(01-09-2019 11:43 AM)bullet Wrote: (01-09-2019 10:47 AM)BadgerMJ Wrote: (01-09-2019 09:53 AM)bullet Wrote: (01-09-2019 09:40 AM)BadgerMJ Wrote: (01-08-2019 09:21 PM)JRsec Wrote: Nothing will be happening until after at least 2024.
1 There's no point proceeding until after Alston is settled.
2. There's no point in proceeding until the Big 10, SEC, Big 12, and PAC TV contracts have been formalized which means until after any possibility of conference expansion has passed. Any additions to any of the present P5 could alter conference structures and thereby impact any playoff structure changes.
3. The CFP contract is up after the 2025-6 season so why do anything until then?
4. If anything changes between now and then it will be in the priorities used to select the 4 team field. Delany is pushing for more emphasis on conference championships. If we have any change between now and 2025-6 it will be procedural and not structural.
That sums it up nicely.
Nothing is going to change until the new media contracts are settled. Why change only to have to change again in a couple of years?
Once those contracts are set and any realignment takes place, only then could there be discussions about expansion. Even then I doubt it because if what most think will happen happens (the P4), there will be no push to change except from the G5 which will be summarily dismissed by the new P4. Four power conferences, four seats at the table. Why would they change?
You change to get more money and more access. Even Hancock said they need to look about doing things better
Assuming there's some level of realignment, the conferences would get exactly that by leaving it at 4. The conference championship games would serve as (and could be considered) a pseudo quarterfinal allowing them to negotiate for more $$$ for those rights. All four conferences get access to the CFP at the same time.
The only fly in the proverbial ointment would be ND. I'm sure there would be a clause written into the contract that would allow an undefeated ND to take the place of the lowest ranked P4 champ, especially if that champion had multiple losses.
ESPN has a say. They don't want ONLY conference champions. No NCAA sport has ONLY conference champions. A P4 with a 4 team playoff may seem nice and neat, but it won't happen. And yes, there is Notre Dame and totally shutting out the G5. Just not realistic at all.
Alston changes all of that in a heartbeat. There are no G5 schools with less than a 25% subsidy. If there is no cap on paying players (even if we call it a stipend) the gap becomes untenable for those already heavily subsidized. So Bullet it's quite realistic, and would probably thin the P5 herd as well. Realignment and Contract renewals will follow the Alston ruling. So again if Alston wins it likely reshapes conferences. So a P4 becomes more likely in the subsequent few years after this year's ruling.
It's why I keep saying nothing is going to happen until Alston is settled and then it could be the catalyst for significant change.
All of the 8 team playoff, G5 inclusion, and continuance of a P5 is just whistling past the graveyard when set against the potential of the Alston ruling. That's why there will be no move on the CFP, no talk of realignment, nothing, until that case is settled.
If Alston loses, then we will hear whether or not there is any real intention for further realignment within the P5. Then we might hear more serious discussion about playoff expansion once the contracts are finalized for TV rights. Then we might actually hear something about G5 inclusion.
But if Alston loses, particularly on their chief point "a fixed payout standard" all bets are off. Regrouping of schools willing to operate without "pay caps" will occur. That means realignment and likely the reduction of the total number of P conferences, possibly the formation of a tweener tier between the "no caps" upper tier and the no stipend FCS. It would mean separation from the G5 by category as that tweener position would suit the vast majority of them budget wise. It wold likely mean that some present P5s would move down by choice. And yes Bullet it would mean that only having 4 in a playoff would be more than enough.
That ruling should be in by sometime in early February, or possibly sooner. When we know the reality of that case then speculation will be in order. It's simply not prior to that.
I'd say enjoy the January basketball schedule because message board speculation may be at fever pitch by Valentines' Day.