I was more interested in some of the articles than others ( Maryland, Boise State, Independents, and Texas A&M), but all brought interesting tales about the trials, tribulations and even success stories for those schools that were moving up and down the conference trail.
As someone that has decried many of these moves ( I still miss being able to root for Maryland) that have cost programs attendance, fan interest, and long-time rivalries,
I find these articles interesting, but what I usually scoff at are the various ideas that are offered for the next round of movement.
Some of these schools have made financial gains at the cost of on-field performance, others are still struggling and still, others have a fan base that isn't buying into their new home.
I'm not saying the numbers add up, but taking those out of the picture and assuming that the world is perfect, here are a few moves that might help regain some interest and put things as they could be.
Create a new Eastern football conference.
Yep, it was talked about going back to the 70s, had a chance of happening both with and without Penn State, existed without Penn State and then crumbled as a part of the various realignment moves.
Penn State's fans miss being the big bad wolf and their rivals, now scattered about, miss playing them.
Penn State may have made the best adjustment of the Big Ten's four additions, but that still doesn't mean they would be happier as the kingpin.
Conference Members: Penn State, Rutgers (Big 10) Pittsburgh, Syracuse, Boston College (ACC), West Virginia (Big 12), Connecticut, Cincinnati, Temple (AAC) and Buffalo (MAC)
ACC/SEC
A few tweaks to these two conferences that would enhance rivalries, yet wouldn't destroy existing ones.
The SEC trades South Carolina to the ACC for Georgia Tech.
Georgia Tech was originally an SEC school and would give them extra games with Georgia.
South Carolina returns to the ACC where they started and gets extra games in different sports with Clemson.
The only downside in this trade is the ACC losing the Atlanta market, which could be an impediment.
If that's a huge issue and it could be, Florida State as a land grant school to the SEC might be a possible replacement.
I would have made a few more trades, but moving some teams that would have made sense for geographic reasons or rivalries would have taken conference stalwarts from their long-time home and would have made my plan no better than what has happened already.
Kentucky or Georgia could have made good ACC swap partners with waiting rivals, but as long-time SEC members, I didn't want to touch that.
Big 12
Option One-Going East
Since the Big 12 has lost West Virginia above, they'll need to replace the Mountaineers.
West Virginia has made a reasonably smooth move to the Big 12, but the travel has to be killing them and the lack of a true rival would make their fan base welcome the new Eastern conference.
Losing West Virginia places them at nine schools, they have to at least reach twelve.
Two solutions here.
If they move to ten and want to save travel, the logical pick is Houston, who has a history with the Texas schools and would be an easy travel partner.
If their number is eleven, the natural replacement would be Louisville or Cincinnati.
If you want to go to twelve and both want to go, take them all.
I think twelve makes sense as the two new teams go together with the Keg of Nails trophy returns from someone's closet.
If Cincinnati decides to go west. the big winner is struggling independent Massachusetts, who may slide into the Eastern League.
Option Two- Going West
If the Big 12 wants to make a big splash, here's how they do it by going West.
They bring back Nebraska and Colorado, neither of which have flourished away from natural rivals, although Nebraska seems to be building something with Iowa. add Houston to their Texas brethren and sign BYU, bringing arguably the largest national base of fans except for Notre Dame.
This would be the option that rebuilds the most rivalries and fan passion, but also would take a better deal to reel them in.
If the Big 10 really needs to keep Nebraska and they may because of losing Penn State, and 14 teams become a must, an underrated get might be New Mexico, who with increased revenue from a larger conference could develop into a very nice Power Five school.
Option Three
The Big 12 doesn't have to have any of the schools back that have left them although all would be welcomed back as they all would contribute (Nebraska, Colorado, Missouri and Texas A&M). but there is one school that fits geographically, would have instant rivals both old and new and I think would slot in very well-Arkansas.
Arkansas has struggled off and on in football and basketball in the SEC and even though they have an old rival in Texas A&M and two neighboring schools in LSU and Missouri, none have really taken off as a rival.
Arkansas would renew a rivalry with tradition with Texas and I think that with improvement, Oklahoma might be an excellent secondary rival or even Oklahoma State as well.
Taking Arkansas and Houston doesn't expand your footprint, but it does help your football in the base of the conference.
Big 10
The Big 10 has lost Penn State and Rutgers under this setup and could lose Nebraska.
Rutgers has been a drag from day one and wouldn't be missed, but that leaves Maryland.
Maryland's fans lust for an ACC return, so how does it happen?
The conference would likely not want to lose the New York (not that Rutgers brings it) and the Washington market, so how do you keep them?
You trade Maryland for Virginia Tech.
On paper, that looks lopsided but think about this- VT brings better football and with 35,000 alumni in the DC area, I'd bet that they won't feel like they are out of the market.
Virginia Tech hasn't been in the ACC long enough to feel real ties and Maryland would be thrilled to be home.
It's not a perfect solution, but it's the best one.
Pac 12
We now go west, where the Pac 12 seems to be struggling with football that hasn't been competitive, a television network that few want to carry and programs with declining attendance.
Utah has been more competitive than expected, but Colorado has been a small disappointment and potential expansion candidates such as New Mexico, Boise State or San Diego State would likely be unable to make a difference.
If adding teams is a problem and deleting weaker teams would be one (You'll never be able to separate the Washington teams, Oregon, Arizona, Northern or Southern California teams), What's the answer?
This is a wacky one and would never happen, but here goes- A deal with the Mountain West for relegation.
Every five years, the bottom teams (can be two, three or four) by average would drop to the Mountain West and switch places with the top teams from that league.
This could be a combined stat for all sports or just for football and basketball, but every few years say for example Boise State and Fresno State move to the Pac 12, Oregon State and Colorado move down.
You protect all rivalries as Oregon State drops down but still plays Oregon in every sport.
This isn't a great solution, but I don't see viable options for a conference that seems to be sinking.
The Sixth Conference.
The American likes to market itself as a Power "Six" conference and under these moves, would lose Houston and Temple.
Here are the schools to replace Houston and Temple and not hurt themselves along with adding these two schools if none of these events occur to make their case even stronger.
Boise State and your choice of Marshall, UAB, Appalachian State, Arkansas State or Troy.
Connecticut recently announced plans to leave the AAC anyway, so two or three teams are needed to stay at an even number (Keep in mind Wichita State is a non-football playing member).
If you are keeping Houston and Temple, you have ten football schools, why not go after arguably the best program of the Group of Five in Boise State with a national following and pick the best all-around program that you wish from the CUSA or Sun Belt.
It would be a great way to build the football program and maybe keep ringing that bell for a power Six.
This took a lot of time and the reason that I didn't post yesterday.
Hope you enjoyed it!
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