From the article:

"Our purpose behind initiating that discussion was really not about anything specific we would necessarily do, but based on the whole deregulation of a number of NCAA issues in recent years," Swofford told ESPN.com. "We said over and over again that doesn't mean we would necessarily change anything within our own league.

"We just feel conferences should have the opportunity to do that both in terms of the number of teams in a league and whether you can have a championship as well as how you determine which teams play in that championship game. During these conversations, we haven't had any real discussion about a three-division ACC. That has never had any legs in our discussions, and so far, any change to what we're doing now has not had any real legs."

Championship game deregulation is expected to be discussed at an NCAA football oversight committee meeting, chaired by Bowlsby, later this month. Legislation would then be vetted and passed on to the NCAA council for final approval.

"My impression is that there is support for it," Swofford said. "I would guess if that support is there, that it could be implemented as early as the '16 football season."

The Big 12 would stand to gain almost immediately, since the league only has 10 teams and is not currently eligible for a conference championship game. But many are wondering what the ACC has to gain, because the conference already has a league championship game.

http://espn.go.com/college-football/stor...-divisions

ND will declare themselves Champions of the Independents.

Serious question though, does a Big 12 Championsip Game put more pressure on ND to join a conference?

(04-16-2015 02:50 PM)Dasville Wrote:  ND will declare themselves Champions of the Independents.

Serious question though, does a Big 12 Championsip Game put more pressure on ND to join a conference?

No, I don't think so. How many times has ND gone 11-1?

They're almost certainly in at 12-0. Likely out at 11-1. Probably not in at 2 losses even if they are in a conference.

I don't think they're going to ditch independence over a once or twice a decade occurrence. If they leave independence it will be because of totally being shut out of the playoff format (contraction to four conferences and automatic bids), or for other reasons that go beyond playoffs.

Would a Big 12 Championship Game hurt ND's chances of earning any Bowl?

(04-16-2015 02:56 PM)Lou_C Wrote:  

(04-16-2015 02:50 PM)Dasville Wrote:  ND will declare themselves Champions of the Independents.

Serious question though, does a Big 12 Championsip Game put more pressure on ND to join a conference?

No, I don't think so. How many times has ND gone 11-1?

They're almost certainly in at 12-0. Likely out at 11-1. Probably not in at 2 losses even if they are in a conference.

I don't think they're going to ditch independence over a once or twice a decade occurrence. If they leave independence it will be because of totally being shut out of the playoff format (contraction to four conferences and automatic bids), or for other reasons that go beyond playoffs.

+100

I have been saying exactly this for months. The only difference is that if 11-1 is not good enough as an independent, being in the ACC would not help or change that.

So, ND might as well take its chances at 11-1 as an independent.

(04-16-2015 03:07 PM)Dasville Wrote:  Would a Big 12 Championship Game hurt ND's chances of earning any Bowl?

No, why would it?

(04-17-2015 08:30 AM)TerryD Wrote:  

(04-16-2015 02:56 PM)Lou_C Wrote:  

(04-16-2015 02:50 PM)Dasville Wrote:  ND will declare themselves Champions of the Independents.

Serious question though, does a Big 12 Championsip Game put more pressure on ND to join a conference?

No, I don't think so. How many times has ND gone 11-1?

They're almost certainly in at 12-0. Likely out at 11-1. Probably not in at 2 losses even if they are in a conference.

I don't think they're going to ditch independence over a once or twice a decade occurrence. If they leave independence it will be because of totally being shut out of the playoff format (contraction to four conferences and automatic bids), or for other reasons that go beyond playoffs.

+100

I have been saying exactly this for months. The only difference is that if 11-1 is not good enough as an independent, being in the ACC would not help or change that.

So, ND might as well take its chances at 11-1 as an independent.

A 11-1 ND would either be in the Playoffs, Orange Bowl or one of the other New Year Six Bowl Games...no real reason for them to join a Conference especially since they have access to the ACC Bowl Lineup as well.

The ONLY event that would force Notre Dame into any conference would be the play-off committee limiting play-offs to clear cut conference champions. Which is what they did by when they took Ohio State over Baylor and TCU.

(04-16-2015 12:31 PM)Maize Wrote:  From the article:

"Our purpose behind initiating that discussion was really not about anything specific we would necessarily do, but based on the whole deregulation of a number of NCAA issues in recent years," Swofford told ESPN.com. "We said over and over again that doesn't mean we would necessarily change anything within our own league.

"We just feel conferences should have the opportunity to do that both in terms of the number of teams in a league and whether you can have a championship as well as how you determine which teams play in that championship game. During these conversations, we haven't had any real discussion about a three-division ACC. That has never had any legs in our discussions, and so far, any change to what we're doing now has not had any real legs."

Championship game deregulation is expected to be discussed at an NCAA football oversight committee meeting, chaired by Bowlsby, later this month. Legislation would then be vetted and passed on to the NCAA council for final approval.

"My impression is that there is support for it," Swofford said. "I would guess if that support is there, that it could be implemented as early as the '16 football season."

The Big 12 would stand to gain almost immediately, since the league only has 10 teams and is not currently eligible for a conference championship game. But many are wondering what the ACC has to gain, because the conference already has a league championship game.

http://espn.go.com/college-football/stor...-divisions

For those that are inclined to literal reading - Swofford said nothing of substance. Each statement has at least one qualifier imbedded in it.

Could this work?

Andrea Adelson @aadelsonESPN · 24h 24 hours ago
Maybe solution is to get rid of permanent crossover game but let the "true" rivals continue to play every year ie: UM/FSU, NC St/UNC, etc

Along those lines, GT AD Mike Bobinski told me this week he wouldn't be opposed to getting rid of permanent crossover game vs. Clemson.

There are complexities w/permanent crossover. Some are rivals like FSU/Miami and want to play. Others are UVa/UL -- born of realignment.

Swofford also told me there has been discussion about getting rid of the permanent crossover game to open up scheduling, but no consensus.

(04-17-2015 12:25 PM)TIGER-PAUL Wrote:  Could this work?

Andrea Adelson @aadelsonESPN · 24h 24 hours ago
Maybe solution is to get rid of permanent crossover game but let the "true" rivals continue to play every year ie: UM/FSU, NC St/UNC, etc

Along those lines, GT AD Mike Bobinski told me this week he wouldn't be opposed to getting rid of permanent crossover game vs. Clemson.

There are complexities w/permanent crossover. Some are rivals like FSU/Miami and want to play. Others are UVa/UL -- born of realignment.

Swofford also told me there has been discussion about getting rid of the permanent crossover game to open up scheduling, but no consensus.

I wonder who the "true" rivals are.

Let's be realistic here. ESPN will dictate who plays who and when. It will be made for TV scheduling just like basketball. I would expect that The ACC will dump the divisions and start scheduling games that will increase national interest through out the season.
CJ

The true ACC rivalry games (aka cross-over games) are already set and should be played. I cannot imagine a Miami-FSU game not happening due to the ACC wanting more "scheduling flexibility." Whatever they decide to do they must also allow for games like UNC-UVa to continue on due to its longevity.

We've covered this 100 times here... bottom line: you can hit every "true" rivalry with just 3 permanent rivals, then rotate the other 5 games (assuming no divisions).

(04-17-2015 04:35 PM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  We've covered this 100 times here... bottom line: you can hit every "true" rivalry with just 3 permanent rivals, then rotate the other 5 games (assuming no divisions).

We're sold. Get on the Hokiephone and tell Swofford, not us.

(04-17-2015 04:37 PM)nzmorange Wrote:  

(04-17-2015 04:35 PM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  We've covered this 100 times here... bottom line: you can hit every "true" rivalry with just 3 permanent rivals, then rotate the other 5 games (assuming no divisions).

We're sold. Get on the Hokiephone and tell Swofford, not us.

Swofford's not the hold up, well at least not primarily. It's his puppet masters, primarily the old guard members of the Coastal.

(04-17-2015 07:00 PM)Kaplony Wrote:  

(04-17-2015 04:37 PM)nzmorange Wrote:  

(04-17-2015 04:35 PM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  We've covered this 100 times here... bottom line: you can hit every "true" rivalry with just 3 permanent rivals, then rotate the other 5 games (assuming no divisions).

We're sold. Get on the Hokiephone and tell Swofford, not us.

Swofford's not the hold up, well at least not primarily. It's his puppet masters, primarily the old guard members of the Coastal.

Fair enough, call UNC, UVA, and Duke.

(04-17-2015 12:25 PM)TIGER-PAUL Wrote:  Could this work?

Andrea Adelson @aadelsonESPN · 24h 24 hours ago
Along those lines, GT AD Mike Bobinski told me this week he wouldn't be opposed to getting rid of permanent crossover game vs. Clemson.

This is another sign that you shouldn't hire somebody from Xavier to run your football program.

(04-17-2015 12:25 PM)TIGER-PAUL Wrote:  Could this work?

Andrea Adelson @aadelsonESPN · 24h 24 hours ago
Maybe solution is to get rid of permanent crossover game but let the "true" rivals continue to play every year ie: UM/FSU, NC St/UNC, etc

Along those lines, GT AD Mike Bobinski told me this week he wouldn't be opposed to getting rid of permanent crossover game vs. Clemson.

There are complexities w/permanent crossover. Some are rivals like FSU/Miami and want to play. Others are UVa/UL -- born of realignment.

Swofford also told me there has been discussion about getting rid of the permanent crossover game to open up scheduling, but no consensus.

That is a surprising comment. Clemson GT is a must have, IMO.

There would be hell if FSU didn't face Clemson every year, while STILL not playing GT every year.