(01-02-2015 05:38 PM)XLance Wrote:  That proposal gives ESPN,the Big 12 and the ACC options for the future.
I still believe that at this point, everything hinges on Texas and where they end up.

After watching everything go down this year there are several things that I have to believe will be a priority for ESPN and to a lesser extent FOX.

1. While controversy is sometimes an interest driver the angst over the whole realignment issue has led to disinterest in the games. It is still very slight but perceptible. ESPN has been somewhat rightfully tagged as being a major player in the whole realignment mess. Now that their obvious pushing of certain schools for their own purposes have also been made central to public perception the need to distance themselves from the process would be in their best interest. While that distancing won't be actual, it needs to be perceived. The best way to accomplish that is to make sure that we move to a P4 conference champions only model as soon as possible. To do so will require the placement of the Big 12 schools. Once this is accomplished then each region of the national market will be represented annually in the playoffs just as they were this year. The elimination of the committee will help take the nation's eyes off of ESPN involvement. Permitting a structure to take over gives them further plausible deniability in the realignment issue. And the time is right to do this. Why?

2. Right now the major players in the Big 12 are very aware of their deficits and want change. To further reduce the P5 would be a bad idea. In fact the best thing that can be done right now is to elevate a few of the top G5 programs. The failure to do so will only increase the demands of the G5 for inclusion. So the placing of all of the present 10 members of the Big 12 plus the addition of key G5 schools is essential IMO to quelling the distaste that has been wrought by realignment.

3. To have everyone "all in" with 1 of the 4 conferences would be a huge plus. That should be a priority. However if we need a transitional stage, or if we have to compromise then working out a track for playoffs for independents that qualify would also be important.

The sooner everything is easily understood by the average fan the faster they will be back.

Considering that the Big 10 and SEC will both be interested in the same targets a compromise will have to be brokered by the networks, unless ESPN just decides to handle it all in house.