What UEFA cannot accomplish, I have faith the SEC, eh-hem, the NCAA can. With the most recent shake-ups for the SEC, Big 12, and American, it would be naïve to think this is the end. First of all, let's start with this as an assumption/basis of argument: There are too many FBS (D-1 for us oldies) schools, currently standing at 130, and the interest and competition is driven by a select few. Meaning, there are roughly 20 schools that really drive the discussion, and anyone else is a blessed invitee to the party. As a graduate of one of these lucky invitees (TCU), I do not make that admission lightly as I am painfully aware of what it feels like to be a very good team, maybe great team, in a "rest of 5" conference, but it's a reality that the money is driven by the blue bloods: Bama, OU, Auburn, Florida, Clemson, Georgia, Texas, USC, Ohio State, Michigan, Notre Dame, LSU for certain...Florida State, Miami, Oregon, A&M, Wisconsin, Penn State, UCLA?, BYU?
The above list is 20 schools, and I think we could have some very healthy barstool arguments on the final 9. The easy thing to do would be to just separate those 16-20 schools and just say that's the Super Conference - much like the Super League was attempting to do. In that world, you could even introduce something like relegation and promotion. I love that idea, but it's never going to happen...too many politicians and too many backroom handshake agreements. So, in lieu of a single conference semi-professional mega conference, let's talk where I truly think we are going...FOUR semi-professional mega conferences that lead to a 12-16 team playoff. This will consist of 20 teams per conference and there will be no ability to deviate from that number. No more Big 10 with 14 schools, SEC with 16 schools, Pac 12 with 12, and Big 12 with 10. It's uneven and lazy. Here is the other catch...If you just threw a hissy fit and jumped affiliations, I am not going to kick you out. So, Texas and OU will remain part of the SEC in any iteration of this pipe dream. It should also be noted that these conferences would apply to basketball as well, but other sports would be open to additions/exception as already exists with Baseball, Soccer, etc. Without further adieu, from west to east with new schools in bold italics...
The PAC (no numbers needed) will henceforth consist of the following schools:
Arizona
Arizona State
Boise State
BYU
California
Colorado
Colorado State
Fresno State
Hawaii
Nevada
Oregon
Oregon State
San Diego State
Stanford
UCLA
UNLV
USC
Utah
Washington
Washington State
The artist formerly known as the BIG 10 - my suggestions include the Great Plains Conference, or the Central Athletic Conference will consist of:
Baylor
Cincinnati
Houston
Indiana
Illinois
Iowa
Iowa State
Kansas
Kansas State
Michigan
Michigan State
Minnesota
Nebraska
Northwestern
Ohio State
Purdue
SMU
TCU
Texas Tech
Wisconsin
The SEC would remain the SEC in name and be constructed of the following:
Alabama
Arkansas
Auburn
Florida
Florida State
Georgia
Georgia Tech
Kentucky
LSU
Miami
Mississippi State
Missouri
Oklahoma
Oklahoma State
Ole Miss
Tennessee
Texas
Texas A&M
UCF
USF
The ACC would remain the ACC (as there are no numbers and their geography makes sense) but would see some significant changes as well as some liberties with the geography:
Boston College
Clemson
Coastal Carolina
Duke
East Carolina
Louisville
Maryland
Memphis
Navy
NC State
North Carolina
Notre Dame
Penn State
Pittsburgh
Rutgers
South Carolina
Syracuse
Virginia
Virginia Tech
West Virginia
Notables left out of the top 80:
Air Force, Army, Marshall, North Texas, Rice, San Jose State, Southern Miss, Utah State, UTEP, Vanderbilt, Western Kentucky (only because of the mascot), Wyoming, as well as whatever your alma mater is that just made you yell at your computer screen. Sorry, not sorry.
Look honestly at the top 80 and tell me that isn't plenty. It's more than plenty. It accounts for some recent history including programs that are really investing in their athletic programs (Coastal Carolina to name one) and it pressure tests history, because clearly, no one really cares any way. So yeah, sorry, Penn State is moving to the ACC. Schools in the same state are going to be in the same conference (why the heck shouldn't they be!?!). And at the end of the day, somewhere between 12 and 16 schools (3 to 4 from each conference and it would be a SET AMOUNT) would create one heck of a playoff. No interconference play prior to that. 12 in conference games. 9 against your division and 3 against the other division in your conference. Don't tell me it's not enough...it works for the SEC EVERY YEAR. So kick and scream and tell me I'm wrong, but the above totally works. We don't need 130 football teams. We probably don't need 80, but, since I crave crazy, we have to preserve some of it.
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