The sky isn't falling but the window is tight

[B1GPonyFan]

The discussion of the P5 schools breaking off began at those conference media days in the summer of 2013. The commissioners had their talking points organized to go after the NCAA and weaken it further. They succeeded because they put the NCAA immediately on the defense.

Plus, every non-P5 school understood this was coming. Thursday's news was a mere formality with the exception of the official voting that grabbed the headlines.

You could say that even 25 years ago, San Jose State, ULL, UNT and Tulsa were never going to be a part whatever the new future was going to be.

For most of the schools in the AAC and MWC and BYU, there is a window to get their act in gear and make the case to be included. But the window to make the case for any inclusion is about 5-7 years IMO. And if SMU, Cincinnati, UConn, BYU and UCF (those types of schools) want to get in, they better have started last summer when they were given the warning.

Personally, I believe these 65 are going to find that there's not enough of them in this arrangement and inclusion will be needed -- in whatever shape that could be viewed. That could be more realignment. That could be 4 or 5 16-team power conferences. That could be just expansion where the Big 12 goes to 14 and the PAC 12 goes to 14. I'm just throwing that out there.

Now, you're probably thinking that these schools don't want to divide the financial pie even further. But we have no idea what future TV packages are going to look like so the money may be equitable in some form.

Time will tell but it's not over yet and those schools on the "doorstep" better be several phases into making sure they can find a chair when the music stops.

[peruna81]

somewhere, in some realm of eternity, Kenneth Pye is smiling that he finally achieved his goal of reducing SMU football to the back-burner of college football...aided, of course by willing minions in the administration and university community over the years.

Our 'window' is anorexic thin...we risk becoming the University of Chicago or Fordham in the future, and I am not sure that there is forward-thinking leadership in place that can or will commit to finding a place at the table. For those old enough to remember the old serial comic strip Pogo:

"we have met the enemy, and he is us"

[smupony94]

Mediocre football or kick [deleted] basketball hmmmm

[fifty]

What is our plan to be included? Does winning matter or do we just rely on the 'television sets' issue a la Rutgers?

[AusTxPony]

Is college football headed for a Professional Minor League Status. This does seem what the players want, i.e. being paid, being able to sell their names for cash, etc. So, so sad. Goodbye Student Athlete.

[couch 'em]

Pye couldhave easily been reversed. Turner et al did nothing but allow Copeland to lie to us. THE COMMITMENT indeed.

[fifty]

The chickens have come home to roost.

[smupony94]

Pye couldhave easily been reversed. Turner et al did nothing but allow Copeland to lie to us. THE COMMITMENT indeed.

why won't you choose the avatar I picked out for you

[couch 'em]

Get banned from CP the avatar goes with it