Sometimes a single event that seems small and inconsequential at the time spurs massive change. Like the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand caused World War I and changed the face of Europe forever, Texas A&M’s decision to leave the Big-12 and join the SEC is poised to change the face of college football forever and bring upon the era of “Super Conferences.” Each event happened for individual political reasons (freedom from the Austro-Hungarian Empire/freedom from the Austin, Texas Empire) but eventually they’ll share the distinction of having much larger consequences.
The effects of the move are already being felt. In just the time since we started writing this, the Big East began to disintegrate with two of its most important members and best football programs, Syracuse and Pittsburgh, announced they were bolting for the ACC. And that’s just the beginning, the remaining Big East schools are scrambling to find a home and Texas and Oklahoma may doom the Big-12 by joining the Pac-12.
Massive realignment is on the horizon; the only question is how it’s going to look. It seems strange to think that conferences we’ve grown up with like the Big East and Big-12 are just going to disappear. We’ve been sold the power rivalries and tradition for so long that we’ve accepted that these things don’t change. But they do. The Big East may be legendary to us but so were the Southern Conference, the Southwest Athletic Conference and the Big 8. To extend the WWI analogy even further, people probably expected the Ottoman Empire and Austria-Hungary were going to be around forever. But there was a time when they weren’t there and a time after they went away. The map is constantly changing. It’s natural and to be expected.
To any real extent, we have no clue how the future landscape will look. What we do now, however, is that there is too much money at stake and too many instances of smaller schools (Boise, TCU) playing Robin Hood with the BCS payouts for the conferences and the teams to stand pat. To us, the time has come for conferences to consolidate their power and that means getting bigger. And we don’t mean just any type of growth, we mean expanding by cannibalizing their rivals and coopting any outside challengers. Think the modern Republican Party.
All the dick swinging teams like Baylor and Iowa State are doing, threatening legal action, is just posturing. They need to make sure they’re not left standing when the music stops. With the exception of the truly elite programs, football legitimacy is directly tied to who they play and when they someone starts making passes at their partners, they get nervous.
Ironically, what will ultimately save those teams is the thing that is tearing their status quo apart – greed and hubris. Once the first conference jumps, the competition among the others will be fierce to make sure they don’t fall behind. If the Pac-12 becomes the Pac-16, the Big 10 and SEC certainly aren’t going to sit idly by and watch their rival grow unchecked. Once those two behemoths start to move, the ACC will have no choice but to expand or perish (a.k.a. lose their automatic BCS bid and the associated monetary windfall). The remaining Big East and Big-12 teams will be gobbled up in the process. And suddenly, we’re in the “Era of Super Conferences.” All because Texas A&M was tired of being shit on by Texas.
So, since we’re absolute shit at predicting the future, we decided to come up with our own plan. We can’t necessarily say its in the best thing for college football as a whole (on some level is more likely to decrease competition by exacerbating the royal-peasant relationship between the elite and run of the mill programs) but we’re confident it would be better than both what we have now and what the powers-that-be would come up with in solving the biggest problem of all – deciding a national champion. So without any further ado (there has already been much ado but we shall ado no further), we present The Persnickety Project’s Plan for College Football Realignment – The Big Power Grab.
Where Are We Know?
Here is the present alignment of the BCS conferences (as they stand today):
ACC (12 teams): Boston College, Clemson, Duke, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Maryland, Miami, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest
Big 12 (10 teams): Baylor, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Missouri, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Texas, Texas Tech, Texas A&M
Big East (teams): Cincinnati, Connecticut, Louisville, Rutgers, South Florida, West Virginia, Pittsburgh, Syracuse
Big Ten (12 teams): Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue, Wisconsin
Pac-12 (12 teams): Arizona, Arizona State, California, Colorado, Oregon, Oregon State, Stanford, UCLA, USC, Utah, Washington, Washington State
SEC (12 teams): Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vanderbilt
That’s 66 teams. The Big Power Grab (“BPG”) calls for 4, 18-team, regional conferences. Though math is far from our strong suit, that alignment would require 72, or six more, teams. So, who get’s the call-up? Read on the find out.
The Future
The Pac-18
Current teams (12): Arizona, Arizona State, California, Colorado, Oregon, Oregon State, Stanford, UCLA, USC, Utah, Washington, Washington State.
New Additions (6): Texas, Oklahoma, Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, BYU, SMU
Welcome to the Big Time …
BYU: The Fighting Mormons might not currently have the cache of TCU or Boise but, as the last non-BCS school to both win a National Championship (1984) and produce a Heisman Trophy Winner (Ty Detmer, 1990) and a consistent Top 25-ish team, they clearly deserve a spot in the BPG.
SMU: For awhile we had this spot going to Fresno State (the team that threatened to be the pre-Boise, Boise) but in putting this together we tried to account for history and deeper connections, giving SMU the edge. Before receiving the “Death Penalty” in 1987, SMU was a premier program (claiming 3 national titles) and, from its days in the old Southwest Athletic Conference, has a history with Texas and Texas Tech and a list of alums including Doak Walker, Kyle Rote, Don Meridith, Eric Dickerson, Forest Gregg, Lamar Hunt and Raymond Berry. The proverbial “last team in.”
The Story: If, as expected, Texas and Oklahoma, two of the most successful programs in Division 1 football history (2nd and 6th in wins, respectively), join up, with Texas Tech and Oklahoma State as the price of admission (a price surely offset by T Boone’s money), the Pac [Number] will be on the way to remaking itself. To round out he conference, BYU fits the geographical profile and has a history of success to fit right into the middle of the conference (particularly when they run out their 25 year old missionaries) and SMU provides another beachhead in the very completive and talent rich Texas recruiting scene and exploitable history.
New Divisions:
Dudes: California, Oregon, Oregon State, Stanford, Washington, Washington State, USC, UCLA, and Colorado
Bros: Arizona, Arizona State, BYU, Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, BYU, and SMU.
Extra Benefits: For a conference that will have added 8 teams in two years, established rivalries like Texas-Oklahoma, the Oklahomas, Texas-Texas Tech, BYU-Utah to the conference schedule would provide rivalry footholds while the geographically diverse conference meshes and develops its own unique feuds.
Bottom Line: Aside from a somewhat-brief, somewhat-tainted run by USC, the conference has been a bit of a disappointment on the national stage, particularly when compared to the mighty SEC. But adding two teams with a combined 6 BCS title game appearances and one of college football’s best rivalries to its conference schedule would immediately validate their place as a big-time football conference and, if USC comes of probation strong, the Trojans, Longhorns and Sooners would form a Top 3 as good as any conference could hope for in tradition and power.
The SEC
Current Teams (12): Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vanderbilt
New Additions (6): Texas A&M, Miami, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Baylor, TCU
Welcome to the Big Time … TCU. In truth, the Horned Frogs are already part of the big time after last year’s Rose Bowl victory. He had them going here even before the Big East started to fall apart because that never made any damn sense in the first place. TCU is another old school program - with a couple of Depression Era national titles and college royalty like Davey O’Brien, Sammy Baugh and LaDanian Tomlinson hailing from their ranks – that fell on hard times before beginning the long climb back up in the mid-90’s.
The Story: The assassin, Texas A&M, gets away its overbearing sibling Texas and gains an invitation to the most elite club. Baylor gets what it wanted – included. But in the long run, they might not be so happy getting what they wanted as its unclear whether solid programs that rarely found themselves at the top of an inferior conference will compete in a real way. Not that the rest of the SEC programs will mind getting free recruiting trips deep in the heart of Texas. When the SEC comes calling, Miami, Florida State and Georgia Tech would gladly walk away from the ACC for a place that cares only about football. Competing won’t be a problem for Florida State, the biggest thing running for most of the 90’s with 2 national titles and 9 straight conference championships, as they bring serious star power, even to the SEC. Miami had a similar run of dominance and while they continue to face hard times and potentially severe penalties, they remain THE U. If they get the “Death Penalty”, they’re easily replaceable by one of the other Florida alphabet schools (UCF, FAU, FIU, LMFAO). Georgia Tech is a historically (if not modernly) significant program and charter member of the SEC with 4 national championships (spanning from 1917 to 1990), a former coach named Heisman and a bitter rivalry with the University of Georgia (and a lesser one with Auburn). TCU’s potential move to the Big East shows they want to take a shot at being part of the elite and, for as long as he stays put, Gary Patterson’s innovative defense and a recruiting boost from joining the conference could put the Frogs in position to challenge the SEC powers and become a true national title contender.
New Divisions:
Stars: Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, Florida State, Miami, Georgia Tech.
Bars: Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, LSU, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Baylor, TCU.
Extra Benefits: Seeing what TCU, a charter member (from 1923) of the old Southwest Conference, can do in a conference where they reunite with Arkansas, Baylor and A&M and rekindle a dormant rivalry with LSU. Making the Miami-Florida-Florida State love triangle and Georgia-Georgia Tech hate-fest conference games gives the SEC rivalries it can sell nationally not just across the Confederacy.
Bottom Line: With 5 straight BCS titles, simply maintaining the status quo would have been good enough but by adding these six teams, THE premier conference in college football can make a case that the crystal football should just go directly to its conference champ.
The Big Ten
Current Teams (12): Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Nebraska, Northwestern, Ohio State, Penn State, Purdue, Wisconsin
New Additions (6): Notre Dame, Kansas, Kansas State, Missouri, Iowa State, Boise State
Welcome to the Big Time ….
Notre Dame. The program isn’t what it once was but, love them or hate them, the Fighting Irish are football aristocracy. Look no further than, despite thumbing their noses at the traditional conference structure, they’re still guaranteed a BCS bid whenever they finish high enough. If this were ever going to happen, it couldn’t without the Catholics on board.
Boise State. In the last 6 years since Chris Peterson took over the program, the Broncos are 63-5 with two BCS bowl victories. As cute as it is to watch Boise’s yearly threats to the “System”, for any new system to have even the illusion of credibility, they have to be involved. Plus, we’re quite sure the traditional powers would like nothing more than to see how the Blue Turfers do with a “real” schedule.
The Story: The Big Ten considers itself a lofty, prestigious conference of tradition, legends and leaders that traces its roots back to 1896 so its admission standards would be pretty high. In fact, if the school had more than 6,000 students and didn’t play their games in a stadium the size of Jim Tressel’s backyard, they’d probably offer to readmit the University of Chicago and call it a day. But if they have to expand, Notre Dame, a long-time target, is the obvious choice and might finally be amenable knowing their special BCS status wouldn’t fly in the BPG. Boise State lacks the history but is just too important in the modern landscape to be overlooked and brings the reputation (despite recent sanctions and a blue field) as a program of character, a fit for how the Big Ten sees itself. While the Big 12 Refugees might not be football powers, they’re big, old public schools that should go stand on the Big Ten’s porch in the rain to make sure they get a spot in what would become the preeminent midwestern conference. Kansas and Kansas State boast two of the best basketball programs in the country and a long-standing rivalry to immediately raise the Big 10 hardwood profile. Missouri brings multiple successful sports programs and rivalries with Kansas, Nebraska, Illinois and Iowa State. Iowa State plays Iowa for the Cy-Hawk, Missouri for the Telephone Trophy, Nebraska in the Cornhole Classic and K-State in Farmageddon (we only made one of those up).
New Divisions
Dicks (formerly Legends): Minnesota, Iowa, Nebraska, Kansas, Kansas State, Missouri, Iowa State, Boise State, Wisconsin
Douches (formerly Leaders): Ohio State, Illinois, Purdue, Indiana, Penn State, Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Northwestern
Extra Benefits: The annual round-robin “Pretentious Tournament” between Ohio State, Michigan, Notre Dame and Penn State for the right to get hammered by Nebraska or Wisconsin. Kansas and Nebraska renewing a rivalry that was the longest continuously played game (since 1906) before Nebraska left the Big 12 last season.
The Bottom Line: The Big Ten won’t just sit around and watch everyone else expand and not act even if it means getting their hands dirty. Adding mid-tier football schools from the Big 12 and a big name like Notre Dame would allow them to expand without threatening the status of their traditional football powers at home. Adding Boise is like your dad getting an earing.
The Big Atlantic Coast Conference
Current Teams:
Big East (8): Connecticut, Louisville, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, South Florida, Syracuse, West Virginia, and Cincinnati
ACC (9): Duke, Maryland, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Boston College, Clemson, Wake Forest, Virginia, and Virginia Tech
Welcome to the Big Time … Villanova. While Nova doesn’t currently play FBS football, what they do play is high-level basketball, which will be important in the new conference. Still, the Wildcats have been a FCS power in recent years, winning a National Championship in 2009, play in a strong market, and are already considering a move to the Big East. If they can find a 15,000-seat stadium to squat in, there’s little reason why this wouldn’t work.
Why They’re Wanted: With Big East teams scattering like roaches in the light, the ACC will end up being the flag bearer of east coast football. Still, if the SEC gets all grabby and lures away their best football schools in Miami, Florida State and Georgia Tech, the best move for the remaining members focus on their strength in basketball to keep football alive. By leveraging the ACC’s regional influence and the Big East’s inherent advantage on the hardwood, the “new” conference would be the only basketball that matters with just enough football to maintain their status as a BPG conference. Pittsburgh, West Virginia, Syracuse, Boston College, Clemson and Virginia Tech have enough cache and history to give the conference a top-level presence to stay on the national radar while teams that have made a commitment to football like Connecticut, Louisville, Rutgers, South Florida, Cincinnati, Maryland, and North Carolina try to step up and fill the void. On the basketball front, adding Duke, Maryland and UNC to a conference with UCONN, Louisville, Pitt, Georgetown, Nova, St. John’s and Syracuse would be ridiculously fun and exciting and make the Big East Tournament at MSG (we heard it called the perfect sporting even once) even more intense (if only because everyone hates Duke). Virginia has fans that are really smart but still insist on wearing suits to football games so they have that going for them. NC State .... um, yeah.
New Divisions:
Big East Division: UCONN, Syracuse, Boston College, Rutgers, Cincinnati, Pittsburgh, Villanova, West Virginia, Louisville
Atlantic Coast Division: Virginia Tech, Virginia, South Florida, Clemson, Wake Forest, Duke, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Maryland
Note: Basketball would play one 24-team conference.
Extra Benefits: Watching Dick Vitale wet himself during in-conference games between Duke and Syracuse and UNC and UNCONN and waiting for Joe Lunardi’s head to explode trying to seed fifteen teams from one conference in “Bracketology.” Waiting 25 years before a team from the conference makes the BPG Championship game.
Bottom Line: On the “Island of Misfit Football Programs” they can live together or die alone in Conference USA. Nobody wants to see that. “The Big Atlantic Coast Conference: The Only Basketball That Matters … and we play football too!!”
How It All Works
Scheduling: All teams would continue to play 12 regular season games with 10 conference games and 2 out of conference tilts. In conference, the teams would play every team in their division once with the conference making the determination as to how the 2 cross-divisional match-ups would be scheduled. That would give the conference the option to protect rivalries, set up marquee match-ups or simply rotate teams year-to-year. In any event, every important team in the country would be playing a brutal schedule and only slumming it with lower level teams twice a year. The winners of each division would play in a neutral site conference championship game for the right to play for the national title.
The BPG Championship: If we’ve learned anything during the ongoing debate about a college playoff it is that: (1) the bowls aren’t going anywhere; and (2) a true playoff isn’t going to happen because it adds too many games. With that in mind, we’ll avoid the urge to simply create the 16-team playoff everyone wants and settle for a system that could conceivably happen.
So, the existing BCS-bowls (Orange, Fiesta, Rose and Sugar) and the current system of rotating the national championship game stays in tact, with a minor tweak.
Currently, the BCS bowl system features 10 teams in 4 regular bowl games and the national championship. The BPG bowl system would feature 8 teams – the 4 conference champions and 4 “At Large” teams (to give the system an appearance of fairness, one of the “At Large” spots would be reserved for any non-BPG conference team that finishes in the Top 8).
Each year, two of the bowls would host semi-final games between the 4 conference champions with the match-ups decided by using the current system in which the bowls select the teams. The other two bowls would host the two “at large” match-ups where, instead of competing for a championship, the players would be “rewarded for a good season”, i.e. make money for the bowl organizers. All of these bowls would be played on the weekend of New Year’s. A week later, the winners of the two semi-finals would meet in the BPG Championship Game held at one of the bowls who hosted an “at large” game the week before. The next year, the bowls rotate their positions. Since the Rose Bowl is the granddaddy, they’d get special dispensation to reserve the Pac 18-Big 10 match-up in their semi-final years.
For example, For example, in year one, if the Fiesta and Orange bowls would host the semi-finals. The Rose would host an “at large” game and then the BPG Championship. The Sugar would get first selection of the “at large” teams. The next year, the Sugar would host the national championship game, the Rose and Orange the semis and the Fiesta only an “at large.”
Since all the teams are playing in such packed conferences with conference championship games, the regular season maintains that playoff feel, but we get the added bonus of actually seeing the four best teams decide the title on the field and crowning a “true” National Champion. It’s beautiful in its simplicity.
The End
And there you have it. It’s not perfect (or necessarily even desirable) but, in our option, its far superior to what we have and what we’ll likely get. Plus, and most importantly, there would be fun and compelling games in every conference, every week. Not just during the spotlight Saturday night game. If we can get, at least, the war will have been worth it.
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