Conference Realignment

[bullwark]

Uh Oh, here we go again,  its rumoured that Texas and Oklahoma are going to the AFC South, and Buffalo and Jacksonville will join the Big East. 

Obviously I'm  just adding some humor to the crazy conference chatter that was started by the often rumoured TX AM moving to the SEC.

However, Bill King (Satellite Radio College Football Show Host)  tweeted the following, "Guys, an administrator called me up sat and asked about acc/be merger. Said thats what he's hearing. I am not saying that is eminent."  Commence Internet Rumour Mill.

[tampatony]

I think it could happen. It would be genius for the two conferences to get together. They would easily be the best Basketball Conference in the country and they would have a pretty formidable football league. I'm sure that because of the Miami issue and the potential death penalty to that program that I would think that the ACC would at least have a conversation about it.

[Bull Dozer]

I'm sure this merger is contingent on both conferences losing some members to the SEC or Big 10

[mikebeau]

I'm sure this merger is contingent on both conferences losing some members to the SEC or Big 10

what he said

If SEC expands they will grab A&M, FSU(unlikely)or maybe a UNC, DUke, or NC State.  after that ACC raid big 10 will go for a couple big east teams(pitt, rutgers or cuse)

that could leave 16ish in both leagues(fball schools).  It would be a perfect marriage.  The league would be very strong,

I cant see it being an easy marriage though.  Who is in charge?  Big East office or ACC.  Some people would be out of a job. power struggle for conference management/name?  who knows.  This seems like the best outcome for USF though.  is the big east folds we are up **** creek

[Orlando Bull]

I'm sure this merger is contingent on both conferences losing some members to the SEC or Big 10

what he said

If SEC expands they will grab A&M, FSU(unlikely)or maybe a UNC, DUke, or NC State.  after that ACC raid big 10 will go for a couple big east teams(pitt, rutgers or cuse)

that could leave 16ish in both leagues(fball schools).  It would be a perfect marriage.  The league would be very strong,

I cant see it being an easy marriage though.  Who is in charge?  Big East office or ACC.  Some people would be out of a job. power struggle for conference management/name?  who knows.  This seems like the best outcome for USF though.  is the big east folds we are up **** creek

They could have "division" offices vs and overall conference office. Tennessee has two athletic departments. The Big Atlantic Conference could have two divisional offices and a "board" made up of people from both.

The issue is... what happens to the AQ bids? Does the new combined conference get 2 bids automatically, or, does it reduce it to 1?

I mentioned it in the other thread, but, that's how I see it going... not a complete "merger" where one conference completely goes away, but, maybe a "championship" type game for two conferences at the end of the season to generate revenues and give your best teams one more showcase game prior to bowl selections.

To me, Big East/Big 12 makes the most sense. Get both conferences to 9, negotiate the AQ bids for the regular season champ of each league (just as it is today), then play a BE/B12 "rivalry bowl" the same weekend as the other conferences are having championship games. Get a contract with NBC/ESPN/someone else to sponsor that game, have it at a neutral site (such as Indianapolis), and split the money between the two conferences.

[Jihme]

expect the ACC and the Big 12 to be divided up amongst all the remaining conferences.

[Cow Pie]

How would a ACC/BigEast merger even work... the ACC is at 12 teams, and the BigEast is at 9 football, and 16 or 17 total... if this is going to occur then a LOT of teams both football and basketball from the Big East are gonna get left behind.

I seriously doubt that any of the ACC's football teams will get cut and that this will only occur once the SEC adds A&M and then raids FSU, Clemson, or GaTech from the ACC.

I guess it all depends on what the SEC does... if they add 2 more teams and stay at 14 then I don't see this occurring... however if the SEC just says screw it and goes up to 16 then this might happen.

While I would love to make some kind of possible conference configuration I don't see how it can be done... only way this works out is if the B1G and SEC heavily raids the Big East and the ACC to reach 16 teams each.

The Big East had better hope that the SEC and B1G goes to 16 teams, otherwise the ACC will just raid 3 teams from the Big East to makeup for the one they lost, and then 2 more to reach 14.

[ncentonze]

I think a championship game between two different schools is not a smart idea, UNLESS a playoff system is implemented throughout college football.

RIght now between the Big XII, ACC, and Big East there are 3CS Berths. I can't see any situation these conferences condense and form less then 3 conferences unless they are raided or if they reach an agreement with the BCS that still allows them 3 BCS Berths while having 2 or fewer conferences. For example, Conf 1 champ, Conf 2 champ, plus best 2nd place team from either league.