Super Conferences Emerge

[Water Pony]

Five Super Conferences of Sixteen (8 Schools in 10 Divisions): Total 80 BCS Schools

SEC A+

Florida
South Carolina
Georgia
Tennessee
Vanderbilt
Kentucky
Alabama
Auburn
Mississippi
Miss. State
LSU
Arkansas
Texas
Texas A&M
Oklahoma
Louisville

Big Ten(Sixteen) A

Penn State
Ohio State
Michigan
Michigan State
Indiana
Purdue
Illinois
Northwestern
Wisconsin
Minnesota
Iowa
Missouri
Nebraska
Cincinnati
Syracuse
Pittsburgh

PAC Ten/Sixteen A

Washington
Washington State
Oregon
Oregon State
Cal
Stanford
USC
UCLA
Arizona
Arizona State
Utah
BYU
Colorado
Texas Tech
Oklahoma State

Big XII/ Great Plains B
Kansas
Kansas State
Iowa State
Baylor
TCU
SMU
Houston
Tulsa
Tulane
Memphis
Rice
Boise State
New Mexico
Air Force
Colorado State
Wyoming

ACC B+

Miami
Florida State
Georgia Tech
Clemson
North Carolina
NC State
Wake Forest
Virginia
Virginia Tech
Maryland
West Virginia
Boston College
East Carolina
Rutgers
South Fla.
Central Fla.

Big East = Basketball

CUSA/MAC/MWC divide the balance (sorry So. Miss, UAB, Marshall, San Diego State, Fresno State, UTEP, etc.

Notre Dame, Navy and Army remain independent

[that's great raplh]

What about ULM
?

[CalallenStang]

How did you come up with all of that?

[Water Pony]

The internet made me do it.

Rather than extend BCS to MWC, substract Big East FB and add stronger programs to 5 BCS conferences. Extend SEC into Texas and take Oka., while aligning Nebraska and Missouri with Big Ten, plus eastern school additions.

SEC and Big Ten control dollars and get to take first picks, like a draft. XII is divided most north and south into Big Ten and SEC, with exception of Kansas schools.

Pac Ten gets Utah schools, Colorado plus other western Big X11 schools.

[CalallenStang]

The internet made me do it.

Greatest post of all time nomination.

[Stallion]

if the big schools didn't have to worry about controlling a majority of NCAA Division 1A schools, this probably would have happened already. What they really want are Super Conferences of about the Top 40 or so schools in the Country in conferences of 8-9. Basically a College NFL. Why split the pie with the Iowa St, Vandy, Northwestern, Oregon St, and of course the Big East. They'd probably play 7-8 conference games because they'd need non-conference home games to pad their records. Don't underestimate the greed involved with these big schools. But if they ever lose majority control of the sport they would face some tough issues-like splitting from the NCAA which might lead to them losing their Section 501(c)(3) tax exempt status from the IRS. But rest assured majority control has to be factored into an analysis of the BCS, expansion or splitting from the NCAA

[smupony94]

Damn, I thought this was about Super Tramp

[ponyinNC]

........get real

[AusTxPony]

Stallion, if what you say happened, wouldn't the players organize into a Union and demand being paid performance fees and bonuses? Say, as semi-pro Farm Teams?

[Charleston Pony]

the so called "super conferences" have been discussed for years and if/when it happens, it certainly will not include the number of teams listed above. I agree with Stallion on this one...it will be all about the "big boys" and will be revenue/budget driven.

I've always heard the number 64, but that does seem like too many. More like 32. Living over here in ACC country, it's difficult for me to imagine Duke/Carolina no longer being a conference game. That's just one reason this hasn't happened...yet.

What is clear is that Baylor has no business trying to compete with Texas. If this does happen in my lifetime, I look forward to the reformation of the SWC where SMU, TCU & Baylor are all conference mates again, although I suppose the SWC will be one of the "super conferences". We will have to think of a name for our new grouping.

[Mestengo]

Damn, I thought this was about Super Tramp

After reading it I'm going to take the long way home.

[1983 Cotton Bowl]

[quote="Stallion"]if the big schools didn't have to worry about controlling a majority of NCAA Division 1A schools, this probably would have happened already. What they really want are Super Conferences of about the Top 40 or so schools in the Country in conferences of 8-9. Basically a College NFL. Why split the pie with the Iowa St, Vandy, Northwestern, Oregon St, and of course the Big East. They'd probably play 7-8 conference games because they'd need non-conference home games to pad their records. Don't underestimate the greed involved with these big schools. But if they ever lose majority control of the sport they would face some tough issues-like splitting from the NCAA which might lead to them losing their Section 501(c)(3) tax exempt status from the IRS. But rest assured majority control has to be factored into an analysis of the BCS, expansion or splitting from the NCAA[/quote]


Bingo

[ponyscott]

Its not greed, its about survival. Its just the evolution of the NCAA and the TV contracts that go along with that. The travel costs are going to get worse and its felt everywhere from BCS to non BCS schools. This coming realignment of conferences will be a last major shake out with huge implications to many schools around the country.
We really can't discount the fact that SMU is in the 5th ( with huge growth potential) largest TV market in the country and agree that the smaller state schools and/or private schools such as the Oregon States (Corvalis), Baylors (Waco), Iowa States, etc could drag down some conferences because of their limited TV markets and fan base, but do have to look at schools like Northwestern (Chicago), Georgia Tech (Atlanta), Vandy( Nashville) that do have some power because they are in major TV markets for exposure.
It will be interesting to see how the politics play out in the next few years as the AD's and the respective college Presidents will have to be on top of their games and stay out in front or you could get buried in a minor conference with no relief for years to come, fiscally.

[Stallion]

Right now SMU has no TV market-that's why we have been getting 15,000 for attendance-we are finally moving in the right direction but let's don't kid ourselves. Probably our biggest strength right now for a non-Big 12 conference would probably be access to our recruiting backyard. The only way we build a TV market is to the capture the imagination of the area and country with an exciting style of play(ala the Hawaii/Tech/Boise leading the Country in Total Offense) or huge upsets of top programs (ala Fresno/TCU/Boise) have had that in the past). Usually this takes 6-10 years before a team gets that reputation although we kinda of bought the June Jones trademark with associated built up good will, reputation etc. But to do this we need to step up and not be afraid to challenge the top programs in Texas and the Country. We could go 10 years beating Rice, Tulsa, UTEP, Texas State, etc and nobody in Dallas is going to give a damn about SMU. That's why I've never been overly concerned about TCU or other teams on our schedule having a strong national profile. I WANT TCU TO HAVE A STRONG NATIONAL PROFILE because its one of the few games-maybe the only game on our schedule in some years we we can actually get some national reputation and credit if we beat them. You've got to challenge and beat top national programs-nobody will give a damn about SMU going 7-5 or 8-4 beating the teams in our conference.

[Water Pony]

Right now SMU has no TV market-that's why we have been getting 15,000 for attendance-we are finally moving in the right direction but let's don't kid ourselves. Probably our biggest strength right now for a non-Big 12 conference would probably be access to our recruiting backyard. The only way we build a TV market is to the capture the imagination of the area and country with an exciting style of play(ala the Hawaii/Tech/Boise leading the Country in Total Offense) or huge upsets of top programs (ala Fresno/TCU/Boise) have had that in the past). Usually this takes 6-10 years before a team gets that reputation although we kinda of bought the June Jones trademark with associated built up good will, reputation etc. But to do this we need to step up and not be afraid to challenge the top programs in Texas and the Country. We could go 10 years beating Rice, Tulsa, UTEP, Texas State, etc and nobody in Dallas is going to give a damn about SMU. That's why I've never been overly concerned about TCU or other teams on our schedule having a strong national profile. I WANT TCU TO HAVE A STRONG NATIONAL PROFILE because its one of the few games-maybe the only game on our schedule in some years we we can actually get some national reputation and credit if we beat them. You've got to challenge and beat top national programs-nobody will give a damn about SMU going 7-5 or 8-4 beating the teams in our conference.

Well said, Stallion. We need to go big game hunting and earn our 'stripes'. Also, the student body needs to feel we are relevant. Their enthusiam is improving, but a long way from making Ford Stadium a place for visitors to fear. We need Ford Phanatics and well travel to BCS schools, if we can schedule them. Beating TCU is a start, assuming they maintain their level of play and not digress.