(06-22-2022 09:29 AM)Milwaukee Wrote:  

(06-22-2022 09:13 AM)UTEPDallas Wrote:  9-12

It all depends on the conference and what they want to accomplish.

Agree.

Question to those who think 9-12 is the optimal number: Why is it that 3 P5 conferences have 14 members and that 2 G5 conferences have decided to expand to 14 members? Was that not optimal from their standpoint?

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I don't think any conference set out to get to 14 members out of some sense that this is an "ideal" number. In fact, I believe they went to 14 for purely financial reasons, despite the fact that it's an inherently less than ideal number. They went to 14 (or more) because a media partner offered them more money to do so.

My personal preference - what I would view as "ideal" - is that it provide an opportunity to play every conference member every year, and have the same number of home games and away games every year so no member is disadvantaged by an unbalanced schedule. The only number that does that for both football and basketball and still leaves room for playing OOC rivals and other attractive matchups is nine.

A conference championship game is unnecessary and serves no purpose other than generating more cash. While that purpose is compelling, it doesn't fit my idea of "ideal". The SEC didn't grow to 12 in order to hold a CCG, they grew to 12 and then realized they could monetize that. But if you are going to be larger than nine, then 12 is probably the next best.