(05-08-2015 11:07 AM)msm96wolf Wrote: People forget that App State, Ga Southern and ODU were bowl eligible if there were open spots ahead of APR losing teams last year due to FCS transition. So it really is not fair to say only 81 would have been eligible when it should be 84.
Still with 82 teams now going to bowl games, you have to think the NCAA has to look at increasing the number of FBS teams to ensure more winning teams into the bowls. I know some people don't want to add teams but I think it is getting to where there is no choice. Probably the cheapest way is to allow for 8-10 independents to get to 135-37 to get it back only 60%. Have the CFP pay them a 1 million a year, I think 8 mil could easily be found for these schools for the CFP. Create an existing bowl spot for the independent that does not have an existing Bowl Tie-in. With the talk of the Austriala Bowl, let the Potato Bowl have the independent from the MWC.
Using 2013 numbers cutting off at 15K it would be 8 teams. To go along with UMASS, Army, BYU and soon to be Idaho and NMSU if SBC doesn't keep them.
Rank School G Attendance Average
3. James Madison 7 147,076 21,011
4. Southern U. 5 100,536 20,107
6. Montana St. 6 118,222 19,704
7. North Dakota St. 9 167,600 18,622
8. Delaware 7 126,754 18,108
9. Jackson St. 4 69,143 17,286
10. Jacksonville St. 7 110,695 15,814
A football only conference would be ideal .
A scheduling agreement for seven games would be just as good.
Having a independent championship game pitting the top two would make sense.
U Mass ,Idaho and NMSU would be the base of the group.
JSU ,Liberty ,JMU, and NDSU would be obvious candidates because they don't have a fit in FBS. JMU only because they are choosy the others geography or their being blocked.
You could write in rules like you must play six games against independents to be eligible for the championship game. That way BYU or especially Army could choose to join the group certain years.
The independent programs would benefit from a looser association.
Having a scheduling coordinator schedule six to eight games.
Also having the option to schedule more vs this group.
So a championship game or independent bowl before the bowl could look like this.
NDSU 8-4 and 5-2 vs indy group against U Mass 9-3 and 7-1 vs indy group.
The overall record is all that matters not conference games.
Play the game at the top ranked team and split the TV money between the group.
That is after paying the scheduling coordinator and travel for the other team.
Gives schools FBS options without sacrificing Olympic sports.
Forcing schools to choose poor option just to be FBS.