This is not a thread about who goes, who doesn't, more about what I believe is the final round of college football realignment finally happening. My guess is that the SEC, Big 10 and PAC 12 are already reaching out to various top Big 12 programs with the "you don't want to be in a conference with x, y and z do you?" questions.

This might be what gets us to the 4 16 team P4 conferences and the realignment of the G5 into the G4 under better geographical considerations. I would really welcome that.

They are trying to eliminate the need to play G5 and push the weak down a level

Texas, OU and OSU going to the PAC 12 is plausible

(07-19-2016 09:33 PM)wkuhilltopperfan Wrote:  They are trying to eliminate the need to play G5 and push the weak down a level

They're not "trying", they've done it.

(07-19-2016 09:24 PM)banker Wrote:  This is not a thread about who goes, who doesn't, more about what I believe is the final round of college football realignment finally happening. My guess is that the SEC, Big 10 and PAC 12 are already reaching out to various top Big 12 programs with the "you don't want to be in a conference with x, y and z do you?" questions.

This might be what gets us to the 4 16 team P4 conferences and the realignment of the G5 into the G4 under better geographical considerations. I would really welcome that.

I think you're right on the money. Four 16 team P-4 conferences is what this last phase of realignment will lead to. I think that the schools on the bubble for one of these last four spots in the big time (listed in order of likelihood) are:

1) Cincinnati
2) Houston
3) Memphis
4) Colorado St
5) USF
6) UCF
7) UCONN
8) BYU

and one dark horse candidate:

9) Boise St

Its always been about the P5 eventually having 16 teams per conference and they are on their way.....Could be soon or several years down the road but eventually whoever is in the G5 will not be in same division as P5 teams....I am just shocked to see no mention of the Rajin Cajuns for Big 12 membership...

(07-19-2016 09:24 PM)banker Wrote:  This is not a thread about who goes, who doesn't, more about what I believe is the final round of college football realignment finally happening. My guess is that the SEC, Big 10 and PAC 12 are already reaching out to various top Big 12 programs with the "you don't want to be in a conference with x, y and z do you?" questions.

This might be what gets us to the 4 16 team P4 conferences and the realignment of the G5 into the G4 under better geographical considerations. I would really welcome that.

As long as WVU ends up in the cold. I'm all for it. Big Ten doesn't want them. Pac 12 couldn't take them or want them. They'd have to hope for one of the two ACC slots, and that's probably UCONN and WVU in the end. But I would laugh for days if the 'eers got stranded. Hell I'd laugh if they had to crawl back to Louisville's conference.

(07-20-2016 08:01 AM)MUther Wrote:  

(07-19-2016 09:24 PM)banker Wrote:  This is not a thread about who goes, who doesn't, more about what I believe is the final round of college football realignment finally happening. My guess is that the SEC, Big 10 and PAC 12 are already reaching out to various top Big 12 programs with the "you don't want to be in a conference with x, y and z do you?" questions.

This might be what gets us to the 4 16 team P4 conferences and the realignment of the G5 into the G4 under better geographical considerations. I would really welcome that.

As long as WVU ends up in the cold. I'm all for it. Big Ten doesn't want them. Pac 12 couldn't take them or want them. They'd have to hope for one of the two ACC slots, and that's probably UCONN and WVU in the end. But I would laugh for days if the 'eers got stranded. Hell I'd laugh if they had to crawl back to Louisville's conference.

If the Big 12 gets torn apart before it can add new teams, you'll be right (unless SEC decides to take them). And WVU isn't the only one from the Big 12 leftovers that would get left behind.

http://collegefootballtalk.nbcsports.com...expansion/

(07-20-2016 05:46 AM)BRtransplant Wrote:  

(07-19-2016 09:24 PM)banker Wrote:  This is not a thread about who goes, who doesn't, more about what I believe is the final round of college football realignment finally happening. My guess is that the SEC, Big 10 and PAC 12 are already reaching out to various top Big 12 programs with the "you don't want to be in a conference with x, y and z do you?" questions.

This might be what gets us to the 4 16 team P4 conferences and the realignment of the G5 into the G4 under better geographical considerations. I would really welcome that.

I think you're right on the money. Four 16 team P-4 conferences is what this last phase of realignment will lead to. I think that the schools on the bubble for one of these last four spots in the big time (listed in order of likelihood) are:

1) Cincinnati
2) Houston
3) Memphis
4) Colorado St
5) USF
6) UCF
7) UCONN
8) BYU

and one dark horse candidate:

9) Boise St

There's not 4 spots to get. There are already 65 P5 teams when you throw Notre Dame in there, so actually one of those teams is on the outside looking in. It is possible that a few could lose their spots in realignment and a few others take their place, but it would be harder to take something away then not to give it out. If I were Vandy and got kicked to the curb, I would think I have a pretty good law suit. If I am Memphis and never invited, I don't have one.

(07-20-2016 08:56 AM)banker Wrote:  

(07-20-2016 05:46 AM)BRtransplant Wrote:  

(07-19-2016 09:24 PM)banker Wrote:  This is not a thread about who goes, who doesn't, more about what I believe is the final round of college football realignment finally happening. My guess is that the SEC, Big 10 and PAC 12 are already reaching out to various top Big 12 programs with the "you don't want to be in a conference with x, y and z do you?" questions.

This might be what gets us to the 4 16 team P4 conferences and the realignment of the G5 into the G4 under better geographical considerations. I would really welcome that.

I think you're right on the money. Four 16 team P-4 conferences is what this last phase of realignment will lead to. I think that the schools on the bubble for one of these last four spots in the big time (listed in order of likelihood) are:

1) Cincinnati
2) Houston
3) Memphis
4) Colorado St
5) USF
6) UCF
7) UCONN
8) BYU

and one dark horse candidate:

9) Boise St

There's not 4 spots to get. There are already 65 P5 teams when you throw Notre Dame in there, so actually one of those teams is on the outside looking in. It is possible that a few could lose their spots in realignment and a few others take their place, but it would be harder to take something away then not to give it out. If I were Vandy and got kicked to the curb, I would think I have a pretty good law suit. If I am Memphis and never invited, I don't have one.

PAC 12 - 12
B1G - 14
SEC - 14
ACC - 14
-----------------
P4 54 + ND = 55... 9 slots left.

Texas
Oklahoma
TCU
Baylor
Kansas
Kansas State
Oklahoma State
Texas Tech
(WVU, Iowa State, BYU, and who else is in the running?)

How about teams that would be first out to absorb Big 12 teams based on long-term suck in both major sports?

probably out
Vandy-occasional bowl game and not much in basketball
Wake-less occasional bowl game and basketball not much in a while
Purdue-suck since Brees, basketball also sucks
Washington State- definition of suck in everything
Boston College- nothing in a long time, couple upsets
Cal-are they even still in P5?

probably not
Kansas-basketball keeps them around for the $$
Indiana-basketball tradition and middle of the pack football
Baylor- have to see if they go back to being a door mat for pretty much everyone with Briles gone.
Colorado- Would the PAC trade Colorado for Texas or Oklahoma? I gotta think they would if it came down to it. They have one decent team in 20 years
Illinois-pretty much under the radar for decades

(07-21-2016 04:11 AM)MUther Wrote:  How about teams that would be first out to absorb Big 12 teams based on long-term suck in both major sports?

probably out
Vandy-occasional bowl game and not much in basketball
Wake-less occasional bowl game and basketball not much in a while
Purdue-suck since Brees, basketball also sucks
Washington State- definition of suck in everything
Boston College- nothing in a long time, couple upsets
Cal-are they even still in P5?

probably not
Kansas-basketball keeps them around for the $$
Indiana-basketball tradition and middle of the pack football
Baylor- have to see if they go back to being a door mat for pretty much everyone with Briles gone.
Colorado- Would the PAC trade Colorado for Texas or Oklahoma? I gotta think they would if it came down to it. They have one decent team in 20 years
Illinois-pretty much under the radar for decades

Gotta go with a previous poster in this thread, whoever is already in, will stay in...no matter what scenario plays out. It will likely be 64 + 1 (ND) + 3 outliers (KSU, ISU, UCONN)...so, just a re-shuffling of the deck to get to a four 16 super conference conglomerate.

Any team thinking they are finally about to punch their ticket will sadly be disappointed...(sans UConnecticut)

Alignment has always been about increasing the bottom line. Fine, let them have it. However, the one and only thing those left behind should fight like hell for, is continual championship accessibility...let the cards fall where they may.

If this happens, I think you will have two scenarios possible. Each 16 team conference will have two 8 team divisions. Those eight division winners will be the 8 teams in an 8 team playoff. That would be bad for us.

Second, you have a 12 team playoff with those same 8 division winners plus 4 at large teams, one of which would be a non P4 team. The top 4 seeds get a bye.

I think there will be 5 Power Conferences of 16 schools each for a total of 80 schools. Right now there are 65 P5 schools going to four makes it 64 so one team would be kicked out, that is not enough teams for scheduling and many schools would end up having a losing record which is not wanted by P5 schools.

So there are 15 spots available.
Schools with a shot at the last 15 spots:
Air Force
Army
Boise State
Buffalo
BYU
Cincinnati
Colorado State
East Carolina
Fresno State
Houston
Memphis
Navy
New Mexico
Old Dominion
Rice
San Diego State
SMU
South Florida
Temple
Tulane
UCF
UConn
UNLV
UTSA

(07-21-2016 09:58 AM)Carolina_Low_Country Wrote:  I think there will be 5 Power Conferences of 16 schools each for a total of 80 schools. Right now there are 65 P5 schools going to four makes it 64 so one team would be kicked out, that is not enough teams for scheduling and many schools would end up having a losing record which is not wanted by P5 schools.

So there are 15 spots available.
Schools with a shot at the last 15 spots:
Air Force
Army - Possible, but doubtful if Navy doesn't go.
Boise State - If it were only about football, then maybe.
Buffalo
BYU - Probably
Cincinnati - Check
Colorado State - Check
East Carolina - Probably
Fresno State - Major suckage in recent years
Houston - Check
Memphis - Check
Navy - Check
New Mexico
Old Dominion
Rice - Tossup... Their history would probably get them in
San Diego State - Check
SMU - See rice...but NCAA sanctions could keep them out as well
South Florida - Check
Temple - Doubtful
Tulane - Only for location
UCF - Check
UConn - Check
UNLV - Doubtful
UTSA

IMHO

Sorry, I think that is misguided, wishful thinking. There are 128 FBS schools and it's why 65 has always been the magic number, majority. They fixed the majority problem by having the G5 give them "super delegate" voting rights. They are not going to suddenly split the money 80 ways instead of 64. They will still get their wins by playing teams not in those 4 super conferences, just like they do now.

Once upon a time I was naïve and thought the right way to go was 8 16 team conferences, geographically based, where you could balance the conferences and divisions based on historic rivalries, historical success, and everybody would be on the most even playing field possible. Teams could then progress, or fall back, based on the school's commitment. Alabama would still have all kinds of advantage over UAB, but that would be through their own doing (fans, donors, etc.), not that of the system. Then those 8 conference champs could have a playoff. Of course that was before I finally admitted that the amateur nature of college athletics did not include football.

(07-21-2016 11:54 AM)banker Wrote:  Sorry, I think that is misguided, wishful thinking. There are 128 FBS schools and it's why 65 has always been the magic number, majority. They fixed the majority problem by having the G5 give them "super delegate" voting rights. They are not going to suddenly split the money 80 ways instead of 64. They will still get their wins by playing teams not in those 4 super conferences, just like they do now.

Once upon a time I was naïve and thought the right way to go was 8 16 team conferences, geographically based, where you could balance the conferences and divisions based on historic rivalries, historical success, and everybody would be on the most even playing field possible. Teams could then progress, or fall back, based on the school's commitment. Alabama would still have all kinds of advantage over UAB, but that would be through their own doing (fans, donors, etc.), not that of the system. Then those 8 conference champs could have a playoff. Of course that was before I finally admitted that the amateur nature of college athletics did not include football.

+1

(07-21-2016 07:49 AM)DNEagle Wrote:  

(07-21-2016 04:11 AM)MUther Wrote:  How about teams that would be first out to absorb Big 12 teams based on long-term suck in both major sports?

probably out
Vandy-occasional bowl game and not much in basketball
Wake-less occasional bowl game and basketball not much in a while
Purdue-suck since Brees, basketball also sucks
Washington State- definition of suck in everything
Boston College- nothing in a long time, couple upsets
Cal-are they even still in P5?

probably not
Kansas-basketball keeps them around for the $$
Indiana-basketball tradition and middle of the pack football
Baylor- have to see if they go back to being a door mat for pretty much everyone with Briles gone.
Colorado- Would the PAC trade Colorado for Texas or Oklahoma? I gotta think they would if it came down to it. They have one decent team in 20 years
Illinois-pretty much under the radar for decades

Gotta go with a previous poster in this thread, whoever is already in, will stay in...no matter what scenario plays out. It will likely be 64 + 1 (ND) + 3 outliers (KSU, ISU, UCONN)...so, just a re-shuffling of the deck to get to a four 16 super conference conglomerate.

Any team thinking they are finally about to punch their ticket will sadly be disappointed...(sans UConnecticut)

Alignment has always been about increasing the bottom line. Fine, let them have it. However, the one and only thing those left behind should fight like hell for, is continual championship accessibility...let the cards fall where they may.

I agree. I meant more of a "if they did, who would it be" fun scenario.

(07-21-2016 11:01 AM)THUNDERGround Wrote:  

(07-21-2016 09:58 AM)Carolina_Low_Country Wrote:  I think there will be 5 Power Conferences of 16 schools each for a total of 80 schools. Right now there are 65 P5 schools going to four makes it 64 so one team would be kicked out, that is not enough teams for scheduling and many schools would end up having a losing record which is not wanted by P5 schools.

So there are 15 spots available.
Schools with a shot at the last 15 spots:
Air Force
Army - Possible, but doubtful if Navy doesn't go.
Boise State - If it were only about football, then maybe.
Buffalo
BYU - Probably
Cincinnati - Check
Colorado State - Check
East Carolina - Probably
Fresno State - Major suckage in recent years
Houston - Check
Memphis - Check
Navy - Check
New Mexico
Old Dominion
Rice - Tossup... Their history would probably get them in
San Diego State - Check
SMU - See rice...but NCAA sanctions could keep them out as well
South Florida - Check
Temple - Doubtful
Tulane - Only for location
UCF - Check
UConn - Check
UNLV - Doubtful
UTSA

IMHO

Buffalo has one shot and that is the Big Ten since they are AAU and in New York. Old Dominion is in a populated area with no pro sports and would only be the third school in Virginia with no other schools near by. Same for UTSA except there are a lot of Texas schools above them.