Is the Super 64 NCAA Football Party Already Set?

[PhoenixHawk]

Then why isn't there one now?

Yeah, they can't agree to a playoff now as they would be forced to share too much of the access and $ with all the nobodies that bring nothing to the table as far as revenue. Only by cutting out the MAC, CUSA, and Sunbelts of the world would the BCS conferences get to keep enough of the $ from a playoff system, as well as have one that is straightforward and manageable enough.

First round: Conference championship game.

Semifinals between 4 champs.

You need to break off from the bottom FBS teams to do that, so that's why the creation of a new D1+ football division for the BCS teams. Four conferences, since 4 works in a playoff, six doesn't. Rationale for creation of a new division can't be sold on simple greed, so paying players is used instead.

 

[hawkinn3]

With 64 teams and only 4 super conferences why do we even need the NCAA? Play an all conference schedule and keep the bowls but let every team go to one, the point being you get to see your team play a non-conference team. The conference champs play a 4 team playoff and we crown an imaginary NC(like we do now).

Bowls are and always have been exhibitions so each conference can organize as they see fit and institute their own rules.

 

[SirEdHightower]

Pretty Simple.

If they go to 4 super-conferences, the 4 conference champions have a playoff for the national championship(plus 1) and the rest of the bowls stay rocking. Win-win-win-win all around.

 

[TecmoSuperHawk]

Pretty Simple.

If they go to 4 super-conferences, the 4 conference champions have a playoff for the national championship(plus 1) and the rest of the bowls stay rocking. Win-win-win-win all around.

You're living in a fantasy world and if people believe this is a reason to support 16 team super conferences, it's a shame. 16 team conferences are a horrible, horrible idea and ultimately they will fail. Remember, the presidents decide what format is used to determine the national champion, they have resisted a playoff for 100 years, they are not about to agree to one now, super conferences or not.

 

[silvanthalas]

Posted this elsewhere, but I could see the likes of a Big East going beyond 16 to scoop up any remaining BCS teams if this thing goes supernova.

No matter what the Big East does, they're not going to have the big programs to demand big TV money. So, I could see them going for bust.

 

[troy]

Each Conference will be like an NCAA basketball region bracket. The conference champions are the FINAL FOUR. You can also expand each league to 18 or 20 teams with this format. Just add one team to each division every time you expand. You could grow the tournament to 72 or 80 teams.

 

[JonDMiller]

No way can an NCAA sanctioned title come from half the FBS division. Lawsuits will abound.

 

[HawkeyeMike23]

No way can an NCAA sanctioned title come from half the FBS division. Lawsuits will abound.

Why does it have to be recognized by the NCAA? The BCS winner is already not recognized by the NCAA.

 

[SDK46]

A playoff will make more money and cut out all the middle men. It will happen.

+1!

Anything that facilitates a playoff to determine a true NC is a huge step forward.

 

[JHHawk]

I am against the superconference concept. A conference ceases to be a conference at that point. It would just be the AFC/NFC. Iowa would only play 2 out of division games a year,even after going to a 9 game slate? Ridiculous. If you play home and away with out of division teams,that means Iowa could go 8 years without playing Wisconsin or OSU. That is not a conference, it is a Legends conference with an out of conference arrangement to play the Leaders schools every 8 years...that sucks.

The Big Ten has plenty of cards to play in this game,with 12 teams,and the BTN. The Big Ten does not have to dance to the tune of the Pac 16...screw them and the SEC. They can do what they want,but the Big Ten is just fine with their 12.

 

[SDK46]

Pretty Simple.

If they go to 4 super-conferences, the 4 conference champions have a playoff for the national championship(plus 1) and the rest of the bowls stay rocking. Win-win-win-win all around.

Right on.

The idea a playoff will somehow destroy the already bloated 35-game bowl quagmire is silly. Runners-up playing each other in the Rose Bowl for example would still be great football.

 

[kuhntz]

Jon,

What is peoples obsession with going to 16 team conferences? You keep saying that you believe its a matter of when.....but it really wouldn't be a conference anymore...I'd much rather keep playing the leaders division teams from the B10 than a bunch of left overs from the B12, ACC, or Big East who would fill out an expanded Legends division.

It would also destroy what makes college football so from the NFL ...

 

[CAARHawk]

What if the B1G added 4 teams and aligned the divisions so that Iowa's division included 7 original members? How about if UM and MSU were put in the other division? After all, Michigan left the conference and MSU was the last original member to join.

The split would be UM, MSU, PSU, Nebby, and 4 Newcomers.

Then OSU, Wisky, Minny, Purdue, Indy, NW, Illinois, and Iowa.

Would that make you tradition folks happy?

 

[eyekwah]

What if the B1G added 4 teams and aligned the divisions so that Iowa's division included 7 original members? How about if UM and MSU were put in the other division? After all, Michigan left the conference and MSU was the last original member to join.

The split would be UM, MSU, PSU, Nebby, and 4 Newcomers.

Then OSU, Wisky, Minny, Purdue, Indy, NW, Illinois, and Iowa.

Would that make you tradition folks happy?

No. A collection of 16 of anything is a conglomeration. With four conglomerations you end up with a restricted market. A restricted market results in a poorer product at higher costs. It is difficult to watch proponents of large conferences not weigh the negative consequences of that action. Tradition has nothing to do with it. This is common business sense. Too big is too big.

The college landscape is completely different from the formation of the earliest conferences. There are Universities that formed in the last 50 years that are larger and more academically prestigious than some in the old guard. Grandfathering in a University because of its allegiance to one BCS conference it joined 100 years ago is patently wrong. You are telling growing colleges that they can never be equal enough to join this select group of 64 or whatever magic number.

 

[TecmoSuperHawk]

I have yet to hear one reason why people think 16 team conferences is a good idea. I guess other then those that actually think this will result in a playoff. I'll say it a thousand times until people understand, this will NOT result in a playoff anytime in the near future. It will simply restrict the flow of money to an even more privileged few, open up the potential for lawsuits, potentially disrupt the entire NCAA system, make the sport of college football a survival of the fittest (one which Iowa cannot win by the way) and kill rivalries that have existed for 100 years or more.

 

[NewMexHawk]

I would be perfectly happy only playing osu every 5 or 6 years. The way osu owns Iowa and has for six decades or longer...good riddance IMO. I am 62 years old and have watched or listened to Iowa beat osu about six times in MY LIFETIME. If Iowa is put in the same bracket as osu, Iowa is simply screwed and will never play in the championship game. It is about as simple as that. Wisconsin now, is another matter. I would love to have them in our division.

 

[NewMexHawk]

Tecmo...do you think it is possible that four superconferences would go for a playoff?

 

[TecmoSuperHawk]

Tecmo...do you think it is possible that four superconferences would go for a playoff?

I think a playoff will happen someday, but not until at least a generation passes and there is a changing of the guard of those in the position of power to make this happen, i.e. conference commissioners and university presidents. The closest thing to a playoff in the next 10 years would be a plus 1 model, but that is not a sure thing to happen. But I think this happens super conferences or not. And for the number of other reasons I've listed, super conferences are just a terrible idea.

 

[SirJamaLot]

I think a playoff will happen someday, but not until at least a generation passes and there is a changing of the guard of those in the position of power to make this happen, i.e. conference commissioners and university presidents. The closest thing to a playoff in the next 10 years would be a plus 1 model, but that is not a sure thing to happen. But I think this happens super conferences or not. And for the number of other reasons I've listed, super conferences are just a terrible idea.

If TV decides to spend enough money the presidents will accept the extra cash in a heartbeat and say it is in the best interest of the students. It is always about money and always will be.

 

[SirJamaLot]

I don't think its a matter of kicking anyone out. The Big Ten, Pac 12 and SEC will 'control' three of the four leagues...which bodes well for a Vanderbilt. There will be another league that is sort of a hybrid Big East/ACC and other leftovers.

Nice article Jon, I agree with your premise about 4 superconferences but disagree with the number 64. I cant see Vandy, Duke, Wake Forest, Northwestern, ect getting kicked out. Maybe the number will be 68 or 70, with some conferences having 18 teams. plus I hope ISU survives and ends up in a big 12-big east combination

Personally Im against it, but if it has to happen I would prefer Mo., ND, Kansas(great BB tradition), and Boston College, but Im pretty sure they are not going to ask me for my opinion.