I think there is a chance that in the next 5-10 years the Power 5 conferences will develop into five 16 team conferences. I believe the momentum is building that they will only play each other. I just see the consensus moving in that direction among the Power 5 ADs and coaches, thus leaving the other conferences to form another tier 2 affiliation. There are now 64 Power 5 teams. That could mean that 16 teams could join the Power 5 to get to five 16 team conferences. Would NIU be one of them? I would think locks are Notre Dame, BYU, Boise,Cinnci,Memphis,Conn,Houston,Temple,Air Force,USF. That would leave 6 spots open. NIU might have a chance if they continue having a high profile, and do major stadium projects over the next 5-10 years. Time will tell.

This was one of the biggest red flags that went up when the BCS was dissolved. Strength of Schedule helps decide the playoff spots and the AD from the BIG has even mentioned that they are pushing to not play games outside the P5. It isn't a matter of if a two tier system will develop, its a matter of when.

This should surprise anyone since FBS and FCS (D-IA, D-IAA, D-II, D-III, NAIA) have existed since the beginning. Do I think NIU could be one of the top 16 with the right moves? yep. Do I think Five Power Conference of 12 is more likely, you bet.

PIPE DREAM THAT WILL NEVER HAPPEN: a two/three tier relegation system like soccer does in Europe. This would clean house on consistent bottom dwellers like Purdue/Indiana/UNC/Wake Forest/UConn/Colorado/Washington State etc. This would avoid calls of a monopoly on the playoff system and improve competitiveness.

(10-20-2014 09:00 AM)oilgasusa Wrote:  I think there is a chance that in the next 5-10 years the Power 5 conferences will develop into five 16 team conferences. I believe the momentum is building that they will only play each other. I just see the consensus moving in that direction among the Power 5 ADs and coaches, thus leaving the other conferences to form another tier 2 affiliation. There are now 64 Power 5 teams. That could mean that 16 teams could join the Power 5 to get to five 16 team conferences. Would NIU be one of them? I would think locks are Notre Dame, BYU, Boise,Cinnci,Memphis,Conn,Houston,Temple,Air Force,USF. That would leave 6 spots open. NIU might have a chance if they continue having a high profile, and do major stadium projects over the next 5-10 years. Time will tell.

Not a chance of five 16 team P5 conferences. Why would the P5 want to share the money they control with 16 more teams?

They won't. If there is a change, it will be a few current P5 teams being replaced, or a couple schools being added. No chance in hell the P5 is going to willingly add 16 schools and separate. They would prefer to keep things at 64 and just not schedule non-P5 teams before they are forced to add anyone.

(10-20-2014 09:27 AM)thehappyhuskie Wrote:  PIPE DREAM THAT WILL NEVER HAPPEN: a two/three tier relegation system like soccer does in Europe. This would clean house on consistent bottom dwellers like Purdue/Indiana/UNC/Wake Forest/UConn/Colorado/Washington State etc. This would avoid calls of a monopoly on the playoff system and improve competitiveness.

this is by far the best concept in all of sports. i would love to see this across the board in all leagues here in the USA.

It's a dumb idea -- but for the Conference TV Networks, they want their conferences NON-REGIONAL to get more viewing $$.

IF they decided to full-16 for all 5, the MAC teams won't be a real option. We live in the same zone as the B1G. So who will pick up a MAC team? B12 or ACC, most likely.

NIU could go to the B12 if they make their own channel -- to try and hit the Chicago area for that. But NIU can't (yet) muster up 25k fans. A P5 will want the ability to spill into the 40s, not the low-to-mid 20s. They want high ticket sales AND tv-viewers -- big fan base.

Conferences aren't set on who's a better team (directly). Basketball comes into it as well. Fans is #1. If NIU was 6-6 every year, and .500 in basketball in the MAC, but OMG -- had 65k fans for some reason loving them on average at home, and 10k fans for their basketball -- they'd already be picked up. It's all about the Fan Base, not the winning %. The winning % is to bring in the fan base & expansion to keep one.

Here's a HUGE breakdown on how the P5 could become a group of 5 conferences with 16 teams.

http://www.reddit.com/r/CFB/comments/2e3...onference/

Yeah, I think that's over the top, though. A lot of thought put into it -- but at the same time, it's not going to be money-worth-it, if the school has low-attendance & fans -- unless said area Would follow the other teams in the conference.

Basically it's:
B1G [+2]
SEC [+2]
ACC [+2]
PAC [+4]
B12 [+6] = 16 Teams Needed

A ridiculous move, if you ask me. You'd basically have to rape the AAC & MW, along with a few CUSA teams to get there.

A team would need 30k+ fans *a game* for multiple years (unless their Bball team was great, academics was very good, and football ready to expand).

I don't like the idea. 16 teams is too much. 14 is too much.

12 should be max. 13 for "temporary" reasons, etc. No sense in having 16 teams in a conference, at all. It's basically 2 small conferences in 1.