How about this for a conference?

[EvilMonkeyInTheCloset]

Hey, I did it! I can create threads!

Anyway, for my first order of business, it's time to tackle the most important issue of them all..........regional conference realignment.

We begin with this proposal for a conference. What if, instead of concentrating of specific regional pockets of the country, like an East or a northeast, and a geographical setting that runs east to west..........how about a conference that runs north and south?

I give you.........the Mississippi Valley Conference!


Mississippi Valley-
(North)
Minnesota
Wisconsin
Iowa
Iowa State
Illinois
Northwestern

(South)
Missouri
Memphis
Arkansas
LSU
Mississippi
Mississippi State

 

[Calhoun]

Back 15 years years or so ago, I started writing an article on what the college football landscape would have looked like had the various schools that either dropped or devalued football since the 1970s had stayed around at the FBS level. Most of them would have become/stayed mids, but then again I'd have never expected the Cincinnatis and Central Floridas of the college football world to be power conference schools. There would have been some imaginative conference memberships.

 

[bigred472]

Hey, I did it! I can create threads!

Anyway, for my first order of business, it's time to tackle the most important issue of them all..........regional conference realignment.

We begin with this proposal for a conference. What if, instead of concentrating of specific regional pockets of the country, like an East or a northeast, and a geographical setting that runs east to west..........how about a conference that runs north and south?

I give you.........the Mississippi Valley Conference!


Mississippi Valley-
(North)
Minnesota
Wisconsin
Iowa
Iowa State
Illinois
Northwestern

(South)
Missouri
Memphis
Arkansas
LSU
Mississippi
Mississippi State

TV markets won't buy it. You have exactly 1 as in one major (and consistantly good school in either of those divisions--LSU--very few viewers are going to give a **** about the rest.

 

[EvilMonkeyInTheCloset]

TV markets won't buy it. You have exactly 1 as in one major (and consistantly good school in either of those divisions--LSU--very few viewers are going to give a **** about the rest.

Just like very few viewers give a sh** about Indiana football..........

Also, we don't care what TV markets will and won't buy here at EvilMonkey Incorporated because TV markets are full of horse sh** specially shipped in from the state of Wisconsin.

The casual fans/viewers can pull their pants down and sit on a gallon's worth of thumb tacks, as far as I'm concerned. They no longer get to drive decision-making in this sport..................

 

[Halfmilluratrojan]

Cool to think about but those days are long gone.

 

[EvilMonkeyInTheCloset]

Cool to think about but those days are long gone.

Are they now?...............





Yes, I know things.

 

[Calhoun]

TV markets won't buy it. You have exactly 1 as in one major (and consistantly good school in either of those divisions--LSU--very few viewers are going to give a **** about the rest.

This is why a separate, mid-major CFP-type playoff/championship game will never happen. Who's going to watch nationally? Who is going to pay top advertising dollars sponsoring games with schools that play predominantly in very small markets without national appeal? Wyo v. Ark St? I wouldn't expect a lot of Clydesdales during commercial breaks.

Ironically, the handful of mids in major TV markets are largely ignored in those markets. UNT/Dallas? Less than 20K/game average attendance over the past five years. Similar numbers for Temple/Philly and Rice/Houston over the past five years. NIU/Chicago? Less than 10K/per game over the same period. Pro cities were top flight high school games can outdraw their mid-major schools, especially in TX.

 

[bigred472]

Just like very few viewers give a sh** about Indiana football..........

Also, we don't care what TV markets will and won't buy here at EvilMonkey Incorporated because TV markets are full of horse sh** specially shipped in from the state of Wisconsin.

The casual fans/viewers can pull their pants down and sit on a gallon's worth of thumb tacks, as far as I'm concerned. They no longer get to drive decision-making in this sport..................

The casual fans are what is costing college football. Put them in conferences with a few "major" football teams in a conference and you'd have money-makers. As it is you have basically two conferences (now) that have all the big schools and no one gives a crap about the rest.

 

[EvilMonkeyInTheCloset]

This is why a separate, mid-major CFP-type playoff/championship game will never happen. Who's going to watch nationally? Who is going to pay top advertising dollars sponsoring games with schools that play predominantly in very small markets without national appeal? Wyo v. Ark St? I wouldn't expect a lot of Clydesdales during commercial breaks.

Ironically, the handful of mids in major TV markets are largely ignored in those markets. UNT/Dallas? Less than 20K/game average attendance over the past five years. Similar numbers for Temple/Philly and Rice/Houston over the past five years. NIU/Chicago? Less than 10K/per game over the same period. Pro cities were top flight high school games can outdraw their mid-major schools, especially in TX.

What's the lowest level team/college football division you've watched on television?

The ACC? The Big 12?

Anything lower than that? Remember kids......Drake is just the name of a rapper. Elon is the name of a rich psychopath.

Totally not also programs in a football level below the FBS that has their own playoff that airs on national television and everything..................just sayin.

 

[Calhoun]

What's the lowest level team/college football division you've watched on television?

The ACC? The Big 12?

Anything lower than that? Remember kids......Drake is just the name of a rapper. Elon is the name of a rich psychopath.

Totally not also programs in a football level below the FBS that has their own playoff that airs on national television and everything..................just sayin.

Do JuCo and NAIA playoffs count? Have watched both, on TV and in person. You haven't lived until you've spent a cold, snowy early December Saturday afternoon in Ft Wayne, IN, with a few thousand rabid University of St Francis fans. Ever seen a cheering section of elderly nuns? Great Mexican bakery just up the road.

Of course lower levels of college football have playoffs, never said they didn't. The point was there would never be a a seperate mid CFP-type playoff, meaning with the type of money/resourses/interest we see with the current system. It would be akin to the IAA playoffs, where teams lose money and TV numbers are meh. Lower levels are worse yet.

FCS playoffs are a financial drain for most of the 24 teams. Could private equity change that? | FOX Sports FCS playoffs are a financial drain for most of the 24 teams. Could private equity change that? | FOX Sports

Can't see the mids supporting the idea either. In the current system they get at least one CFP team from G5, but more importantly all G5 schools get a couple millions from the CFP pot. That can be 5-10% of a small school's total athletic budget. The CFP G5 team(s) that make the playoff make an additional $4M, plus $3M for expenses. Their take only grows as/if they advance. As a whole, at least financially, I can't see many, if any, G5 league/school faring better with a G5 playoff.

 

[EvilMonkeyInTheCloset]

Of course lower levels of college football have playoffs, never said they didn't.

No, but you should have said they did........

The point was there would never be a a seperate mid CFP-type playoff, meaning with the type of money/resourses/interest we see with the current system.

Why would anyone expect it would?........That's not the point of breaking away.


Or being forced to if the SEC and B10 is allowed to control the playoff.

I'm just trying to figure out how you don't see a path to a G5 tournament because those "mid-majors" were essentially forced to become their own subdivision. I mean there's multiple ways it could easily happen.

You don't think it will happen because of money. I don't WANT it to happen because it's not what's best for CFB. That doesn't mean it simply won't happen.

It would be akin to the IAA playoffs, where teams lose money and TV numbers are meh. Lower levels are worse yet.

Guess they should've thought about that before ALL lower levels outside of the major college division (D1/FBS) started doing this playoff format decades and decades and decades ago............................amirite?

FCS playoffs are a financial drain for most of the 24 teams. Could private equity change that? | FOX Sports FCS playoffs are a financial drain for most of the 24 teams. Could private equity change that? | FOX Sports

Well, how long have they been a financial drain on the schools? And why?........

If the answer is simply, since we started paying the players, well then there's your f***ing problem. Oh and yes the genie CAN in fact be put back in the f***ing bottle. It really isn't that hard. Some people of an unspecified age are just gonna have to swallow their **** pride.

The article didn't really specify how long it's cost teams money to participate in the playoffs, though, unless I missed it. And oh d-d-d-dear, Montana State lost $40,000 for winning a national championship...............guess we better blow the whole f***ing up.

Or, ya know, schedule Washington the next year for a cool $1.2 million paycheck.


"Well yeah but what about when the P4 schools stop allowing themselves to schedule FCS teams?"

And I'm glad you brought that up! Look at you trying to invite the worst possible scenarios into everything. It's nice.

So now let's turn our attention to what caught my eye the most in that article. Why does the NCAA get to take 85% of the revenue generated from the playoff games Montana State hosted?..........Seems to me like that'd be the best starting point to fix your "money" "problems" (as I say this all while sitting back in my reclining chair munching on some chips).

Just sayin'.

Can't see the mids supporting the idea either.

Again......who says they're gonna have a choice?

In the current system they get at least one CFP team from G5, but more importantly all G5 schools get a couple millions from the CFP pot. That can be 5-10% of a small school's total athletic budget. The CFP G5 team(s) that make the playoff make an additional $4M, plus $3M for expenses. Their take only grows as/if they advance. As a whole, at least financially, I can't see many, if any, G5 league/school faring better with a G5 playoff.

Here's a sort of lengthy article from 2024 that argues for a "G5" playoff. Spoiler, it doesn't really go into how that playoff would work from a statistically financial standpoint, nor does it layout a hypothetical format. It's merely an argument for why it should exist.

 

[Calhoun]

There is little money is lower levels of college football because it's what the market will bear. It's been that way a long time. That's why we're seeing so many 1AA teams moving up to mid major FBS level. Since the COVID season, there have been at least 7-8 teams move up, including ND St and Sac St this year.

If ousted from the current CFP system without their agreement, the choice the mids have is legal. Being the victim is all the rage these days, and with a bit of judge shopping they could throw the proverbial spanner in the works of the CFP. Would they do that? Don't know, could be individual decisions by conferences/schools.

 

[Wamu]

Hey, I did it! I can create threads!

Anyway, for my first order of business, it's time to tackle the most important issue of them all..........regional conference realignment.

We begin with this proposal for a conference. What if, instead of concentrating of specific regional pockets of the country, like an East or a northeast, and a geographical setting that runs east to west..........how about a conference that runs north and south?

I give you.........the Mississippi Valley Conference!


Mississippi Valley-
(North)
Minnesota
Wisconsin
Iowa
Iowa State
Illinois
Northwestern

(South)
Missouri
Memphis
Arkansas
LSU
Mississippi
Mississippi State

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As a fan of the BigTen, with the exception of that truck stop in ann arbor, don't want to see the conference change like that.

 

[EvilMonkeyInTheCloset]

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As a fan of the BigTen, with the exception of that truck stop in ann arbor, don't want to see the conference change like that.

Well what about this?

(North)
Michigan
Michigan State
Ohio State
Cincinnati
Indiana
Purdue
Notre Dame

(South)
Kentucky
Louisville
Tennessee
Vanderbilt
Memphis
Alabama
Auburn

 

[Wamu]

Well what about this?

(North)
Michigan
Michigan State
Ohio State
Cincinnati
Indiana
Purdue
Notre Dame

(South)
Kentucky
Louisville
Tennessee
Vanderbilt
Memphis
Alabama
Auburn

North- get rid of N.D. and Cincy and replace them with Pitt and WV. The Backyard Brawl! Okay geographically it really doesn't fit but I have always liked that rivalry.

South- get rid or Bama and Aurburn and replace with Carolina and dook. N. Carolina closer to KY & TN.

 

[EvilMonkeyInTheCloset]

North- get rid of N.D. and Cincy and replace them with Pitt and WV. The Backyard Brawl! Okay geographically it really doesn't fit but I have always liked that rivalry.

South- get rid or Bama and Aurburn and replace with Carolina and dook. N. Carolina closer to KY & TN.

I like it. Just that the point of the hypothetical was instead of look at a regional cluster or east to west.....what if we simply took a small strip of the country and went border to border north and south.

A few conferences already do, or did, this.

 

[Wamu]

I like it. Just that the point of the hypothetical was instead of look at a regional cluster or east to west.....what if we simply took a small strip of the country and went border to border north and south.

A few conferences already do, or did, this.

As an Iowa fan how you like the old Pac 12 teams in the BigTen? I can't stand it. Here's a bad/stupid idea. To extend the conference footprint why not add Hawaii?