Yet another conference realignment proposal - This one seems different.
- By The SHUttle
- Pirate Hoops Chat
- 15 Replies
Ah, they're getting so close to where it's ultimately headed that they can almost see it. So of course football is going to break away independent of the current leagues, but it isn't going to include any 70 teams. Looking at it strictly from a media value point of view, which of course is the only way they're looking at it, there is so much noncontributing dead weight in this plan. You will see something like this, but with no more than 28 or 32 programs, made up entirely of national football brands who can carry weight across any geography or media markets. Physical geography means little anymore. Think of the NFL, but with college teams. It doesn't matter where those teams are located. There is no way Alabama and Ohio State and Texas are splitting they revenue they are bringing in with the current weak sisters of their respective conferences. If the entire purpose is to maximize annual revenue -- and it clearly is -- why would they?
I don't follow this closely at all, but there is no way for them to de-link themselves due to existing media deals if they want this to happen any time soon. I do think adding an element of relegation risk & promotion opportunity for those outside this league would be a way to bring them along while keeping some value on the games between Vanderbilt and Boston College. They'd probably look at some multi-year results factor in relegation rather than single year as a way to protect themselves from a disastrous campaign.