Article from the Athletic:

Several college presidents, Roger Goodell’s primary lieutenant at the NFL and some of sports’ top executives have devised a plan — dubbed by outsiders as a “Super League” — to completely transform college football, those involved in the group “College Sports Tomorrow” (CST) told The Athletic. Although the plan has drawn skepticism from within the sport’s current institutions, the people behind the ideas believe they must be implemented.

The current CST outline would create a system that would have the top 70 programs — all members of the five former major conferences, plus Notre Dame and new ACC member SMU — as permanent members and encompass all 130-plus FBS universities.

The perpetual members would be in seven 10-team divisions, joined by an eighth division of teams that would be promoted from the second tier.

The 50-plus second-division teams would have the opportunity to compete their way into the upper division, creating a promotion system similar to the structure in European football leagues. The 70 permanent teams would never be in danger of moving down, while the second division would have the incentive of promotion and relegation.

16 team playoff…

https://theathletic.com/5383639/2024/04/...alignment/

DOA—the Big 10 and SEC aren’t going to just give up their advantages.

Now a system of the P2, M2, ND, and a rotation of 10 G5s could potentially work but I think that arrangement would need to be just for football. The G5 all retain their existing membership. 10 would just be culled from their ranks to participate as “M” independents in the group with revolving membership.

There would need to be a system to determine promotion and relegation—how many move up and down annually, who moves up, can relegation be avoided? Etc

(04-03-2024 06:12 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  DOA—the Big 10 and SEC aren’t going to just give up their advantages.

Now a system of the P2, M2, ND, and a rotation of 10 G5s could potentially work but I think that arrangement would need to be just for football. The G5 all retain their existing membership. 10 would just be culled from their ranks to participate as “M” independents in the group with revolving membership.

There would need to be a system to determine promotion and relegation—how many move up and down annually, who moves up, can relegation be avoided? Etc

It's risible that (checks where he's washed up) WVU's Gordon Gee and the Syracuse chancellor think they'll have any input in how this shakes out.

(04-03-2024 05:53 PM)sctvman Wrote:  Article from the Athletic:

Several college presidents, Roger Goodell’s primary lieutenant at the NFL and some of sports’ top executives have devised a plan — dubbed by outsiders as a “Super League” — to completely transform college football, those involved in the group “College Sports Tomorrow” (CST) told The Athletic. Although the plan has drawn skepticism from within the sport’s current institutions, the people behind the ideas believe they must be implemented.

The current CST outline would create a system that would have the top 70 programs — all members of the five former major conferences, plus Notre Dame and new ACC member SMU — as permanent members and encompass all 130-plus FBS universities.

The perpetual members would be in seven 10-team divisions, joined by an eighth division of teams that would be promoted from the second tier.

The 50-plus second-division teams would have the opportunity to compete their way into the upper division, creating a promotion system similar to the structure in European football leagues. The 70 permanent teams would never be in danger of moving down, while the second division would have the incentive of promotion and relegation.

16 team playoff…

https://theathletic.com/5383639/2024/04/...alignment/

And the bolded is where that plan dies to never be heard from again. The whole 70-team top level with #'s 71-80 playing in EPL-style is good on the surface, but as soon as you're telling schools in the B1G/SEC they're now sharing 7 10-team divisions with the ACC/XII, the proposal dies forever.

(04-03-2024 06:24 PM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  

(04-03-2024 05:53 PM)sctvman Wrote:  Article from the Athletic:

Several college presidents, Roger Goodell’s primary lieutenant at the NFL and some of sports’ top executives have devised a plan — dubbed by outsiders as a “Super League” — to completely transform college football, those involved in the group “College Sports Tomorrow” (CST) told The Athletic. Although the plan has drawn skepticism from within the sport’s current institutions, the people behind the ideas believe they must be implemented.

The current CST outline would create a system that would have the top 70 programs — all members of the five former major conferences, plus Notre Dame and new ACC member SMU — as permanent members and encompass all 130-plus FBS universities.

The perpetual members would be in seven 10-team divisions, joined by an eighth division of teams that would be promoted from the second tier.

The 50-plus second-division teams would have the opportunity to compete their way into the upper division, creating a promotion system similar to the structure in European football leagues. The 70 permanent teams would never be in danger of moving down, while the second division would have the incentive of promotion and relegation.

16 team playoff…

https://theathletic.com/5383639/2024/04/...alignment/

And the bolded is where that plan dies to never be heard from again. The whole 70-team top level with #'s 71-80 playing in EPL-style is good on the surface, but as soon as you're telling schools in the B1G/SEC they're now sharing 7 10-team divisions with the ACC/XII, the proposal dies forever.

Why? By the end of the decade it’s looking like their top brands will want to either shed their league barnacles if a relegated payment system isn’t implemented. I’m not seeing anything here related to media deals, so it seems media bundles could be CFA style rather than conference style. The organization can fill schedules with top out of division games.

(04-03-2024 06:12 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  DOA—the Big 10 and SEC aren’t going to just give up their advantages.

Exactly ... and why should they?

The SEC and Big Ten are two of the most iconic brands and institutions in America. Nobody's throwing away decades' worth of capital for a plan concocted primarily by a bunch of outsiders in the college sports world.

From the article:

• “The current model for governing and managing college athletics is dead,” Syracuse chancellor Kent Syverud said. Syverud is part of College Sports Tomorrow, a 20-person group which also includes the NFL’s No. 2 executive Brian Rolapp, Philadelphia 76ers owner David Blitzer and lead organizer Len Perna of TurnkeyZRG
  

• The current CST outline would create a system that would have the top 70 programs — all members of the five former major conferences, plus Notre Dame and new ACC member SMU
  

• Thus far, the group is struggling to gain traction with the schools that would play in their proposed “Super League.” The ACC board of directors heard a presentation from the group in February. However, planned dinners with administrators from the Big Ten, SEC and Big 12 all were called off. Spokespersons for the Big Ten and SEC said commissioners Petitti and Greg Sankey, respectively, have not met with Perna’s group.
  

This "plan" has Poor Jim Phillips' fingerprints all over it with his league/employer on the verge of crumbling and his least-desireable schools praying for a Hail Mary.

• The Big Ten’s deals run through the 2029-30 season, the Big 12’s run through 2030-31 and the SEC’s exclusive deal with ESPN runs through 2033-34. One CST executive said that the major networks with existing deals would likely need to buy into the plan before it could go to the open market in the 2030s.
  

Phillips to FSU, Clemson et al.: "Why bother with the hassle and expense of leaving the ACC now when this new Super League will be here in just a few short years?"

FSU, Clemson to Phillips:

(04-03-2024 06:24 PM)IWokeUpLikeThis Wrote:  

(04-03-2024 05:53 PM)sctvman Wrote:  Article from the Athletic:

Several college presidents, Roger Goodell’s primary lieutenant at the NFL and some of sports’ top executives have devised a plan — dubbed by outsiders as a “Super League” — to completely transform college football, those involved in the group “College Sports Tomorrow” (CST) told The Athletic. Although the plan has drawn skepticism from within the sport’s current institutions, the people behind the ideas believe they must be implemented.

The current CST outline would create a system that would have the top 70 programs — all members of the five former major conferences, plus Notre Dame and new ACC member SMU — as permanent members and encompass all 130-plus FBS universities.

The perpetual members would be in seven 10-team divisions, joined by an eighth division of teams that would be promoted from the second tier.

The 50-plus second-division teams would have the opportunity to compete their way into the upper division, creating a promotion system similar to the structure in European football leagues. The 70 permanent teams would never be in danger of moving down, while the second division would have the incentive of promotion and relegation.

16 team playoff…

https://theathletic.com/5383639/2024/04/...alignment/

And the bolded is where that plan dies to never be heard from again. The whole 70-team top level with #'s 71-80 playing in EPL-style is good on the surface, but as soon as you're telling schools in the B1G/SEC they're now sharing 7 10-team divisions with the ACC/XII, the proposal dies forever.

Yeah. And think of this way; this would mean some B10 schools are no longer in a division with tOSU or Michigan. Some SEC schools are no longer playing Bama. Not going to fly.

(04-03-2024 06:38 PM)PeteTheChop Wrote:  

(04-03-2024 06:12 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  DOA—the Big 10 and SEC aren’t going to just give up their advantages.

Exactly ... and why should they?

The SEC and Big Ten are two of the most iconic brands and institutions in America. Nobody's throwing away decades' worth of capital for a plan concocted primarily by a bunch of outsiders in the college sports world.

From the article:

• “The current model for governing and managing college athletics is dead,” Syracuse chancellor Kent Syverud said. Syverud is part of College Sports Tomorrow, a 20-person group which also includes the NFL’s No. 2 executive Brian Rolapp, Philadelphia 76ers owner David Blitzer and lead organizer Len Perna of TurnkeyZRG
  

• The current CST outline would create a system that would have the top 70 programs — all members of the five former major conferences, plus Notre Dame and new ACC member SMU
  

• Thus far, the group is struggling to gain traction with the schools that would play in their proposed “Super League.” The ACC board of directors heard a presentation from the group in February. However, planned dinners with administrators from the Big Ten, SEC and Big 12 all were called off. Spokespersons for the Big Ten and SEC said commissioners Petitti and Greg Sankey, respectively, have not met with Perna’s group.
  

This "plan" has Poor Jim Phillips' fingerprints all over it with his league/employer on the verge of crumbling and his least-desireable schools praying for a Hail Mary

• The Big Ten’s deals run through the 2029-30 season, the Big 12’s run through 2030-31 and the SEC’s exclusive deal with ESPN runs through 2033-34. One CST executive said that the major networks with existing deals would likely need to buy into the plan before it could go to the open market in the 2030s.
  

Phillips to FSU, Clemson et al.: "Why bother with the hassle and expense of leaving the ACC now when this new Super League will be here in just a few short years?"

Lolololol!

NO they definitely are NOT!

More people in this country are familiar with the Securities and Exchange Commission than the college athletic conference! Wow, I mean seriously? This ain’t Coke and Pepsi. I get it, we’re insulated here, but no regular “fan” really gives a flying one about their team’s conference and can’t even name who is in them, especially now.

But feel free to work in another dig at the ACC.

Most iconic brands in America he says

Would be way better for fans and most schools than the current system. So of course they'll screw it up.

Right here in one paragraph the "sweet spot" that CST and the increasingly-desperate Poor Jim Phillips are using to derail the powerful SEC/B1G train from demolishing the ACC:

"Unlike the MLS, the revenue distribution would not be an even split among all competitors, as top brands like Alabama and Notre Dame would receive more of the financial pie."

Translation:

Top SEC/BIG/ACC brands will make more money than projected.

Lesser SEC/B1G brands will make less money than projected.

Mid- and lower-level ACC/Big XII brands will make about the same amount of money but won't be frozen out of a potential SEC/B1G breakaway or alliance.

"The ACC board of directors heard a presentation from the group in February. However, planned dinners with administrators from the Big Ten, SEC and Big 12 all were called off."

Sorry Poor Jim.

Brett Yormark will not be helping the ACC survive

(04-03-2024 07:06 PM)PeteTheChop Wrote:  Right here in one paragraph the "sweet spot" that CST and the increasingly-desperate Poor Jim Phillips are using to derail the powerful SEC/B1G train from demolishing the ACC:

"Unlike the MLS, the revenue distribution would not be an even split among all competitors, as top brands like Alabama and Notre Dame would receive more of the financial pie."

Translation:

Top SEC/BIG/ACC brands will make more money than projected.

Lesser SEC/B1G brands will make less money than projected.

Mid- and lower-level ACC/Big XII brands will make about the same amount of money but won't be frozen out of a potential SEC/B1G breakaway or alliance.

"The ACC board of directors heard a presentation from the group in February. However, planned dinners with administrators from the Big Ten, SEC and Big 12 all were called off."

Sorry Poor Jim.

Brett Yormark will not be helping the ACC survive

The Pedigree Programs among the Big Dogs have taken their Revolution. They are killing the heartworms of little brothers, expelling the peaky fleas of the smaller conferences that can take big hops make the big programs scratch with a lucky bite, or hop on a line for a bowl or playoff spot, and they are ridding themselves of the ticks who don't try at anything but dig in to suck the funds they get from their free ride off a big dog or dogs.

Their academician owners want them in the biggest dog show they can find and want them fed and groomed to look like champions whether they even sniff a championship or not. They believe that smaller dog shows mean more trophies.

And corporate CEO's are all for it, especially Disney who when they got super wealthy were no longer happy that Lady was with Tramp.

This would be the setup that saves college football. Too bad most are too greedy to realize it or care.

A few years ago I figured it’d be 16 Big Ten, 16 SEC, and 16 Other (with a handful of permanents there, like ND, maybe FSU). You could probably do 20+20+20 just the same. Agree that 70 permanents is too many. 36-44 max.

Let’s pretend the P2 and M2 agree to this on the grounds that nothing changes with their memberships. There’s a rotating membership of G5s in a football only league.

Would the G5 actually agree as to who would be the initial 10 participants and what the method for relegation/promotion would be?

SBC, MAC, and C-USA would want equal representation while the AAC and MWC would want a merit-based approach.

(04-03-2024 07:25 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  Let’s pretend the P2 and M2 agree to this on the grounds that nothing changes with their memberships. There’s a rotating membership of G5s in a football only league.

Would the G5 actually agree as to who would be the initial 10 participants and what the method for relegation/promotion would be?

SBC, MAC, and C-USA would want equal representation while the AAC and MWC would want a merit-based approach.

5 Champs replace 5 lowest members. Over time there is between 1 and 6 from any given conference.

Round-Robin travel in that division would be a bear.

(04-03-2024 07:20 PM)BraveKnight Wrote:  This would be the setup that saves college football. Too bad most are too greedy to realize it or care.

Where we are headed, a place where pay for play is mandated, NIL is a constant consideration, and television wants only the games which will yield the most eyes, programs which are subsidized, most at 50% or higher, have no chance.

Want to blame somebody? Start with the Supreme Court's Alston decision. Or wait and gripe about the Johnson decision. Blame unions, and networks who want only those programs which draw the most viewers because that drives advertising money, and then you will be targeting the right people. But the world these people are shaping is not going to be one conducive to the development or sustaining of smaller subsidized programs, and that's simply reality.

Yes, these decisions are going to change things drastically, but not just for football, but especially non-revenue sports.

And if you really want to lay the blame at the feet of one entity then make it the NCAA who bankrolled 2 billion in endowments from tournament proceeds and fought everything which it was asked to consider for the student athlete. Without their obstinance none of it ever gets to this point.

Now aside from that, why was it ever considered wise or just for taxpayers to pay for extracurricular sports at any state university. If the school can afford them fine, I love to watch them play. If the school can't afford them why should the taxpayer be on the hook for the bill? I would rather they fulfill their teaching mission with extra resources than have athletic programs they can't afford.

And one other thing. In life the greedy are those who take from those who have to get ahead. Greed is not a school offering athletics it can afford. Greed is a motive. It is the lack of access to revenue that makes one greedy. For those who have money, it is the refusal to spend what is needed that makes them greedy. The overhead of the big schools is going up massively due to past sins of the NCAA. Their desire to earn more now is merely a necessary reaction to the change in conditions. If they take to get it then it is greed. If they refuse to spend on it, but intend to keep it, that too is a form of greed. But asking for more to cover more overhead is just good business.

It's always funny to read about proposals and/or dreams to make college football more like college basketball or European soccer. College football will never be either of those, for an abundance of reasons. We are past the point of no return now.

The inevitable conclusion is more consolidation, not expansion. Not everyone will have a seat at the table, nor will everyone have the resources to enjoy the same meal. It is what it is.

But they’re laughing and having a good time and getting their meals catered to, so no biggie, the fans can **** off.

(04-03-2024 07:06 PM)PeteTheChop Wrote:  Right here in one paragraph the "sweet spot" that CST and the increasingly-desperate Poor Jim Phillips are using to derail the powerful SEC/B1G train from demolishing the ACC:

"Unlike the MLS, the revenue distribution would not be an even split among all competitors, as top brands like Alabama and Notre Dame would receive more of the financial pie."

Translation:

Top SEC/BIG/ACC brands will make more money than projected.

Lesser SEC/B1G brands will make less money than projected.

This is going to eventually happen regardless. No use in fighting it.

The free version: https://archive.is/zr5in