(08-23-2018 06:40 AM)RobtheAggie Wrote:  I do not see the Independent schools in your plan. Would they be shut out, or where would they end up?

Although my idea was specific to the MAC, C-USA, and SB, I did mention that I'd be totally in favor of independents such as NMSU coming on board if one of the 36 schools went to another conference.

One tweak of my idea to address potential travel concerns would be to go to a three-division format with 12 teams, with each division divided into a six-team North and a six-team South. Using my previous example, it might look something like this:

Gold Division (4 MAC, 4 C-USA, 4 SB)
North: Toledo, NIU, WMU, WKU, CMU, Marshall
South: App St, Ark St, La Tech, MTSU, Ga So, Louisiana

Silver Division (4 MAC, 5 C-USA, 3 SB)
North: Ohio, ODU, BG, Akron, Miami, Ga St
South: Troy, So Miss, FAU, FIU, UTSA, S. Alabama

Bronze Division (4 MAC, 5 C-USA, 3 SB)
North: Buffalo, EMU, Ball State, Kent State, Charlotte, Coastal Car.
South: N. Texas, Rice, La-Monroe, UTEP, Texas St, UAB

Using this format, over a two-year period, each school would play its geographic divisional opponents one year at home and the other year on the road. Each school would also play three divisional crossover opponents one year and the other three divisional crossover opponents the next year. After two years, the top team in each geographic division would move up and the bottom team in each geographic division would move down.

I'd also prefer a guaranteed game each year for rivals that are in the same division, but different geographic breakdowns (for example, WKU-MTSU). Those two rivals would play one year that would count in the divisional standings for relegation purposes. Their guaranteed "rival/proximity" game for the other year would ensure that they still get to play their rivalry game, but the result that year would not count in the divisional standings for relegation purposes.

I like the original idea better because every school would play every other school in the division over a two-year period, but this option definitely improves the geographic concerns for the vast majority of schools.