(04-09-2021 12:41 PM)DawgNBama Wrote:  

(04-09-2021 08:56 AM)georgia_tech_swagger Wrote:  

(04-08-2021 11:39 PM)AllTideUp Wrote:  The ACC is 2 conferences trying to exist as one. It doesn't really work.

Some time ago, I proposed that there should be a separation.

The old guard of the ACC could just reconstitute with a few like-minded schools and form a basketball first league.

Boston College, Syracuse, Virginia, North Carolina, Duke, and Wake Forest could form up with UConn, Cincinnati, UCF, and USF. Immediately, you have a 10 school league that could carve its niche. They would be stable and compete in the sports they genuinely care about. Meanwhile, a small selection can provide some football legitimacy. No real reason not to include them in a Power structure.

For the ACC members that care about football and competing for titles, they could be shipped off.

Florida State, Miami, Georgia Tech, and Clemson could join the SEC.

Louisville, Virginia Tech, NC State, and Pittsburgh could join the Big 12. In addition, Notre Dame can take their partial agreement and go with that grouping.

As much as I am a fan of symmetry, it doesn't have to be congruent.

Step 1) +4 in the East
East: Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Clemson, Georgia Tech, Florida State, Miami

West: Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, LSU, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Texas A&M


Step 2) Rebalance

East: Clemson, South Carolina, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Florida, Florida State, Miami, Kentucky, Tennessee

West: Texas A&M, LSU, Ole Miss, Miss State, Arkansas, Missouri, Vanderbilt, Alabama, Auburn



That came out cleaner than I thought. But I'd be remiss if I didn't then go just a bit further:

East: Clemson, South Carolina, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Florida, Florida State, Miami, Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia Tech, Auburn, (UofL/NC State/UNC)

West: Texas A&M, LSU, Ole Miss, Miss State, Arkansas, Missouri, Vanderbilt, Alabama, Texas, Oklahoma, (OKST/TTU/Kansas)

Flip Auburn and FSU, Swagger, and I think you got it. Cross-over games would still be a necessary evil, but it is what it is.

Three conferences would be better (14 +14+11).

East:
Miami, Georgia Tech, Wake Forest, Carolina, Duke, UVa, Pitt, Syracuse, Boston College, Vanderbilt, Notre Dame.

South:
Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Clemson, South Carolina, NC State, Auburn
Virginia Tech, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, MSU, West Virginia, Louisville

West:
Ole Miss, LSU, Texas, Texas A&M, Baylor, TCU, Texas Tech
Oklahoma, OSU, Kansas, KSU, Iowa State, Missouri, Arkansas

(04-09-2021 02:14 PM)XLance Wrote:  

(04-09-2021 12:41 PM)DawgNBama Wrote:  

(04-09-2021 08:56 AM)georgia_tech_swagger Wrote:  

(04-08-2021 11:39 PM)AllTideUp Wrote:  The ACC is 2 conferences trying to exist as one. It doesn't really work.

Some time ago, I proposed that there should be a separation.

The old guard of the ACC could just reconstitute with a few like-minded schools and form a basketball first league.

Boston College, Syracuse, Virginia, North Carolina, Duke, and Wake Forest could form up with UConn, Cincinnati, UCF, and USF. Immediately, you have a 10 school league that could carve its niche. They would be stable and compete in the sports they genuinely care about. Meanwhile, a small selection can provide some football legitimacy. No real reason not to include them in a Power structure.

For the ACC members that care about football and competing for titles, they could be shipped off.

Florida State, Miami, Georgia Tech, and Clemson could join the SEC.

Louisville, Virginia Tech, NC State, and Pittsburgh could join the Big 12. In addition, Notre Dame can take their partial agreement and go with that grouping.

As much as I am a fan of symmetry, it doesn't have to be congruent.

Step 1) +4 in the East
East: Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Clemson, Georgia Tech, Florida State, Miami

West: Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, LSU, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Texas A&M


Step 2) Rebalance

East: Clemson, South Carolina, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Florida, Florida State, Miami, Kentucky, Tennessee

West: Texas A&M, LSU, Ole Miss, Miss State, Arkansas, Missouri, Vanderbilt, Alabama, Auburn



That came out cleaner than I thought. But I'd be remiss if I didn't then go just a bit further:

East: Clemson, South Carolina, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Florida, Florida State, Miami, Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia Tech, Auburn, (UofL/NC State/UNC)

West: Texas A&M, LSU, Ole Miss, Miss State, Arkansas, Missouri, Vanderbilt, Alabama, Texas, Oklahoma, (OKST/TTU/Kansas)

Flip Auburn and FSU, Swagger, and I think you got it. Cross-over games would still be a necessary evil, but it is what it is.

Three conferences would be better (14 +14+11).

East:
Miami, Georgia Tech, Wake Forest, Carolina, Duke, UVa, Pitt, Syracuse, Boston College, Vanderbilt, Notre Dame.

South:
Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Clemson, South Carolina, NC State, Auburn
Virginia Tech, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, MSU, West Virginia, Louisville

West:
Ole Miss, LSU, Texas, Texas A&M, Baylor, TCU, Texas Tech
Oklahoma, OSU, Kansas, KSU, Iowa State, Missouri, Arkansas

That ACC configuration is perilously close to a DavidSt-ism.

Sent from my Pixel 4a (5G) using CSNbbs mobile app

(04-09-2021 11:15 AM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  

(04-08-2021 11:39 PM)AllTideUp Wrote:  The ACC is 2 conferences trying to exist as one. It doesn't really work.

There has always been a simple solution. The ACC is already split - into 2 divisions. Why in the world aren't those divisions "Old ACC" and "Old Big East"? (Yes, I realize that one "Old ACC" team might have to join the "Old Big East", but I'm sure it would still be better than "Coastal" and "Atlantic").

Old ACC and New ACC would be an even 7 in each:

New (joined after 1/1/1990): Miami, Florida St, Va Tech, Louisville, Pitt, Syracuse, BC

Old: GT, Clemson, UNC, NCSU, Duke, Wake, UVa

(04-09-2021 03:07 PM)Wedge Wrote:  

(04-09-2021 11:15 AM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  

(04-08-2021 11:39 PM)AllTideUp Wrote:  The ACC is 2 conferences trying to exist as one. It doesn't really work.

There has always been a simple solution. The ACC is already split - into 2 divisions. Why in the world aren't those divisions "Old ACC" and "Old Big East"? (Yes, I realize that one "Old ACC" team might have to join the "Old Big East", but I'm sure it would still be better than "Coastal" and "Atlantic").

Old ACC and New ACC would be an even 7 in each:

New (joined after 1/1/1990): Miami, Florida St, Va Tech, Louisville, Pitt, Syracuse, BC

Old: GT, Clemson, UNC, NCSU, Duke, Wake, UVa

Sign me up!

There are six original members of the Southern Conference from 1921.

GT, VT, UNC, NC State, Clemson, and UVa are all original members from 1921. Duke joined in 1928, GT left in 1933 and returned in 1978. Virginia left in 1936 and returned in 1954. Wake Forest joined in 1937. The reality is that there are six original members of the group with two early expansions from 80 and 90 years ago.

FSU was the first "new" school in 1990. Followed of course by Miami and then VT rejoining the group, BC, Pitt and Syracuse, and finally Louisville.

I realize there is a fascination with the year 1953 and the first year of the ACC, but nothing about the ACC was new other than kicking West Va, VT, GW, Richmond, Davidson, VMI, W&M, W&L and Furman to the curb.

If you go by time served the State, UNC, and Clemson have 100 years service. Duke has 93 years while WF has 85 and UVa has 84 years total. GT has spent 57 of the last 100 years with the group. VT has 47. FSU has 31. Miami 17 and BC just 16. Pitt and Syracuse have just 9 while ND has just 8 and Louisville just 7. Old and New really break 8 to 6.

(04-09-2021 02:56 PM)georgia_tech_swagger Wrote:  

(04-09-2021 02:14 PM)XLance Wrote:  

(04-09-2021 12:41 PM)DawgNBama Wrote:  

(04-09-2021 08:56 AM)georgia_tech_swagger Wrote:  

(04-08-2021 11:39 PM)AllTideUp Wrote:  The ACC is 2 conferences trying to exist as one. It doesn't really work.

Some time ago, I proposed that there should be a separation.

The old guard of the ACC could just reconstitute with a few like-minded schools and form a basketball first league.

Boston College, Syracuse, Virginia, North Carolina, Duke, and Wake Forest could form up with UConn, Cincinnati, UCF, and USF. Immediately, you have a 10 school league that could carve its niche. They would be stable and compete in the sports they genuinely care about. Meanwhile, a small selection can provide some football legitimacy. No real reason not to include them in a Power structure.

For the ACC members that care about football and competing for titles, they could be shipped off.

Florida State, Miami, Georgia Tech, and Clemson could join the SEC.

Louisville, Virginia Tech, NC State, and Pittsburgh could join the Big 12. In addition, Notre Dame can take their partial agreement and go with that grouping.

As much as I am a fan of symmetry, it doesn't have to be congruent.

Step 1) +4 in the East
East: Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Missouri, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Clemson, Georgia Tech, Florida State, Miami

West: Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, LSU, Ole Miss, Mississippi State, Texas A&M


Step 2) Rebalance

East: Clemson, South Carolina, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Florida, Florida State, Miami, Kentucky, Tennessee

West: Texas A&M, LSU, Ole Miss, Miss State, Arkansas, Missouri, Vanderbilt, Alabama, Auburn



That came out cleaner than I thought. But I'd be remiss if I didn't then go just a bit further:

East: Clemson, South Carolina, Georgia, Georgia Tech, Florida, Florida State, Miami, Kentucky, Tennessee, Virginia Tech, Auburn, (UofL/NC State/UNC)

West: Texas A&M, LSU, Ole Miss, Miss State, Arkansas, Missouri, Vanderbilt, Alabama, Texas, Oklahoma, (OKST/TTU/Kansas)

Flip Auburn and FSU, Swagger, and I think you got it. Cross-over games would still be a necessary evil, but it is what it is.

Three conferences would be better (14 +14+11).

East:
Georgia Tech, Wake Forest, Carolina, Duke, UVa
Pitt, Syracuse, Boston College, Vanderbilt, Miami
Notre Dame, Navy

South:
Florida, Florida State, Georgia, Clemson, South Carolina, NC State, Auburn
Virginia Tech, Kentucky, Tennessee, Alabama, MSU, West Virginia, Louisville

West:
Ole Miss, LSU, Texas, Texas A&M, Baylor, TCU, Arkansas
Oklahoma, OSU, Kansas, KSU, Iowa State, Missouri, Texas Tech

That ACC configuration is perilously close to a DavidSt-ism.

I'll have to find some DavidSt posts to see if he has been copying my ideas.
Even if you left Notre Dame a partial, this is not a bad way to split up the Big 12, SEC and ACC into 3 pretty compatible football conferences.
Navy football could move from the AAC to the ACC on a limited basis, maybe 5 games per year like Notre Dame with the Irish/Navy game being one of the 5. Navy would keep their CBS contract (gives the ACC some more exposure) and Notre Dame can keep their relationship with NBC (also gives the ACC more air time).
Appalachian replaces Navy in the AAC.

(04-09-2021 03:07 PM)Wedge Wrote:  

(04-09-2021 11:15 AM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  

(04-08-2021 11:39 PM)AllTideUp Wrote:  The ACC is 2 conferences trying to exist as one. It doesn't really work.

There has always been a simple solution. The ACC is already split - into 2 divisions. Why in the world aren't those divisions "Old ACC" and "Old Big East"? (Yes, I realize that one "Old ACC" team might have to join the "Old Big East", but I'm sure it would still be better than "Coastal" and "Atlantic").

Old ACC and New ACC would be an even 7 in each:

New (joined after 1/1/1990): Miami, Florida St, Va Tech, Louisville, Pitt, Syracuse, BC

Old: GT, Clemson, UNC, NCSU, Duke, Wake, UVa

Would the “Old” division be ok without a Florida school in their division? Instead of visits to Florida every other year, the frequency would drop to once every 3 or 4.

(04-11-2021 01:05 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  

(04-09-2021 03:07 PM)Wedge Wrote:  

(04-09-2021 11:15 AM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  

(04-08-2021 11:39 PM)AllTideUp Wrote:  The ACC is 2 conferences trying to exist as one. It doesn't really work.

There has always been a simple solution. The ACC is already split - into 2 divisions. Why in the world aren't those divisions "Old ACC" and "Old Big East"? (Yes, I realize that one "Old ACC" team might have to join the "Old Big East", but I'm sure it would still be better than "Coastal" and "Atlantic").

Old ACC and New ACC would be an even 7 in each:

New (joined after 1/1/1990): Miami, Florida St, Va Tech, Louisville, Pitt, Syracuse, BC

Old: GT, Clemson, UNC, NCSU, Duke, Wake, UVa

Would the “Old” division be ok without a Florida school in their division? Instead of visits to Florida every other year, the frequency would drop to once every 3 or 4.

Prior to 1960 Miami played Clemson, NC State, South Carolina, Maryland, and Wake Forest on a regular basis averaging about 3 games a year with those five. A number of times Miami was an opponent in the Orange or Gator Bowl. From the time FSU first started football in 1956 they played an average of 4 future ACC schools a year for the first decade or so. Miami was the most common opponent followed by NC State, then VT. Since Miami played it's first future ACC school in 1939, they would in some sense seem "old". The fact that both GT and VT were in the same conference from 1921 to 1933 and 1921 to 1953 respectively it makes it difficult to quantify old and new. The fact that WF did not join until after 1936 could be used to alledge they are old compared to GT and VT.

However Wake Forest has been playing Southern Conference teams since the 1890's - UNC, UVa, Trinity (Duke), NC A&M (NC State). Maryland A&M (UM), Tennessee, Florida, SC, and GT and played a defacto SoCon schedule from 1921. So they can't really be new.

Maybe we can do old and new by the age of the school? Let's see:

1. Pitt 1787
2. UNC 1789
3. Louisville 1798
4. UVa 1819
5. WF 1834 or 1956
6. Duke 1838 or 1892
7. FSU 1851 or 1947

8. BC 1863
9. Syracuse 1870
10. VT 1872
11. GT 1885
12. NC State 1887
13. Clemson 1889
14. Miami 1925

Now there is just one thing about these dates. Duke was Trinity College and moved out of Randolph County to Durham by Tabaco Magnate James B. Duke and other in 1892. Wake Forest was moved from Wake Forest to Winston Salem by R. J. Reynolds in 1956. Florida State was a girls school until 1947. Does this make them new?

(04-11-2021 05:50 PM)Statefan Wrote:  

(04-11-2021 01:05 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  

(04-09-2021 03:07 PM)Wedge Wrote:  

(04-09-2021 11:15 AM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  

(04-08-2021 11:39 PM)AllTideUp Wrote:  The ACC is 2 conferences trying to exist as one. It doesn't really work.

There has always been a simple solution. The ACC is already split - into 2 divisions. Why in the world aren't those divisions "Old ACC" and "Old Big East"? (Yes, I realize that one "Old ACC" team might have to join the "Old Big East", but I'm sure it would still be better than "Coastal" and "Atlantic").

Old ACC and New ACC would be an even 7 in each:

New (joined after 1/1/1990): Miami, Florida St, Va Tech, Louisville, Pitt, Syracuse, BC

Old: GT, Clemson, UNC, NCSU, Duke, Wake, UVa

Would the “Old” division be ok without a Florida school in their division? Instead of visits to Florida every other year, the frequency would drop to once every 3 or 4.

Prior to 1960 Miami played Clemson, NC State, South Carolina, Maryland, and Wake Forest on a regular basis averaging about 3 games a year with those five. A number of times Miami was an opponent in the Orange or Gator Bowl. From the time FSU first started football in 1956 they played an average of 4 future ACC schools a year for the first decade or so. Miami was the most common opponent followed by NC State, then VT. Since Miami played it's first future ACC school in 1939, they would in some sense seem "old". The fact that both GT and VT were in the same conference from 1921 to 1933 and 1921 to 1953 respectively it makes it difficult to quantify old and new. The fact that WF did not join until after 1936 could be used to alledge they are old compared to GT and VT.

However Wake Forest has been playing Southern Conference teams since the 1890's - UNC, UVa, Trinity (Duke), NC A&M (NC State). Maryland A&M (UM), Tennessee, Florida, SC, and GT and played a defacto SoCon schedule from 1921. So they can't really be new.

Maybe we can do old and new by the age of the school? Let's see:

1. Pitt 1787
2. UNC 1789
3. Louisville 1798
4. UVa 1819
5. WF 1834 or 1956
6. Duke 1838 or 1892
7. FSU 1851 or 1947

8. BC 1863
9. Syracuse 1870
10. VT 1872
11. GT 1885
12. NC State 1887
13. Clemson 1889
14. Miami 1925

Now there is just one thing about these dates. Duke was Trinity College and moved out of Randolph County to Durham by Tabaco Magnate James B. Duke and other in 1892. Wake Forest was moved from Wake Forest to Winston Salem by R. J. Reynolds in 1956. Florida State was a girls school until 1947. Does this make them new?

FSU played football before 1905...

(04-11-2021 01:05 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  

(04-09-2021 03:07 PM)Wedge Wrote:  

(04-09-2021 11:15 AM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  

(04-08-2021 11:39 PM)AllTideUp Wrote:  The ACC is 2 conferences trying to exist as one. It doesn't really work.

There has always been a simple solution. The ACC is already split - into 2 divisions. Why in the world aren't those divisions "Old ACC" and "Old Big East"? (Yes, I realize that one "Old ACC" team might have to join the "Old Big East", but I'm sure it would still be better than "Coastal" and "Atlantic").

Old ACC and New ACC would be an even 7 in each:

New (joined after 1/1/1990): Miami, Florida St, Va Tech, Louisville, Pitt, Syracuse, BC

Old: GT, Clemson, UNC, NCSU, Duke, Wake, UVa

Would the “Old” division be ok without a Florida school in their division? Instead of visits to Florida every other year, the frequency would drop to once every 3 or 4.

2/7 chance of playing a Florida team every year. 100% of playing a team from Georgia and Virginia, and 4 teams from North Carolina. Recruiting would not be an issue for that group.

Thanks Wittix, I did not know about 1902-1904. It almost appears as if the legislature was trying to bring girls into Tally.

(04-09-2021 10:20 PM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  

(04-09-2021 03:07 PM)Wedge Wrote:  

(04-09-2021 11:15 AM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  

(04-08-2021 11:39 PM)AllTideUp Wrote:  The ACC is 2 conferences trying to exist as one. It doesn't really work.

There has always been a simple solution. The ACC is already split - into 2 divisions. Why in the world aren't those divisions "Old ACC" and "Old Big East"? (Yes, I realize that one "Old ACC" team might have to join the "Old Big East", but I'm sure it would still be better than "Coastal" and "Atlantic").

Old ACC and New ACC would be an even 7 in each:

New (joined after 1/1/1990): Miami, Florida St, Va Tech, Louisville, Pitt, Syracuse, BC

Old: GT, Clemson, UNC, NCSU, Duke, Wake, UVa

Sign me up!

Ah! the old doughnut alignment.
I don't think you would get much push back from any "old" ACC fans on this configuration.
In fact it's always been the Va. Tech fans that complain the most. They want to play games in North Carolina. They don't seem to care which teams they play, they just want access to the Tar Heel State.
While it may satisfy some fans, that configuration wouldn't put any extra money in anyone's pocket.

(04-13-2021 05:17 AM)XLance Wrote:  

(04-09-2021 10:20 PM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  

(04-09-2021 03:07 PM)Wedge Wrote:  

(04-09-2021 11:15 AM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  

(04-08-2021 11:39 PM)AllTideUp Wrote:  The ACC is 2 conferences trying to exist as one. It doesn't really work.

There has always been a simple solution. The ACC is already split - into 2 divisions. Why in the world aren't those divisions "Old ACC" and "Old Big East"? (Yes, I realize that one "Old ACC" team might have to join the "Old Big East", but I'm sure it would still be better than "Coastal" and "Atlantic").

Old ACC and New ACC would be an even 7 in each:

New (joined after 1/1/1990): Miami, Florida St, Va Tech, Louisville, Pitt, Syracuse, BC

Old: GT, Clemson, UNC, NCSU, Duke, Wake, UVa

Sign me up!

Ah! the old doughnut alignment.
I don't think you would get much push back from any "old" ACC fans on this configuration.
In fact it's always been the Va. Tech fans that complain the most. They want to play games in North Carolina. They don't seem to care which teams they play, they just want access to the Tar Heel State.
While it may satisfy some fans, that configuration wouldn't put any extra money in anyone's pocket.

Probably for recruiting purposes (like how U of O and Oregon State love to play the California Pac 12 schools), but maybe VT athletes and fans just like state of North Carolina for some reason. I live in the state of Alabama, yet I love to take vacations to the state of Oregon whenever I can. I don't mind taking the occasional trip to the state of Florida either.

(04-13-2021 05:17 AM)XLance Wrote:  

(04-09-2021 10:20 PM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  

(04-09-2021 03:07 PM)Wedge Wrote:  

(04-09-2021 11:15 AM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  

(04-08-2021 11:39 PM)AllTideUp Wrote:  The ACC is 2 conferences trying to exist as one. It doesn't really work.

There has always been a simple solution. The ACC is already split - into 2 divisions. Why in the world aren't those divisions "Old ACC" and "Old Big East"? (Yes, I realize that one "Old ACC" team might have to join the "Old Big East", but I'm sure it would still be better than "Coastal" and "Atlantic").

Old ACC and New ACC would be an even 7 in each:

New (joined after 1/1/1990): Miami, Florida St, Va Tech, Louisville, Pitt, Syracuse, BC

Old: GT, Clemson, UNC, NCSU, Duke, Wake, UVa

Sign me up!

Ah! the old doughnut alignment.
I don't think you would get much push back from any "old" ACC fans on this configuration.
In fact it's always been the Va. Tech fans that complain the most. They want to play games in North Carolina. They don't seem to care which teams they play, they just want access to the Tar Heel State.
While it may satisfy some fans, that configuration wouldn't put any extra money in anyone's pocket.

The more I think about it, I agree - this won't result in extra money, so forget it.

Yep!
This brings us back to the fundamental question for ESPN: three conferences of two?
If the answer is two, then what to do about the west coast?
The "market" won't allow three conferences of 16-18 teams and then give equal weight to champions coming out of a conference of only 12 teams.
How then does ESPN distribute value to maximize profits and viewership?
Are 65 teams too many in P leagues?
How do you ease the weak links out?
14 teams which has become the de facto standard is an awkward scheduling vehicle and needs to be modified.
How can the money be divided to keep the whole of the P5 on par with one another?
Whew!

(04-19-2021 05:36 AM)XLance Wrote:  Yep!
This brings us back to the fundamental question for ESPN: three conferences of two?
If the answer is two, then what to do about the west coast?
The "market" won't allow three conferences of 16-18 teams and then give equal weight to champions coming out of a conference of only 12 teams.
How then does ESPN distribute value to maximize profits and viewership?
Are 65 teams too many in P leagues?
How do you ease the weak links out?
14 teams which has become the de facto standard is an awkward scheduling vehicle and needs to be modified.
How can the money be divided to keep the whole of the P5 on par with one another?
Whew!

I'm not sure there's a way to "ease" schools out. They'll either volunteer or go kicking-and-screaming-and-suing-and-cussing. I do think having verified "tweener" conferences would be helpful.

Let's say we have 3 18-team power conferences + Notre Dame, that equals 55 schools so 10 will be "relegated." For the sake of this post, I will relegate: Baylor, Boston College, Oregon St, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Syracuse, Vanderbilt, Wake Forest, Washington St, and West Virginia.

Alignment

Power / High-Major

IND: Notre Dame

XVIII
Central: Arizona, Arizona St, Colorado, Kansas St, Iowa St, Utah
South: Kansas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma St, TCU, Texas, Texas Tech
West: California, Oregon, Stanford, UCLA, USC, Washington

B1G
East: Duke, Georgia Tech, Maryland, Miami (FL), North Carolina, Virginia
North: Indiana, Michigan, Michigan St, Ohio St, Penn St, Purdue
West: Illinois, Iowa, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Wisconsin

SEC
East: Clemson, Florida St, Louisville, North Carolina St, South Carolina, Virginia Tech
South: Alabama, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, Tennessee
West: Arkansas, LSU, Mississippi, Mississippi St, Missouri, Texas A&M

Mid-Major

IND: BYU

PAC
West: Boise St, Colorado St, Fresno St, Hawaii, Oregon St, San Diego St, Washington St
East: Air Force, Baylor, Houston, Navy, SMU, Tulane, Tulsa

ACC
North: Army, Boston College, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Syracuse, Temple, West Virginia
South: Central Florida, Cincinnati, East Carolina, Memphis, South Florida, Vanderbilt, Wake Forest

Low-Major - everyone else plus any move-ups


New Year's 8 / College Football Playoffs

1. Expand the high payout bowls by 2 adding the Citrus Bowl and the Las Vegas Bowl.
2. Expand the playoffs to 8 schools with the 1st round as NY8 bowls and the semi-finals and championship game bid by cities.
3. Give each power / high-major conference champion an auto-bid as a playoff game top 4-seed which allows for 5 at-larges.
4. Give each power / high-major conference and each mid-major conference at least 1 guaranteed bid to a non-playoff NY8 bowl.

(04-19-2021 05:36 AM)XLance Wrote:  Yep!
This brings us back to the fundamental question for ESPN: three conferences of two?
If the answer is two, then what to do about the west coast?
The "market" won't allow three conferences of 16-18 teams and then give equal weight to champions coming out of a conference of only 12 teams.
How then does ESPN distribute value to maximize profits and viewership?
Are 65 teams too many in P leagues?
How do you ease the weak links out?
14 teams which has become the de facto standard is an awkward scheduling vehicle and needs to be modified.
How can the money be divided to keep the whole of the P5 on par with one another?
Whew!

I already created a thread for that discussion (4 by 14).

(04-13-2021 05:07 PM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  

(04-13-2021 05:17 AM)XLance Wrote:  

(04-09-2021 10:20 PM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  

(04-09-2021 03:07 PM)Wedge Wrote:  

(04-09-2021 11:15 AM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  There has always been a simple solution. The ACC is already split - into 2 divisions. Why in the world aren't those divisions "Old ACC" and "Old Big East"? (Yes, I realize that one "Old ACC" team might have to join the "Old Big East", but I'm sure it would still be better than "Coastal" and "Atlantic").

Old ACC and New ACC would be an even 7 in each:

New (joined after 1/1/1990): Miami, Florida St, Va Tech, Louisville, Pitt, Syracuse, BC

Old: GT, Clemson, UNC, NCSU, Duke, Wake, UVa

Sign me up!

Ah! the old doughnut alignment.
I don't think you would get much push back from any "old" ACC fans on this configuration.
In fact it's always been the Va. Tech fans that complain the most. They want to play games in North Carolina. They don't seem to care which teams they play, they just want access to the Tar Heel State.
While it may satisfy some fans, that configuration wouldn't put any extra money in anyone's pocket.

The more I think about it, I agree - this won't result in extra money, so forget it.

So Mark, how would you arrange the divisions to maximize income.

(04-22-2021 07:48 AM)XLance Wrote:  

(04-13-2021 05:07 PM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  

(04-13-2021 05:17 AM)XLance Wrote:  

(04-09-2021 10:20 PM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  

(04-09-2021 03:07 PM)Wedge Wrote:  Old ACC and New ACC would be an even 7 in each:

New (joined after 1/1/1990): Miami, Florida St, Va Tech, Louisville, Pitt, Syracuse, BC

Old: GT, Clemson, UNC, NCSU, Duke, Wake, UVa

Sign me up!

Ah! the old doughnut alignment.
I don't think you would get much push back from any "old" ACC fans on this configuration.
In fact it's always been the Va. Tech fans that complain the most. They want to play games in North Carolina. They don't seem to care which teams they play, they just want access to the Tar Heel State.
While it may satisfy some fans, that configuration wouldn't put any extra money in anyone's pocket.

The more I think about it, I agree - this won't result in extra money, so forget it.

So Mark, how would you arrange the divisions to maximize income.

Are there any games not already being played annually that would warrant a significant pay increase from ESPN before the expiration of the current contract?

(04-22-2021 07:48 AM)XLance Wrote:  

(04-13-2021 05:07 PM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  

(04-13-2021 05:17 AM)XLance Wrote:  

(04-09-2021 10:20 PM)Hokie Mark Wrote:  

(04-09-2021 03:07 PM)Wedge Wrote:  Old ACC and New ACC would be an even 7 in each:

New (joined after 1/1/1990): Miami, Florida St, Va Tech, Louisville, Pitt, Syracuse, BC

Old: GT, Clemson, UNC, NCSU, Duke, Wake, UVa

Sign me up!

Ah! the old doughnut alignment.
I don't think you would get much push back from any "old" ACC fans on this configuration.
In fact it's always been the Va. Tech fans that complain the most. They want to play games in North Carolina. They don't seem to care which teams they play, they just want access to the Tar Heel State.
While it may satisfy some fans, that configuration wouldn't put any extra money in anyone's pocket.

The more I think about it, I agree - this won't result in extra money, so forget it.

So Mark, how would you arrange the divisions to maximize income.

I don't speak for Mark, but I suppose one way to do that would be to put the programs that are the greatest draws from a TV perspective into the same division. I'm not exactly sure who those draws are, but maybe something like this?

Big Money: Clemson, Florida State, Louisville, Miami, North Carolina, Virginia, Virginia Tech
Little Money: Boston College, Duke, Georgia Tech, NC State, Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Wake Forest

Terribly unbalanced competition-wise, but that's kind of the point.

Ideally from the ACC perspective, there would be deregulation of CCGs and a divisionless structure. So they could have a similar schedule as what this alignment would produce, but the lack of divisions provides more scheduling flexibility (e.g., it can permit UNC to play both Duke and NCSU annually).