01-14-2021, 02:44 PM
We all know how realignment really went but sometimes it’s fun to pose a what if, even if that What If isn’t grounded in reality. So humor me a little here:
In the late 80s, instead of Penn St coming to the Big Ten, Ohio St and Michigan look at the great success programs like Penn St, ND, Florida St, and Miami are having and decide they are tired of the Big 2 and Little 8 jokes and decide they want to be independent too.
Of course, this means they need a home for Olympic sports. Penn St and ND both reach out and they set out to create a conference that won’t officially sponsor football but will have a loose scheduling alliance in that sport.
Pitt, WVU, and Rutgers help round out the membership.
With these big players all committed to independent football there’s no sense of urgency for Florida St or Miami to commit to conferences in the early 90s.
We end up with a much different looking Bowl Alliance/Bowl Coalition, one where you have autobids and permanent tie in’s for some conferences but lots of at-larges for all of the major independents.
Elsewhere in realignment world, Arkansas and SC still go to the SEC but I think it’s harder to say what happens with everyone else.
Does the Big 8 merge/raid the Big Ten (or vice versa?)
Or does the Big 8 still partially merge with the SWC?
I can see the ND/Mich/Ohio St/Penn St conference maybe someday deciding to officially sponsor football.
Thoughts on what might have played out in this scenario?
In the late 80s, instead of Penn St coming to the Big Ten, Ohio St and Michigan look at the great success programs like Penn St, ND, Florida St, and Miami are having and decide they are tired of the Big 2 and Little 8 jokes and decide they want to be independent too.
Of course, this means they need a home for Olympic sports. Penn St and ND both reach out and they set out to create a conference that won’t officially sponsor football but will have a loose scheduling alliance in that sport.
Pitt, WVU, and Rutgers help round out the membership.
With these big players all committed to independent football there’s no sense of urgency for Florida St or Miami to commit to conferences in the early 90s.
We end up with a much different looking Bowl Alliance/Bowl Coalition, one where you have autobids and permanent tie in’s for some conferences but lots of at-larges for all of the major independents.
Elsewhere in realignment world, Arkansas and SC still go to the SEC but I think it’s harder to say what happens with everyone else.
Does the Big 8 merge/raid the Big Ten (or vice versa?)
Or does the Big 8 still partially merge with the SWC?
I can see the ND/Mich/Ohio St/Penn St conference maybe someday deciding to officially sponsor football.
Thoughts on what might have played out in this scenario?