the 64.

 

[Cusee44]

Jordoo,

Do you mind elaborating on how the superconferences would overpower the rulings of the NCAA (once they're all formed that is). What's the difference between now vs 4x superconferences?

 

[jordoo]

The super conferences would control the top 64 fball teams. Basically the only teams that matter. They have their own TV contracts they can then hook up and form their own playoff involving whatever bowls they desire including match ups with super conference runners up and second place divisional finishers leading up to the four team two week playoff. They control all the money and all the teams that matter. If they do not like what the NCAA is doing then they can threaten to take their 64 teams and do something else other than the NCAA in all sports. It starts with football but they would also control the most important bball schools as well and down into all sports.The NCAA would be dumb not to concede their demands to try and keep them because without them the NCAA is meaningless.

This would be well down the road but don't be naive and think that these big time big money schools are not sick of the NCAA.

 

[MooseHaas]

yeah, the whole purpose of this conference realignment shuffle is to eventually supersede the NCAA and set up a playoff for college football. I think 16 is the number because of the 2 divisions of 8 argument for scheduling in both football and basketball.

 

[PoppyHart]

yeah, the whole purpose of this conference realignment shuffle is to eventually supersede the NCAA and set up a playoff for college football. I think 16 is the number because of the 2 divisions of 8 argument for scheduling in both football and basketball.

It can't be about creating a playoff. They could have a playoff right now if they wanted one. Its the president's of the school who created the BCS structure after all.

If conferences break off, I think there's a very strong chance that Congress will finally step in and regulate matters under its commerce clause authority. The BCS has always been on the cusp of regulation, yet never reached the tipping point. An offshoot organization to the NCAA could severely limit competitive opportunities for the large majority of student-athletes and would likely be against public policies of equal access, opportunity, etc...

I could foresee something along the lines of Congress withholding financial aid for any school that breaks off. It would be akin to when the drinking age was raised to 21. States didn't have to accept it, but they forfeited highway funding if they opposed. TV revenues would not compensate for this loss.

 

[SBU72]

It can't be about creating a playoff. They could have a playoff right now if they wanted one. Its the president's of the school who created the BCS structure after all.

If conferences break off, I think there's a very strong chance that Congress will finally step in and regulate matters under its commerce clause authority. The BCS has always been on the cusp of regulation, yet never reached the tipping point. An offshoot organization to the NCAA could severely limit competitive opportunities for the large majority of student-athletes and would likely be against public policies of equal access, opportunity, etc...

I could foresee something along the lines of Congress withholding financial aid for any school that breaks off. It would be akin to when the drinking age was raised to 21. States didn't have to accept it, but they forfeited highway funding if they opposed. TV revenues would not compensate for this loss.

4 16 team superconferences breaking from the NCAA would be the first step to professional college football and basketball. They would change the rules so they don't have to put up with these silly NCAA investiagions. Get the NBA to chnage their drafting rules more like football ( after the junior year) would keep the best players "in college" and provide a better development / minor l eague than they already have.

 

[cuserulesall]

It can't be about creating a playoff. They could have a playoff right now if they wanted one. Its the president's of the school who created the BCS structure after all.

If conferences break off, I think there's a very strong chance that Congress will finally step in and regulate matters under its commerce clause authority. The BCS has always been on the cusp of regulation, yet never reached the tipping point. An offshoot organization to the NCAA could severely limit competitive opportunities for the large majority of student-athletes and would likely be against public policies of equal access, opportunity, etc...

I could foresee something along the lines of Congress withholding financial aid for any school that breaks off. It would be akin to when the drinking age was raised to 21. States didn't have to accept it, but they forfeited highway funding if they opposed. TV revenues would not compensate for this loss.

You don't have to worry about congress , They are broke .