CFB51 College Football Fan Community
The Power Four => Big Ten => Topic started by: OrangeAfroMan on July 25, 2026, 03:01:27 PM
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I was watching the youtubes and a point was made that conferences were no longer needed in college football. The convo progressed to their needing to be regional again (thanks B1G), but that a draft would be interesting.
My initial thought was you'd have largely the same teams in the same existing conferences, but also at some point, someone would make a "holy cow" choice of a school.
We could do a draft here if we wanted. Each person could represent a conference and we'd draft the teams we'd want.
Any interest? It would take awhile, because of turn-taking, but it might be interesting with what we end up with.
The only rule is your conference would have to be contiguous.
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So, if I say chose Georgia first, I could only choose programs from contiguous states second?
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So, if I say chose Georgia first, I could only choose programs from contiguous states second?
Correct. Or another team in GA, of course.
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Start with Tennessee, they border 8 states.
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SEC & B1G should just merge and then leave the NCAA and get it over with already.
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My question is how many different conferences would we start with? 4? 8?
I think it would be a really fun exercise, as regionality is enforced by this method. I view it as a campus allowing people to create trails in the grass and then paving over those places as sidewalks. Letting it organically happen and then copying it as the infrastructure.
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I like the idea but feel like we're likely to end up with a PAC-10, Big Ten, Big 8, SWC, and SEC.
Which would of course make sense and be a thoroughly satisfactory result.
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I really just wish Penn State and ND joined the Big East and we'd be here in 2026 with 7 conf champs + 1 super strong at-large for an 8-team holy shit playoff.
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I really just wish Penn State and ND joined the Big East and we'd be here in 2026 with 7 conf champs + 1 super strong at-large for an 8-team holy shit playoff.
Amen brutha. Coulda been so beautiful.
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beautiful indeed, just w/o the playoff
(4) great bowl games and then a holy shit plus one
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I suspect "we" would contrive pretty obvious results, similar to what some have posted before as "ideal conferences".
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I really just wish Penn State and ND joined the Big East and we'd be here in 2026 with 7 conf champs + 1 super strong at-large for an 8-team holy shit playoff.
As I understand it, Pitt F'd that up when JoePa wanted it to happen.
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I think we'd all prefer conferences have some geographic contiguity, but ... that train has done run.
I was on a flight back from Hawaii with the NMSU lady's soccer team (who were easy on the eye). They had played Hawaii. I was musing about the expenses.
Major programs can afford this easily I surmise, but some will find it more difficult. They could end up dropping teams.
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The SEC is contiguous and always will be.
The B1G brains went soft.
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One could of course construct a contiguous conference that went from coast to coast ...
Maybe the criteria should be no program more than X miles from any other ...
But, it's a done deal now. Maybe the Pac resurfaces at some point as B1G West or somesuch.
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One could of course construct a contiguous conference that went from coast to coast ...
I suppose the B1G could add Colorado, Utah and Arizona to be Coast to Coast.
I'd rather the B1G's only coasts be on Great Lakes.
I still have the plans I prepared to put a Great Lake in Iowa.
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well, if you'd put one on the Missouri river, you could catch Iowa and Nebraska
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It has to be contiguous with the Great Lakes.
Nebraska is in the Big 8.
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I suppose the B1G could add Colorado, Utah and Arizona to be Coast to Coast.
I'd rather the B1G's only coasts be on Great Lakes.
I still have the plans I prepared to put a Great Lake in Iowa.
The Mississip every few years, no?
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You could count states bordering non-P4 states as contiguous (a la Warshington and Minnesota) if you wanted.
And the PACish B1G West idea is my hope for the future, since we'll never go backward. Old school 10-team conferences becoming 10-team divisions under the big-ass conference umbrellas. There's a real path to that, if any decision-makers have any affinity at all for how things used to be.
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The Mississip every few years, no?
No.
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Is there any realistic chance of sensible P4 conference realignment in the future? I don't mean adding someone here and there, but carving it all out differently?
USC in the B1G? Who woulda thought...
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I feel the only realistic chance is if TV contracts are distributed differently.
If/when the top 66 or 70 programs form a league to share top revenue, they could collectively negotiate with the networks as one group and not as separate conferences.
If that were to happen, then regional "conferences" could be created with all teams sharing somewhat equal revenue.
probably never happen
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I love the current setup myself. I've really grown towards seeing it far superior than what we had 20-30 years ago.
I will love it even more when the B1G, SEC, and ACC kick out the LSOP teams and finally create one super conference, within or out of the NCAA envelope.
No more Tulsa's, Prairie View A&M, or any of that silliness. Only Top 50 vs Top 50.
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Okay, but with that comes scheduled rematches, 2-3-4-loss "champions", etc.
We already have that. It's called the NFL.
The sanctity, the sense of urgency of the regular season used to make college football unique.
It set it apart. Along with the marching bands, bigger stadiums, and 4-year turnover, you loved the program.
That's gone now. OSU-UM is nearly meaningless now. It truly is.
Players transferring six times is a thing now. Cam Ward, a #1 draft pick, had a college experience like the Jeffersons (movin' on up...) from something called Incarnate Word to Wazzou to Miami. Good for him, bad for college football.
If/when college football is a junior NFL, when it's a five year old wearing his dad's jacket and boots, all oversized and silly-looking, it needn't exist anymore. It will just be an inferior product.
And the frustrating part once you realize this is that there's still a way to not be that. But no decision-makers will maneuver to make it so.
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This could fit into the death of CFB thread ....
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It's just supposed to be a fun little exercise, to see how it would turn out differently than present.
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It's just supposed to be a fun little exercise, to see how it would turn out differently than present.
I wonder if it might be interesting to have people from NOT their own geographical area, do the selecting. So a B1G fans starts with Florida. An SEC fan starts with California. Etc.
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I draft Notre Dame.
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I'll start with Tennessee.
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I think you should start with 2 conferences and pick your P2 conferences of 16 teams each. Then start 2 more conferences and pick your M2 conferences of 16 teams each. Then start 2 more conferences of 16 teams each.
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I draft Notre Dame.
And then you will destroy it?
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I select Ohio State with my #1 pick.
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Okay, but with that comes scheduled rematches, 2-3-4-loss "champions", etc.
We already have that. It's called the NFL.
The sanctity, the sense of urgency of the regular season used to make college football unique.
It set it apart. Along with the marching bands, bigger stadiums, and 4-year turnover, you loved the program.
That's gone now. OSU-UM is nearly meaningless now. It truly is.
Players transferring six times is a thing now. Cam Ward, a #1 draft pick, had a college experience like the Jeffersons (movin' on up...) from something called Incarnate Word to Wazzou to Miami. Good for him, bad for college football.
If/when college football is a junior NFL, when it's a five year old wearing his dad's jacket and boots, all oversized and silly-looking, it needn't exist anymore. It will just be an inferior product.
And the frustrating part once you realize this is that there's still a way to not be that. But no decision-makers will maneuver to make it so.
No it's not, it's more popular than ever. Ratings are higher than they've ever been, stadiums are expanding bigger than ever.
CFB is at an all time high popularity wise.
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BTW, the whole sanctity of the regular season is still fully intact. Just ask Texas (lost to Florida, missed the playoff). It still matters. If A&M had not beaten ND in Game One, we would not have made the playoff, and ND would have.
We can cherry pick all the little things along the way, but the whole sanctity of the season pretty much only applies to non-blue bloods. Blue Bloods and near blue bloods have always been given a pass. Ask 1998 KSU and 2003 OU.
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I think you should start with 2 conferences and pick your P2 conferences of 16 teams each. Then start 2 more conferences and pick your M2 conferences of 16 teams each. Then start 2 more conferences of 16 teams each.
P2 draft - each conference drafts 1 at a time starting with P2 south. Every pick must touch a state already selected
P2 North
1. Ohio St
2. MICH
3. Notre Dame
4 . Penn St
5. Illinois
6. Wisconsin
7. Iowa
8. Nebraska
9. Colorado
10. Utah
11. Ariz St
12. USC
13. Oregon
14. Wash
15. Mizzou
16. Minn
P2 South
1. Texas
2. LSU
3. Bama
4. Florida
5. Georgia
6. Oklahoma
7. Tenn
8. UNC
9. Clemson
10. Virginia
11. Tex A&M
12. Flor St
13. Auburn
14. Ole Miss
15. Kentucky
16. Miami
M2 draft - picks from remaing schools this time going west and east and you can go with 20 teams each
M2 west
1. UCLA
2. Arizona
3. BYU
4. Col St
5. Kansas
6. Iowa St
7. Ok St
8. TT
9. TCU
10. Arkansas
11. Miss St
12. Cal
13. Stan
14. Kan St
15. Baylor
16. Ore St
17. Hou
18. SDSU
19. SMU
20. UNLV
M2 east
1. Virginia Tech
2. NCSU
3. South Carolina
4. GT
5. UCF
6. USF
7. Louisville
8. Purdue
9. Indiana
10. MD
11. Pitt
12. Duke
13. WV
14. Cincy
15. Rutgers
16. Cuse
17. UConn
18. BC
19. NW
20. Vandy
P4 or former BCS left out
Wash St, Wake
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And then you will destroy it?
Just drafting them into a conference would probably destroy them.
If that doesn't work -- I'll change their helmets and pants to silver, instead of gold.
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P2 draft - each conference drafts 1 at a time starting with P2 south. Every pick must touch a state already selected
P2 North
1. Ohio St
2. MICH
3. Notre Dame
4 . Penn St
5. Illinois
6. Wisconsin
7. Iowa
8. Nebraska
9. Colorado
10. Utah
11. Ariz St
12. USC
13. Oregon
14. Wash
15. Mizzou
16. Minn
P2 South
1. Texas
2. LSU
3. Bama
4. Florida
5. Georgia
6. Oklahoma
7. Tenn
8. UNC
9. Clemson
10. Virginia
11. Tex A&M
12. Flor St
13. Auburn
14. Ole Miss
15. Kentucky
16. Miami
M2 draft - picks from remaing schools this time going west and east and you can go with 20 teams each
M2 west
1. UCLA
2. Arizona
3. BYU
4. Col St
5. Kansas
6. Iowa St
7. Ok St
8. TT
9. TCU
10. Arkansas
11. Miss St
12. Cal
13. Stan
14. Kan St
15. Baylor
16. Ore St
17. Hou
18. SDSU
19. SMU
20. UNLV
M2 east
1. Virginia Tech
2. NCSU
3. South Carolina
4. GT
5. UCF
6. USF
7. Louisville
8. Purdue
9. Indiana
10. MD
11. Pitt
12. Duke
13. WV
14. Cincy
15. Rutgers
16. Cuse
17. UConn
18. BC
19. NW
20. Vandy
P4 or former BCS left out
Wash St, Wake
could easily leave out #17-#20 in both M2s
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BTW, the whole sanctity of the regular season is still fully intact. Just ask Texas (lost to Florida, missed the playoff). It still matters. If A&M had not beaten ND in Game One, we would not have made the playoff, and ND would have.
We can cherry pick all the little things along the way, but the whole sanctity of the season pretty much only applies to non-blue bloods. Blue Bloods and near blue bloods have always been given a pass. Ask 1998 KSU and 2003 OU.
I don't think you have the sample size to claim that.
We have (had?) a system that included the 18th and 19th-ranked teams in a 12-team playoff. And just like the BCS in 2000, they're going to tweak it every year, with no real plan to identify the best performing team, only to make the most money.
Ohio State (a blueblood) fans know better than anyone how vital every game used to be and how irrelevant a late-season rivalry game is now. In '93, '95, '96, '21, and 2023, a loss to UM ended their NC hopes.
Now? Lose to UNRANKED Michigan in '24 and go on to win a NC. Lose the BTCG to Indiana and still be a 3-seed in the playoff.
There is no sanctity anymore. None. Inexplicable loss to MSU? Fine now. A blip. Get blown out somehow by Purdue? Yawn. All good.
Just like the NFL. Just win 70-75% of your games, then the tournament of entertainment begins and you'll see how it goes.
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You's guys can name your conference whenever, but here's what we have, and I'll add mine. Anyone else wanting to play, just quote and add yours. A snake draft would be most fair.
jgvol - ND
847 - Tennessee
MDT - Ohio State
OAM - Texas
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Oh geez!
This is delicious, I like it.
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then why don't you have a conference?
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Yeah, hop in.
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Gonna watch from the sidelines.
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:73:
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Yeah, why get in on the fun? Delicious, you say? But don't partake?
NO SOUP FOR YOU! COME BACK, ONE YEAR!
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2. Georgia
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(https://i.imgur.com/AtGqczH.png)
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I'm confused, but in case it's my turn, gimme Michigan.
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I'm confused, but in case it's my turn, gimme Michigan.
Ohio State and Michigan. Who woulda thunk it.
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BTW, the whole sanctity of the regular season is still fully intact. Just ask Texas (lost to Florida, missed the playoff). It still matters. If A&M had not beaten ND in Game One, we would not have made the playoff, and ND would have.
We can cherry pick all the little things along the way, but the whole sanctity of the season pretty much only applies to non-blue bloods. Blue Bloods and near blue bloods have always been given a pass. Ask 1998 KSU and 2003 OU.
Just when I think I'm healed.
My oldest was in utero at the time, and now has her own toddler.
A whole friggin generation later...
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Ohio State and Michigan. Who woulda thunk it.
I don't make the rules, I'm just attempting to draft by them.
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(https://i.imgur.com/AtGqczH.png)
You know, I did like the contiguous, play-everybody-every-year Old Big 8, and the big 3 of the 8 when I became cognizant kicked some serious ass during my formative years and beyond, especially the 90's.
But my school was horrific, and played in a stadium either Trev Alberts or Brian Bozworth (interchangable douchenozzles) described as a "nuclear waste dump." Broken clocks, and such.
The money has floweth into the whole University mightily since the advent of the Big XII. The stadium is really very nice, expanded, there are 4-lane highways coming into town from 3 directions (sorry North), and there are new buildings on campus everywhere, and lots of nice new housing for students. The shack Ski and I shared for a summer was dozed long ago (which was still too late.)
So, for nostagia purposes, give me the Big 8. But, at least for the last 30 years, the Big XII was a good thing. We'll see how it goes from here, I guess.
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Add Utah and Arky to the Big 8 and that would have been something.
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Add Utah and Arky to the Big 8 and that would have been something.
Had TX Governatrix Ann Richards not lobbied for her Alma Mater Baylor to be included, wonder how different just adding UT/aTm to make 10 would have played out.
But that happened after the SEC plucked Arkansas and also added South Carolina to make 12 and start the first CCG, and Penn St. making for the Big 10-leven.
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I used to call for Iowa to the 8-10-12 since the state doesn't touch a Great Lake like the other 10 do (did).
What we have now sucks ass.
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Had TX Governatrix Ann Richards not lobbied for her Alma Mater Baylor to be included, wonder how different just adding UT/aTm to make 10 would have played out.
But that happened after the SEC plucked Arkansas and also added South Carolina to make 12 and start the first CCG, and Penn St. making for the Big 10-leven.
Oh come on, not this shit again.
It wasn't Ann Richards.
It was Lieutenant Governor Bob Bullock, who held degrees from both Texas Tech and Baylor, who made it happen. At that time he was like a modern day LBJ in the way he wielded power within the state and there wasn't going to be any denying him.
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Oh come on, not this shit again.
It wasn't Ann Richards.
It was Lieutenant Governor Bob Bullock, who held degrees from both Texas Tech and Baylor, who made it happen. At that time he was like a modern day LBJ in the way he wielded power within the state and there wasn't going to be any denying him.
OK.
Never heard of him.
But, given that unforgivable error, I think the original premise is workable.
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OK.
Never heard of him.
But, given that unforgivable error, I think the original premise is workable.
Well, sure.
But I also don't think Texas was likely to make a move without having several "buddies" for two reasons-- first, it keeps a little more of the schedule regional. And second, it's potential voting allies when it comes to major decisions. That is, IF you think your "allies" are likely to vote along with you. And in reality, in many cases, it did work out that way.
I don't think a move of just Texas and A&M to the Big 8 was ever really an option, regardless of what Ann Richards or Bob Bullock might or might not have done.
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Why do the conferences need to be contiguous? In the old Big 12, We had Texas in the South, and Iowa in the North.
It's not like we're taking a bus to Lubbock either. Getting on a plane is getting on a plane, whether it's a 2 hr flight or 4 hr flight.
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Why do the conferences need to be contiguous? In the old Big 12, We had Texas in the South, and Iowa in the North.
It's not like we're taking a bus to Lubbock either. Getting on a plane is getting on a plane, whether it's a 2 hr flight or 4 hr flight.
That's true for football, but for rowing, track, golf, and tiddlywinks, conference trips from New Jersey to Washington are ridonkulous. I never went, but the idea of driving a couple hours to Lincoln and 3.5 to Columbia would be...nice. Novel, even.
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Oh come on, not this shit again.
It wasn't Ann Richards.
hah!!!
come on, stir this old shit up again - it's so damned old it prolly don't even stink any longer :57:
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2. Georgia
It's not your pick.
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Why do the conferences need to be contiguous? In the old Big 12, We had Texas in the South, and Iowa in the North.
It's not like we're taking a bus to Lubbock either. Getting on a plane is getting on a plane, whether it's a 2 hr flight or 4 hr flight.
Because. There's no such thing as "the old Big 12." There is an old Big 8 and an old SWC. Which were each contiguous. Because it made sense. Regionality was a good thing.
Does anyone else want to pick? If not, we're going to have 4 very loaded conferences of ___ teams each.