Hello There, Guest! (LoginRegister)

Post Reply 
Top Tier of Division I Football: Which schools make your cut?
Author Message
PeteTheChop Offline
Here rests the ACC: 1953-2026
*

Posts: 4,177
Joined: Apr 2007
Reputation: 1057
I Root For: C-A-N-E-S
Location: North Florida lifer
Post: #1
Top Tier of Division I Football: Which schools make your cut?
If you were starting from scratch for the 2018 season, which schools would you place in the highest level (Division I-A, FBS, whatever it might be called going forward)?

Try to remove your personal feelings for any particular team to determine the programs that would be included:

The factors I weighed include:
  • Tradition in Major College Football
  • Current conference affiliation
  • Name brand
  • Budget, resources, facilities
  • Prestige and academic reputation
  • Flagship status within a particular state
  • Potential to be successful going forward in highest level of CFB
  • Recognized as a peer institution by fellow college administrators


I tried to be as objective as possible. The reality is that some schools might come in just above that imaginary line and others just below.

I came up with 84 programs. You might have more or less, but here are mine listed alphabetically.

A — Air Force, Alabama, Arizona, Arizona State, Arkansas, Army, Auburn
B — Baylor, Boise State, Boston College, BYU
C — Cal, Cincinnati, Clemson, Colorado, Colorado State, Connecticut
D — Duke
F — Florida, Florida State
G — Georgia, Georgia Tech
H — Houston
I — Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Iowa State
K — Kansas, Kansas State, Kentucky
L — Louisville, LSU
M — Maryland, Memphis, Miami (FL), Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Mississippi State, Missouri
N — Navy, NC State, Nebraska, New Mexico, North Carolina, Northwestern, Notre Dame
O — Ohio State, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Ole Miss, Oregon, Oregon State
P – Penn State, Pitt, Purdue
R — Rice, Rutgers
S — San Diego State, SMU, South Carolina, Stanford, Syracuse
T — TCU, Temple, Tennessee, Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Tulane
U — UCLA, UCF, UNLV, USC, USF, Utah
V — Vanderbilt, Virginia, Virginia Tech
W — Wake Forest, Washington, Washington State, West Virginia, Wisconsin

Who would make your list?
12-06-2017 04:55 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
Advertisement


dbackjon Offline
Hall of Famer
*

Posts: 12,010
Joined: May 2010
Reputation: 657
I Root For: NAU/Illini
Location:
Post: #2
RE: Top Tier of Division I Football: Which schools make your cut?
So basically the P5 + most of AAC + most of MWC?


You need:

E - East Carolina
S - Southern Mississippi
T - Toledo
U - Utah State

Remove:
A - Army
N - Navy
R - Rice
T - Tulane
12-06-2017 05:19 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
ken d Offline
Hall of Famer
*

Posts: 17,337
Joined: Dec 2013
Reputation: 1211
I Root For: college sports
Location: Raleigh
Post: #3
RE: Top Tier of Division I Football: Which schools make your cut?
I wouldn't add anybody. I would exclude AFA, Army, Colorado St, Connecticut, New Mexico, Rice, SMU, Temple, Tulane and UNLV.
12-06-2017 05:24 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
YNot Offline
All American
*

Posts: 4,671
Joined: May 2014
Reputation: 298
I Root For: BYU
Location:
Post: #4
RE: Top Tier of Division I Football: Which schools make your cut?
That's a pretty good list. ECU should also be considered, given their ability to attract top-level G5 attendance and beat P5 opponents at home and on the road. I question Rice and Tulane. Great academics but nothing noteworthy in ages for football or basketball.

It's a difficult analysis, but where would programs like Oregon St., Washington St., Kansas St., Baylor, and Wake Forest land if they didn't have their current P5 affiliation and revenues? I'd keep them, but affiliate them with the MWC and AAC level schools, not the top-tier affiliations.

Keep the B1G and SEC as is. Merge the PAC (minus OSU and WSU) with the B12 (minus Baylor, Kansas St., and West Virginia) plus BYU. Move West Virginia and Notre Dame to the ACC and move Oregon St., Washington St., Baylor, Kansas St., and Wake Forest to the new American.

Expanded ACC
NORTH: Notre Dame, West Virginia, Syracuse, Boston College, Pitt
ATLANTIC: Georgia Tech, North Carolina, Duke, Virginia, Virginia Tech
SOUTH: Miami, Florida St., Clemson, NC State, Louisville

Expanded PAC
WEST: Washington, Oregon, Stanford, Cal, UCLA, USC
CENTRAL: Utah, BYU, Colorado, Arizona, Arizona St., TCU
EAST: Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Oklahoma St., Kansas, Iowa St.

Expanded American
MOUNTAIN WEST: Air Force, Boise, Colorado St., New Mexico, San Diego St., UNLV, Oregon St., Washington St.
CENTRAL: Navy, Kansas St., Baylor, Houston, Memphis, Rice, SMU, Tulane
EAST: Army, Cincinnati, UConn, ECU, Temple, UCF, USF, Wake Forest
12-06-2017 05:31 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
Kittonhead Offline
Hall of Famer
*

Posts: 10,000
Joined: Jun 2013
Reputation: 122
I Root For: Beat Matisse
Location:
Post: #5
RE: Top Tier of Division I Football: Which schools make your cut?
Do it 30/30...Top 30 in FB/BB attendance but while still having FBS football.

1. Michigan 8 883,741 110,468
2. Ohio St. 7 750,944 107,278
3. Texas A&M 7 713,418 101,917
4. Alabama 7 712,747 101,821
5. LSU 7 708,618 101,231
6. Tennessee 7 706,776 100,968
7. Penn St. 7 701,800 100,257
8. Texas 6 587,283 97,881
9. Georgia 6 556,476 92,746
10. Nebraska 7 631,402 90,200
11. Florida 5 439,229 87,846
12. Auburn 8 695,498 86,937
13. Oklahoma 6 521,142 86,857
14. Clemson 7 566,787 80,970
15. Notre Dame 6 484,770 80,795
16. Wisconsin 6 476,144 79,357
17. South Carolina 7 538,441 76,920
18. Florida St. 6 460,801 76,800
19. Michigan St. 7 522,666 74,667
20. Iowa 7 487,591 69,656
21. Arkansas 7 487,067 69,581
22. Southern California 6 410,755 68,459
23. UCLA 6 404,751 67,459
24. Ole Miss 7 454,368 64,910
25. Washington 7 452,123 64,589
26. Virginia Tech 6 378,259 63,043
27. Miami (FL) 6 351,434 58,572
28. BYU 6 351,413 58,569
29. Mississippi St. 6 349,904 58,317
30. Texas Tech 6 349,498 58,250

*PLUS*

1. Kentucky 17 397,148 23,361
2. Syracuse 17 367,068 21,592
3. Louisville 19 396,333 20,859
4. North Carolina 16 293,219 18,326
5. Maryland 17 303,676 17,868
7. Indiana 17 290,809 17,106
8. North Carolina St. 18 301,646 16,758
9. Kansas 17 279,412 16,436
15. Arizona 18 261,478 14,526
16. Iowa St. 16 228,326 14,270
18. Virginia 15 211,671 14,111
19. Iowa 15 207,528 13,835
20. Purdue 18 245,916 13,662
23. New Mexico 16 208,492 13,030
24. Utah 17 220,959 12,997
27. Illinois 13 165,409 12,723
29. San Diego St. 20 244,190 12,209
30. Memphis 20 240,579 12,028

48 programs total with real fans.
12-06-2017 11:23 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
BePcr07 Offline
All American
*

Posts: 4,900
Joined: Dec 2015
Reputation: 342
I Root For: Boise St & Zags
Location:
Post: #6
RE: Top Tier of Division I Football: Which schools make your cut?
I’m always a bit more inclusive...

Independents: Notre Dame, Army, Navy

PAC: Washington, Washington St, Oregon, Oregon St, California, Stanford, USC, UCLA, Arizona, Arizona St

SWC: Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Baylor, SMU, TCU, Houston, Rice, Arkansas

MWC: San Diego St, UNLV, Boise St, Utah, BYU, Colorado St, Air Force, Wyoming, New Mexico, Tulsa

Big 8: Colorado, Kansas, Kansas St, Nebraska, Iowa St, Missouri, Oklahoma, Oklahoma St

B1G: Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Northwestern, Indiana, Purdue, Michigan, Michigan St, Ohio St

SEC: LSU, Mississippi, Mississippi St, Alabama, Auburn, Kentucky, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Georgia, Florida

ACC: Florida St, Georgia Tech, Clemson, South Carolina, North Carolina, North Carolina St, Duke, Wake Forest, Virginia, Maryland

East Coast: Miami, Virginia Tech, West Virginia, Penn St, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Syracuse, Boston College, Connecticut

Metro: Tulane, Memphis, Louisville Cincinnati, Temple, East Carolina, Central Florida, South Florida
(This post was last modified: 12-07-2017 12:22 AM by BePcr07.)
12-07-2017 12:21 AM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
Advertisement


Jjoey52 Offline
All American
*

Posts: 4,035
Joined: Feb 2017
Reputation: 236
I Root For: ISU
Location:
Post: #7
Top Tier of Division I Football: Which schools make your cut?
(12-07-2017 12:21 AM)BePcr07 Wrote:  I’m always a bit more inclusive...

Independents: Notre Dame, Army, Navy

PAC: Washington, Washington St, Oregon, Oregon St, California, Stanford, USC, UCLA, Arizona, Arizona St

SWC: Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Baylor, SMU, TCU, Houston, Rice, Arkansas

MWC: San Diego St, UNLV, Boise St, Utah, BYU, Colorado St, Air Force, Wyoming, New Mexico, Tulsa

Big 8: Colorado, Kansas, Kansas St, Nebraska, Iowa St, Missouri, Oklahoma, Oklahoma St

B1G: Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Northwestern, Indiana, Purdue, Michigan, Michigan St, Ohio St

SEC: LSU, Mississippi, Mississippi St, Alabama, Auburn, Kentucky, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Georgia, Florida

ACC: Florida St, Georgia Tech, Clemson, South Carolina, North Carolina, North Carolina St, Duke, Wake Forest, Virginia, Maryland

East Coast: Miami, Virginia Tech, West Virginia, Penn St, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Syracuse, Boston College, Connecticut

Metro: Tulane, Memphis, Louisville Cincinnati, Temple, East Carolina, Central Florida, South Florida


Add Fresno and Utah State to MW, Air Force should probably be with Army and Navy in a conference. Maryland just bolted ACC don’t think they want back, same situation with Nebraska and Louisville.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
12-07-2017 01:28 AM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
rednblackattack Offline
1st String
*

Posts: 1,012
Joined: Mar 2014
Reputation: 66
I Root For: UofL
Location:
Post: #8
RE: Top Tier of Division I Football: Which schools make your cut?
(12-07-2017 12:21 AM)BePcr07 Wrote:  Metro: Tulane, Memphis, Louisville Cincinnati, Temple, East Carolina, Central Florida, South Florida

03-puke03-puke
12-07-2017 06:05 AM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
bullet Offline
Legend
*

Posts: 66,301
Joined: Apr 2012
Reputation: 3285
I Root For: Texas, UK, UGA
Location:
Post: #9
RE: Top Tier of Division I Football: Which schools make your cut?
Quick & easy answer-anyone who was FBS before 2004 when the ACC raided the Big East.

That leaves out:
Florida Atlantic
Florida International
Western Kentucky
Massachusetts
South Alabama
Texas State
Texas-San Antonio
Georgia State
Old Dominion
Georgia Southern
Appalachian State
Charlotte
Coastal Carolina
Liberty
12-07-2017 09:11 AM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
Hank Schrader Offline
1st String
*

Posts: 1,933
Joined: Mar 2013
Reputation: 59
I Root For: UConn
Location: Hartford
Post: #10
RE: Top Tier of Division I Football: Which schools make your cut?
Penn St
Ohio State
Michigan
Florida St
Florida
Georgia
Clemson
Texas
LSU
Alabama
Auburn
Texas A&M
USC
UCLA
Oklahoma
Notre Dame


Everyone else has to join the Group of 5.
12-07-2017 09:11 AM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
BePcr07 Offline
All American
*

Posts: 4,900
Joined: Dec 2015
Reputation: 342
I Root For: Boise St & Zags
Location:
Post: #11
RE: Top Tier of Division I Football: Which schools make your cut?
(12-07-2017 06:05 AM)rednblackattack Wrote:  
(12-07-2017 12:21 AM)BePcr07 Wrote:  Metro: Tulane, Memphis, Louisville Cincinnati, Temple, East Carolina, Central Florida, South Florida

03-puke03-puke

Haha sorry
12-07-2017 09:26 AM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
Advertisement


Lord Stanley Offline
L'Étoile du Nord
*

Posts: 19,103
Joined: Feb 2005
Reputation: 994
I Root For: NIU
Location: Cold. So cold......
Post: #12
RE: Top Tier of Division I Football: Which schools make your cut?
NIU is undefeated vs Alabama, so sod off the Tide to the lower level until they can get their act together...
12-07-2017 09:35 AM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
BePcr07 Offline
All American
*

Posts: 4,900
Joined: Dec 2015
Reputation: 342
I Root For: Boise St & Zags
Location:
Post: #13
RE: Top Tier of Division I Football: Which schools make your cut?
(12-07-2017 09:35 AM)Lord Stanley Wrote:  NIU is undefeated vs Alabama, so sod off the Tide to the lower level until they can get their act together...

I hope you can forgive me, but I forgot about Northern Illinois. I always forget about the MAC regarding top-level separation. Y'all really need to get out of it (along with Toledo and maybe Ohio)! Miami OH might be too far gone...
12-07-2017 10:07 AM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
mpurdy22 Offline
Special Teams
*

Posts: 701
Joined: Mar 2004
Reputation: 18
I Root For: Miami (OH)
Location: Sandusky, Ohio
Post: #14
RE: Top Tier of Division I Football: Which schools make your cut?
B1G
Ohio State
Michigan
Michigan State
Penn State
Wisconsin
Iowa
Nebraska

ACC
Miami (FL)
Florida State
Clemson
Pittsburgh
VA Tech
GA Tech
"Notre Dame"

SEC
Florida
Georgia
Auburn
Alabama
LSU
South Carolina
Texas A & M

Big 12
Texas
Oklahoma
Oklahoma State
Kansas State
Texas Tech
West Virginia
Iowa State

PAC 12
USC
UCLA
Washington
Washington State
Arizona
Arizona State
Oregon

If you want to do this sh--, then really cut the fat and go all out. 7 teams per P5 conference. 6 conference games and you play one school from each of the other 4 P5 conferences and one more random for 11 games. 5 Conference champ and 3 at large schools for National Playoffs. Go all ELITE man!
12-07-2017 10:08 AM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
BadgerMJ Offline
All American
*

Posts: 3,025
Joined: Mar 2017
Reputation: 267
I Root For: Wisconsin / ND
Location: Wisconsin
Post: #15
RE: Top Tier of Division I Football: Which schools make your cut?
(12-07-2017 10:08 AM)mpurdy22 Wrote:  B1G
Ohio State
Michigan
Michigan State
Penn State
Wisconsin
Iowa
Nebraska

ACC
Miami (FL)
Florida State
Clemson
Pittsburgh
VA Tech
GA Tech
"Notre Dame"

SEC
Florida
Georgia
Auburn
Alabama
LSU
South Carolina
Texas A & M

Big 12
Texas
Oklahoma
Oklahoma State
Kansas State
Texas Tech
West Virginia
Iowa State

PAC 12
USC
UCLA
Washington
Washington State
Arizona
Arizona State
Oregon

If you want to do this sh--, then really cut the fat and go all out. 7 teams per P5 conference. 6 conference games and you play one school from each of the other 4 P5 conferences and one more random for 11 games. 5 Conference champ and 3 at large schools for National Playoffs. Go all ELITE man!

That's actually a pretty good list.

I would say if you're going to include the likes of Iowa State and Washington State then you'd have to include Minnesota and Stanford.

Other than that, it's hard to argue based on the requirements of the original post.
12-07-2017 11:12 AM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
TerryD Online
Hall of Famer
*

Posts: 14,884
Joined: Feb 2006
Reputation: 898
I Root For: Notre Dame
Location: Grayson Highlands
Post: #16
RE: Top Tier of Division I Football: Which schools make your cut?
(12-07-2017 10:08 AM)mpurdy22 Wrote:  B1G
Ohio State
Michigan
Michigan State
Penn State
Wisconsin
Iowa
Nebraska

ACC
Miami (FL)
Florida State
Clemson
Pittsburgh
VA Tech
GA Tech
"Notre Dame"

SEC
Florida
Georgia
Auburn
Alabama
LSU
South Carolina
Texas A & M

Big 12
Texas
Oklahoma
Oklahoma State
Kansas State
Texas Tech
West Virginia
Iowa State

PAC 12
USC
UCLA
Washington
Washington State
Arizona
Arizona State
Oregon

If you want to do this sh--, then really cut the fat and go all out. 7 teams per P5 conference. 6 conference games and you play one school from each of the other 4 P5 conferences and one more random for 11 games. 5 Conference champ and 3 at large schools for National Playoffs. Go all ELITE man!



If you really want to do this "right", pick 30-32 schools and go full blown "NFL Lite".

Blow up all existing conferences and align like the NFL's conferences and divisions.

Have one entity to handle all TV rights.
12-07-2017 11:16 AM
Visit this user's website Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
Advertisement


Gamecock Offline
All American
*

Posts: 3,979
Joined: Oct 2011
Reputation: 182
I Root For: South Carolina
Location:
Post: #17
RE: Top Tier of Division I Football: Which schools make your cut?
(12-07-2017 10:08 AM)mpurdy22 Wrote:  B1G
Ohio State
Michigan
Michigan State
Penn State
Wisconsin
Iowa
Nebraska

ACC
Miami (FL)
Florida State
Clemson
Pittsburgh
VA Tech
GA Tech
"Notre Dame"

SEC
Florida
Georgia
Auburn
Alabama
LSU
South Carolina
Texas A & M

Big 12
Texas
Oklahoma
Oklahoma State
Kansas State
Texas Tech
West Virginia
Iowa State

PAC 12
USC
UCLA
Washington
Washington State
Arizona
Arizona State
Oregon

If you want to do this sh--, then really cut the fat and go all out. 7 teams per P5 conference. 6 conference games and you play one school from each of the other 4 P5 conferences and one more random for 11 games. 5 Conference champ and 3 at large schools for National Playoffs. Go all ELITE man!

Tennessee has to be in there somewhere
12-07-2017 11:49 AM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
BePcr07 Offline
All American
*

Posts: 4,900
Joined: Dec 2015
Reputation: 342
I Root For: Boise St & Zags
Location:
Post: #18
RE: Top Tier of Division I Football: Which schools make your cut?
(12-07-2017 10:08 AM)mpurdy22 Wrote:  B1G
Ohio State
Michigan
Michigan State
Penn State
Wisconsin
Iowa
Nebraska

ACC
Miami (FL)
Florida State
Clemson
Pittsburgh
VA Tech
GA Tech
"Notre Dame"

SEC
Florida
Georgia
Auburn
Alabama
LSU
South Carolina
Texas A & M

Big 12
Texas
Oklahoma
Oklahoma State
Kansas State
Texas Tech
West Virginia
Iowa State

PAC 12
USC
UCLA
Washington
Washington State
Arizona
Arizona State
Oregon

If you want to do this sh--, then really cut the fat and go all out. 7 teams per P5 conference. 6 conference games and you play one school from each of the other 4 P5 conferences and one more random for 11 games. 5 Conference champ and 3 at large schools for National Playoffs. Go all ELITE man!

Elite Level

Independent: Notre Dame

PAC: Washington, Oregon, Arizona, California, Stanford, USC, UCLA

Big 9: Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Oklahoma St, Texas, Texas A&M, Arkansas

B1G: Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Michigan St, Ohio St, Penn St

ACC: Maryland, Virginia, Virginia Tech, North Carolina, North Carolina St, Clemson, Georgia Tech, Florida St, Miami

SEC: Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, Auburn, Tennessee, Kentucky, Mississippi, LSU
12-07-2017 12:54 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
CliftonAve Online
Heisman
*

Posts: 21,881
Joined: May 2012
Reputation: 1171
I Root For: Jimmy Nippert
Location:
Post: #19
RE: Top Tier of Division I Football: Which schools make your cut?
No way will DI football ever be paired down to 32 teams. Too many teams, too many geographic regions of the country left out. People in Missouri and Arkansas, for example, aren't going to become Texas fans, they'll simply stop watching the D1 football and follow their team in whatever league they wind up in.
12-07-2017 01:00 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
BadgerMJ Offline
All American
*

Posts: 3,025
Joined: Mar 2017
Reputation: 267
I Root For: Wisconsin / ND
Location: Wisconsin
Post: #20
RE: Top Tier of Division I Football: Which schools make your cut?
(12-07-2017 12:54 PM)BePcr07 Wrote:  
(12-07-2017 10:08 AM)mpurdy22 Wrote:  If you want to do this sh--, then really cut the fat and go all out. 7 teams per P5 conference. 6 conference games and you play one school from each of the other 4 P5 conferences and one more random for 11 games. 5 Conference champ and 3 at large schools for National Playoffs. Go all ELITE man!

Elite Level

Independent: Notre Dame

PAC: Washington, Oregon, Arizona, California, Stanford, USC, UCLA

Big 9: Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Oklahoma St, Texas, Texas A&M, Arkansas

B1G: Iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, Illinois, Indiana, Michigan, Michigan St, Ohio St, Penn St

ACC: Maryland, Virginia, Virginia Tech, North Carolina, North Carolina St, Clemson, Georgia Tech, Florida St, Miami

SEC: Florida, Georgia, South Carolina, Alabama, Auburn, Tennessee, Kentucky, Mississippi, LSU

As a B1G fan, if we're going strictly on football, Illinois hasn't been elite in years and as far as I know, Indiana has never been elite. I think the argument could be made that Northwestern has a better pedigree over the last 20 years than either of those two.

You could probably consider ASU, WVU, or Utah as well.

Aside from that, I like it.
12-07-2017 01:25 PM
Find all posts by this user Quote this message in a reply
Post Reply 




User(s) browsing this thread: 1 Guest(s)


Copyright © 2002-2024 Collegiate Sports Nation Bulletin Board System (CSNbbs), All Rights Reserved.
CSNbbs is an independent fan site and is in no way affiliated to the NCAA or any of the schools and conferences it represents.
This site monetizes links. FTC Disclosure.
We allow third-party companies to serve ads and/or collect certain anonymous information when you visit our web site. These companies may use non-personally identifiable information (e.g., click stream information, browser type, time and date, subject of advertisements clicked or scrolled over) during your visits to this and other Web sites in order to provide advertisements about goods and services likely to be of greater interest to you. These companies typically use a cookie or third party web beacon to collect this information. To learn more about this behavioral advertising practice or to opt-out of this type of advertising, you can visit http://www.networkadvertising.org.
Powered By MyBB, © 2002-2024 MyBB Group.