Last week we presented what we think is a plausible playoff scenario that both the 'Eye and the 'Eer could live with. Well after giving it some more thought, and starting to like our idea even more, we wanted to take it step further.
Instead of using the BCS, we propose consolidating the current 11 conferences (and three independents) into the Super 8 conferences. The three losers are the Mountain West, Sun Belt and Western Athletic conferences -- stop the griping now because it makes the most sense when you see how everything shakes out. Also, no institutions are allowed to remain independent (suck it Notre Dame and NBC).
Some decisions were made because they made geographic sense, while others were the best fit for the conference. There was also an attempt not to make a Super Conference or two so everyone can compete on a level playing field in recruiting as well as for TV contracts (ESPN should love this set up). Every conference has 14 teams except Conference USA, which is too big (18 teams) and clearly the weakest conference (Fresno State and Troy are the top two), but the teams will have a brutal conference schedule and the champion would make the playoffs.
With the Super 8 conferences, a 16-team playoff is a realistic expectation and teams that don't win their conference still get a shot at the National Championship.
The Mid-American Conference is the least impacted of all with just the addition of Army from the independent ranks, while the ACC (Central Florida and East Carolina) and SEC (Southern Mississippi and Tulane) landscapes each welcome two additional schools.
The Big 10 is the big winner with the strongest newcomers-- Notre Dame, Nebraska and Missouri. The Big East has the biggest growth spurt from eight teams to 14, however two of the new teams are currently in the conference in all other sports but football. Villanova and Georgetown upgrade from FCS teams and play in the North Division, while the South adds Florida Atlantic, Marshall, Memphis and Navy.
The Big 12 is also reshaped by adding Air Force, Colorado State, Houston, Rice and TCU. Oklahoma and Oklahoma State also move to the North to balance the power. The Pac-10's growth includes one from the Big 12 (Colorado), one from WAC (Boise State) and two from the MWC (BYU and Utah).
Give us another week and we may want to make some additional tweaks, but today this is how we would like to see the Super 8 conferences take shape. Take a look below and let us know what you think.
ACC
Atlantic
Boston College
Central Florida
Clemson
Florida State
Maryland
North Carolina State
Wake Forest
Coastal
Duke
East Carolina
Georgia Tech
Miami
North Carolina
Virginia
Virginia Tech
Big 12
North
Air Force
Colorado State
Iowa State
Kansas
Kansas State
Oklahoma
Oklahoma State
South
Houston
Rice
Baylor
TCU
Texas
Texas A&M
Texas Tech
Big East North Cincinnati
Connecticut
Georgetown
Pittsburgh
Rutgers
Syracuse
Villanova
South
Florida Atlantic
Louisville
Marshall
Memphis
Navy
South Florida
West Virginia
Big Ten
East Indiana
Michigan
Michigan State
Northwestern
Notre Dame
Penn State
Wisconsin
West Illinois
Iowa
Minnesota
Missouri
Nebraska
Ohio State
Purdue
Conference USA
East
Arkansas State
Florida International
Louisiana-Lafayette
Louisiana-Monroe
Louisiana Tech
Middle Tennessee State
North Texas
Southern Methodist
Troy
Western Kentucky
Tulsa
UAB
West
Fresno State
Hawaii
Idaho
Nevada
New Mexico
New Mexico State
San Diego State
San Jose State
UNLV
Utah State
UTEP
Wyoming
Mid-American
East
Akron
Army
Bowling Green
Buffalo
Kent State
Ohio
Temple
West
Ball State
Central Michigan
Eastern Michigan
Miami (Ohio)
Northern Illinois
Toledo
Western Michigan
Pac-10 North Boise State
BYU
Oregon
Oregon State
Utah
Washington
Washington State
South
Arizona
Arizona State
California
Colorado
Stanford
UCLA
USC
SEC
East
Florida
Georgia
Kentucky
South Carolina
Tennessee
Tulane
Vanderbilt
West
Alabama
Arkansas
Auburn
LSU
Mississippi
Mississippi State
Southern Mississippi
Posts
2 comments:
EYE & EER:
I think your idea for the conferences has merit. I wish you guys would make this proposal to the NCAA. I want you guys to lay claim or whatever it takes to make sure no one can steal your idea. I would make one change if it is possible. I would include a conference of the following schools:
Wake Forest; Duke; Villanova; Navy; Army; Tulane; Air Force; Rice; Purdue; Northwestern; Stanford and Georgetown. This would keep the academicians happy. I don't know how you would do it but I am sure you guys can figure it out. There may be a few other teams that would meet the qualifications to get into this conference. Temple, TCU and maybe a few others.
Thanks Anonymous. We believe it's a well-thought out plan and may make too much sense for the NCAA. The only obstacle we see to success is the massive C-USA. It could work, though, because that's the remaining teams and this could help them level the playing field by arguing to recruits, etc. that we get a shot at the title also.
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