I'd make a few tweaks from the 70s
PSU and ND to the TEN
but, I really feel that overall TV ratings for the networks would be better if the regional rivalries were still intact.
Texas vs Arkie and Texas vs TAMU = better ratings than diluted in the SEC
Nebraska vs Colorado and K-State and OU, better ratings obviously
Mizzou vs the KAnsas schools better than SEC programs
This is now the only hope.
But who is in charge?!?
NFL-lite is the obvious wrong outcome. Why bother with college football then? It's the XFL. It's the USFL. Yawn.
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Reinstitute the PAC under the B1G umbrella.
Reinstitute the SWC/Big 8 under the XII umbrella.
Tell ND to buy in or it will be shut out.
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This incremental evolution chasing money with no one at the steering wheel is not a good long-term plan.
College football needs someone in charge with a long-range mission.
Eliminate the lie that G5 programs have any shot. Just stop it. Let there be a division between FBS and FCS.
The money-making conferences hold their 18-20-24 teams under their umbrellas, but divide them back up to 7-8 conferences.
Conf champs (and an at-large, if there's fewer than 8) into a playoff. I'd go so far to even have the same conf champs face off each year instead of seedings. (B1G vs PAC in 1st round every year, etc)
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We could make college football what we want it to be (what it once was) within the larger format it currently is. There's an avenue, but it can only be navigated by someone in charge. A group chasing an extra dollar attached to someone's fishing pole isn't going to get us there.