tkalmus wrote:
lash wrote:
Using the pod system which would be required for 16 member leagues, the Big 12 could break up in the following:
Pod 1: Texas, Texas Tech, Baylor, TCU
Pod 2: Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Kansas, Kansas State
Pod 3: Iowa State, WVU, Virginia Tech, East Carolina
Pod 4: North Carolina State, Clemson, Florida State, USF
Iowa State would be the odd team out here, however, in Pod system would always be able to play close by Kansas schools.
I like this theory but think you are way off on East Carolina and USF.
Why take USF if Miami is available? Spare me the death penalty thing, the Miami/FSU combo would be an easy grab w/o dipping into the non AQ pool. Also if given the choice do you think WVU/VA Tech would want to take ECU or Pitt? Seems like two pretty obvious picks over ECU/USF.
Pod 1: Texas, Texas Tech, Baylor, TCU
Pod 2: Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Kansas, Kansas State
Pod 3: Iowa State, WVU, Virginia Tech,
PittPod 4: North Carolina State (or Duke), Clemson, Florida State,
MiamiAlso, I've been saying this for a while now and u even noticed it...Iowa State doesn't not want to be in the Eastern pods, they want to be with Kansas/KSU/OU/OSU, and most likely WVU/Pitt/VA Tech don't want them either. The only way that works is to break into two 9 team division with the current Big12-WVU on one side, and the ACC expansion targets+WVU on the other, and for #17/18 I think Syracuse/Lville both fit the bill perfectly.
West: Texas, Texas Tech, Baylor, TCU, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Kansas, Kansas State, Iowa State
East: Syracuse, Louisville, WVU, Virginia Tech, Pitt, North Carolina State (or Duke), Clemson, Florida State, Miami
This leaves ND in a pickle in the ACC with only Wake Forest and Boston College who will most likely add (if they can) UConn, Temple, Cincy, USF, UCF, ECU, and most likely the rest of the new Big East putting them in another bad position. Either they can join up with the Catholic 7 in non-fb sports, or finally bite the bullet and rescue long time rival BC in the process by joining up with the Big 10 leaving only Wake Forest out in the cold.
thalamus,
From my observations over the years, conference alignment cannot or does not always take the direct path. In other words, there is always surprises. Some schools just happen to be in the right place at the right time and some schools get left out in the cold.
Big East voting against admitting Penn State is a very good example of expansion taking a surprise turn when the Big Ten expanded beyond its name sake for 11 schools and grabbed up Penn State. This decision today is why the waves continue with expansion.
Florida State is most likely regretting turning its back on the SEC for a more easy route in the ACC. Bet the school wishes it could go back in time to take South Carolina place.
Most recent movements have charter ACC member Maryland jumping to the Big Ten and allowing Rutgers which seemed all but left out in the cold suddenly in the warm confines of the Midwest based league.
In a perfect world where we could start all over, alignment would probably have many teams playing in different leagues.
I believe the Big Ten, Pac 12, Big 12 , and SEC are indirectly working to create four super conferences. It is why we have the Rose and Sugar bowl alignments with payouts of 40 million for each of those four super leagues. It is precisely why the Wisconsin Athletic Director is on record as stating why the Big Ten, Pac 12, Big 12, and SEC should split from the NCAA and control their own destiny.
I likewise believe these power leagues want to control all future football playoff money and do not want a full blown 8 or 16 member play off to allow upstart leagues any more access than already have.
This is where the pod system actually helps with control. Splitting into four pods allow for two semi final and a final conference game leading into the four team playoffs.
Each of the four super conferences would fill the void during December with these conference playoffs and reduce the demand for fans wanting a full blown playoff increasing the current four team playoff that will be installed in 2014.
Additional money would be made by these conference semi final and final conference games and keep the money with each of the four power leagues.
Of course the NCAA will have to approve this format or get out of way of progress.
Now back to Miami and Pitt in place of East Carolina and USF. I agree that both of these schools are a better choice, however, both may not jump until the Big Ten makes another raid on the ACC.
If the Big 12 wants to expand to 12 prior to the ACC becoming more unstable, East Carolina and USF may just be in the right place and the right time(i.e. Rutgers to the Big Ten)