My (not so) modest proposal to revamp college football

SeatownJay

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Modern major college football is about one thing, money. Every major decision regarding the sport comes down to what will make the most money. Tradition, history, and everything else have been reduced to minor afterthoughts. With that in mind, I have prepared the following proposal to formally turn major college football into what it pretends not to be, a for-profit minor league system for the NFL.

Article 1: Realignment
The new College Football League will consist of 120 teams separated into 3 divisions each consisting of 12 10-team conferences based on geographic proximity. As there are currently 130 FBS teams, this will require the demotion of the 10 programs that have been in the FBS the shortest amount of time. Those programs are Appalachian State, Charlotte, Coastal Carolina, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, Liberty, Old Dominion, South Alabama, Texas State, and UTSA.

Article 2: Scheduling
Every team will play a 12 game schedule consisting of 9 conference games and 3 non-conference games. The non-conference games will rotate between teams from other conferences, one from each division. Non-conference opponents will be determined based on the prior season's conference position. Example, the champion of conference A will play the champions of conference B, conference E, and conference I. The following year they will play teams from conference C, conference F, and conference J. Conference champions will be determined by conference record with the tie-breakers being, in order: head-to-head record, overall record, point differential, points scored, turnover margin, coin flip.

Article 3: Post Season Play
There will be a 16-team playoff to determine the league champion, consisting of the 12 conference winners and 4 wild cards. Teams that finish with seven or more wins that do not make the playoffs will be eligible to schedule and play in exhibition bowl games after the regular season.

Article 4: The Divisions and Conferences
Below are the new divisions and conferences after realignment.
Eastern Division
American Athletic Conference: Army, Boston College, Buffalo, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Syracuse, Temple
Atlantic Coast Conference: Central Florida, Clemson, Duke, Florida, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Miami (FL), North Carolina, South Carolina, South Florida
Conference USA: East Carolina, Maryland, Memphis, Middle Tennessee State, Navy, North Carolina State, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, West Virginia
Sun Belt Conference: Arkansas State, Florida Atlantic, Florida International, Louisiana Tech, Louisiana-Lafayette, Louisiana-Monroe, Southern Mississippi, Troy, Tulane, UAB
Central Division
Big Ten Conference: Ball State, Cincinnati, Indiana, Louisville, Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Purdue, Western Kentucky
Great Plains Conference: Illinois, Iowa, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Minnesota, Missouri, Northern Illinois, Northwestern, Wisconsin
Mid American Conference: Akron, Bowling Green, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Kent State, Marshall, Miami (OH), Ohio, Toledo, Western Michigan
Southeastern Conference: Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi, Mississippi State, Tennessee, Vanderbilt
Western Division
Mountain West Conference: Air Force, Colorado, Colorado State, Nebraska, New Mexico, New Mexico State, TCU, Texas Tech, UTEP, Wyoming
Pac 10 Conference: Arizona, Arizona State, California, Oregon, Oregon State, Stanford, UCLA, USC, Washington, Washington State
Southwestern Conference: Baylor, Houston, North Texas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Rice, SMU, Texas, Texas A&M, Tulsa
Western Athletic Conference: Boise State, BYU, Fresno State, Hawaii, Nevada, San Diego State, San Jose State, UNLV, Utah, Utah State
 

Seahawkfan80

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JSeahawks":1vkwukg7 said:
I’m in. But can’t we find somebody better than Oregon state to take that pac10 spot?

Hmm...Boise State for Oregon State???? (in my Vinny voice) We can do a deal.....
 
D

DomeHawk

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SeatownJay":wrjqo1ha said:
Modern major college football is about one thing, money. Every major decision regarding the sport comes down to what will make the most money. Tradition, history, and everything else have been reduced to minor afterthoughts. With that in mind, I have prepared the following proposal to formally turn major college football into what it pretends not to be, a for-profit minor league system for the NFL.

Article 1: Realignment
The new College Football League will consist of 120 teams separated into 3 divisions each consisting of 12 10-team conferences based on geographic proximity. As there are currently 130 FBS teams, this will require the demotion of the 10 programs that have been in the FBS the shortest amount of time. Those programs are Appalachian State, Charlotte, Coastal Carolina, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, Liberty, Old Dominion, South Alabama, Texas State, and UTSA.

Article 2: Scheduling
Every team will play a 12 game schedule consisting of 9 conference games and 3 non-conference games. The non-conference games will rotate between teams from other conferences, one from each division. Non-conference opponents will be determined based on the prior season's conference position. Example, the champion of conference A will play the champions of conference B, conference E, and conference I. The following year they will play teams from conference C, conference F, and conference J. Conference champions will be determined by conference record with the tie-breakers being, in order: head-to-head record, overall record, point differential, points scored, turnover margin, coin flip.

Article 3: Post Season Play
There will be a 16-team playoff to determine the league champion, consisting of the 12 conference winners and 4 wild cards. Teams that finish with seven or more wins that do not make the playoffs will be eligible to schedule and play in exhibition bowl games after the regular season.

Article 4: The Divisions and Conferences
Below are the new divisions and conferences after realignment.
Eastern Division
American Athletic Conference: Army, Boston College, Buffalo, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Syracuse, Temple
Atlantic Coast Conference: Central Florida, Clemson, Duke, Florida, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Miami (FL), North Carolina, South Carolina, South Florida
Conference USA: East Carolina, Maryland, Memphis, Middle Tennessee State, Navy, North Carolina State, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, West Virginia
Sun Belt Conference: Arkansas State, Florida Atlantic, Florida International, Louisiana Tech, Louisiana-Lafayette, Louisiana-Monroe, Southern Mississippi, Troy, Tulane, UAB
Central Division
Big Ten Conference: Ball State, Cincinnati, Indiana, Louisville, Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Purdue, Western Kentucky
Great Plains Conference: Illinois, Iowa, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Minnesota, Missouri, Northern Illinois, Northwestern, Wisconsin
Mid American Conference: Akron, Bowling Green, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Kent State, Marshall, Miami (OH), Ohio, Toledo, Western Michigan
Southeastern Conference: Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi, Mississippi State, Tennessee, Vanderbilt
Western Division
Mountain West Conference: Air Force, Colorado, Colorado State, Nebraska, New Mexico, New Mexico State, TCU, Texas Tech, UTEP, Wyoming
Pac 10 Conference: Arizona, Arizona State, California, Oregon, Oregon State, Stanford, UCLA, USC, Washington, Washington State
Southwestern Conference: Baylor, Houston, North Texas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Rice, SMU, Texas, Texas A&M, Tulsa
Western Athletic Conference: Boise State, BYU, Fresno State, Hawaii, Nevada, San Diego State, San Jose State, UNLV, Utah, Utah State

Why are you trying to make college football just like pro football? Are you not aware that we already have the NFL?

Yes, college football has the money element but comparing that to the profit motive of the NFL is simply not correct. The money made from college football supports collegiate athletics at every single school, it isn't to line the pockets of some billionaire whom already has more money than he know's what to do with.

Some of the sports college football supports:

Men's and women's cross-country
Women's field hockey
Men's and women's soccer teams
Women's volleyball
Men's water polo
Men's and women's fencing
Men's and women's gymnastics
Men's and women's ice hockey teams
Men's, women's, and mixed rifle
Men's, women's, and mixed skiing
Men's and women's swimming and diving
Men's and women's indoor track and field
Men's wrestling
Men's baseball
Women's softball
Men's and women's golf
Men's and women's lacrosse teams
Women's rowing
Men's and women's tennis
Men's and women's outdoor track and field
Men's volleyball and women's beach volleyball
Women's water polo

For anyone who has participated in collegiate sports this is a wonderful opportunity to continue in a sport after high school. The benefits generated for the school and the athlete far outweigh the costs.

Maybe this doesn't fit your vicarious needs as a fan but it is a wonderful American tradition. If anything, we should make collegiate sports less like pro sports, not more.
 

justafan

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I appreciate the thought you put into it but do we really need to see San Diego State play Alabama in a play off? Should we ever view UConn or Rutger on the same playing field as Penn State? Rice and Oklahoma?You will have 5 or 6 teams from the SEC that would run roughshod through most of the weaker conferences.

I dont even need a 4 team playoff to enjoy college ball.If we went back to its original system and rivalries I would be ok with it. The chase for a playoff did more damage to the game IMO.

I agree with Dome on what college atheletics mean to people. Especially the people who will never have the opportunity to play in a championship game.
 

OrangeGravy

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DomeHawk":unjbib9j said:
SeatownJay":unjbib9j said:
Modern major college football is about one thing, money. Every major decision regarding the sport comes down to what will make the most money. Tradition, history, and everything else have been reduced to minor afterthoughts. With that in mind, I have prepared the following proposal to formally turn major college football into what it pretends not to be, a for-profit minor league system for the NFL.

Article 1: Realignment
The new College Football League will consist of 120 teams separated into 3 divisions each consisting of 12 10-team conferences based on geographic proximity. As there are currently 130 FBS teams, this will require the demotion of the 10 programs that have been in the FBS the shortest amount of time. Those programs are Appalachian State, Charlotte, Coastal Carolina, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, Liberty, Old Dominion, South Alabama, Texas State, and UTSA.

Article 2: Scheduling
Every team will play a 12 game schedule consisting of 9 conference games and 3 non-conference games. The non-conference games will rotate between teams from other conferences, one from each division. Non-conference opponents will be determined based on the prior season's conference position. Example, the champion of conference A will play the champions of conference B, conference E, and conference I. The following year they will play teams from conference C, conference F, and conference J. Conference champions will be determined by conference record with the tie-breakers being, in order: head-to-head record, overall record, point differential, points scored, turnover margin, coin flip.

Article 3: Post Season Play
There will be a 16-team playoff to determine the league champion, consisting of the 12 conference winners and 4 wild cards. Teams that finish with seven or more wins that do not make the playoffs will be eligible to schedule and play in exhibition bowl games after the regular season.

Article 4: The Divisions and Conferences
Below are the new divisions and conferences after realignment.
Eastern Division
American Athletic Conference: Army, Boston College, Buffalo, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Syracuse, Temple
Atlantic Coast Conference: Central Florida, Clemson, Duke, Florida, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Miami (FL), North Carolina, South Carolina, South Florida
Conference USA: East Carolina, Maryland, Memphis, Middle Tennessee State, Navy, North Carolina State, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, West Virginia
Sun Belt Conference: Arkansas State, Florida Atlantic, Florida International, Louisiana Tech, Louisiana-Lafayette, Louisiana-Monroe, Southern Mississippi, Troy, Tulane, UAB
Central Division
Big Ten Conference: Ball State, Cincinnati, Indiana, Louisville, Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Purdue, Western Kentucky
Great Plains Conference: Illinois, Iowa, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Minnesota, Missouri, Northern Illinois, Northwestern, Wisconsin
Mid American Conference: Akron, Bowling Green, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Kent State, Marshall, Miami (OH), Ohio, Toledo, Western Michigan
Southeastern Conference: Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi, Mississippi State, Tennessee, Vanderbilt
Western Division
Mountain West Conference: Air Force, Colorado, Colorado State, Nebraska, New Mexico, New Mexico State, TCU, Texas Tech, UTEP, Wyoming
Pac 10 Conference: Arizona, Arizona State, California, Oregon, Oregon State, Stanford, UCLA, USC, Washington, Washington State
Southwestern Conference: Baylor, Houston, North Texas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Rice, SMU, Texas, Texas A&M, Tulsa
Western Athletic Conference: Boise State, BYU, Fresno State, Hawaii, Nevada, San Diego State, San Jose State, UNLV, Utah, Utah State

Why are you trying to make college football just like pro football? Are you not aware that we already have the NFL?

Yes, college football has the money element but comparing that to the profit motive of the NFL is simply not correct. The money made from college football supports collegiate athletics at every single school, it isn't to line the pockets of some billionaire whom already has more money than he know's what to do with.

Some of the sports college football supports:

Men's and women's cross-country
Women's field hockey
Men's and women's soccer teams
Women's volleyball
Men's water polo
Men's and women's fencing
Men's and women's gymnastics
Men's and women's ice hockey teams
Men's, women's, and mixed rifle
Men's, women's, and mixed skiing
Men's and women's swimming and diving
Men's and women's indoor track and field
Men's wrestling
Men's baseball
Women's softball
Men's and women's golf
Men's and women's lacrosse teams
Women's rowing
Men's and women's tennis
Men's and women's outdoor track and field
Men's volleyball and women's beach volleyball
Women's water polo

For anyone who has participated in collegiate sports this is a wonderful opportunity to continue in a sport after high school. The benefits generated for the school and the athlete far outweigh the costs.

Maybe this doesn't fit your vicarious needs as a fan but it is a wonderful American tradition. If anything, we should make collegiate sports less like pro sports, not more.

Yes football picks up the slack for all those things, but it has reached a point where it costs so much to operate/compete that only a small number of schools are even able to cover the costs of the entire athletic budget with football revenues. Even schools that sell out every game! It's getting closer to coming to a point where something has to change. The current system is unsustainable for 80+% of schools. That's clearly a guess
 
D

DomeHawk

Guest
OrangeGravy":179tfsp3 said:
DomeHawk":179tfsp3 said:
SeatownJay":179tfsp3 said:
Modern major college football is about one thing, money. Every major decision regarding the sport comes down to what will make the most money. Tradition, history, and everything else have been reduced to minor afterthoughts. With that in mind, I have prepared the following proposal to formally turn major college football into what it pretends not to be, a for-profit minor league system for the NFL.

Article 1: Realignment
The new College Football League will consist of 120 teams separated into 3 divisions each consisting of 12 10-team conferences based on geographic proximity. As there are currently 130 FBS teams, this will require the demotion of the 10 programs that have been in the FBS the shortest amount of time. Those programs are Appalachian State, Charlotte, Coastal Carolina, Georgia Southern, Georgia State, Liberty, Old Dominion, South Alabama, Texas State, and UTSA.

Article 2: Scheduling
Every team will play a 12 game schedule consisting of 9 conference games and 3 non-conference games. The non-conference games will rotate between teams from other conferences, one from each division. Non-conference opponents will be determined based on the prior season's conference position. Example, the champion of conference A will play the champions of conference B, conference E, and conference I. The following year they will play teams from conference C, conference F, and conference J. Conference champions will be determined by conference record with the tie-breakers being, in order: head-to-head record, overall record, point differential, points scored, turnover margin, coin flip.

Article 3: Post Season Play
There will be a 16-team playoff to determine the league champion, consisting of the 12 conference winners and 4 wild cards. Teams that finish with seven or more wins that do not make the playoffs will be eligible to schedule and play in exhibition bowl games after the regular season.

Article 4: The Divisions and Conferences
Below are the new divisions and conferences after realignment.
Eastern Division
American Athletic Conference: Army, Boston College, Buffalo, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Penn State, Pittsburgh, Rutgers, Syracuse, Temple
Atlantic Coast Conference: Central Florida, Clemson, Duke, Florida, Florida State, Georgia Tech, Miami (FL), North Carolina, South Carolina, South Florida
Conference USA: East Carolina, Maryland, Memphis, Middle Tennessee State, Navy, North Carolina State, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Wake Forest, West Virginia
Sun Belt Conference: Arkansas State, Florida Atlantic, Florida International, Louisiana Tech, Louisiana-Lafayette, Louisiana-Monroe, Southern Mississippi, Troy, Tulane, UAB
Central Division
Big Ten Conference: Ball State, Cincinnati, Indiana, Louisville, Michigan, Michigan State, Notre Dame, Ohio State, Purdue, Western Kentucky
Great Plains Conference: Illinois, Iowa, Iowa State, Kansas, Kansas State, Minnesota, Missouri, Northern Illinois, Northwestern, Wisconsin
Mid American Conference: Akron, Bowling Green, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Kent State, Marshall, Miami (OH), Ohio, Toledo, Western Michigan
Southeastern Conference: Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, Georgia, Kentucky, LSU, Mississippi, Mississippi State, Tennessee, Vanderbilt
Western Division
Mountain West Conference: Air Force, Colorado, Colorado State, Nebraska, New Mexico, New Mexico State, TCU, Texas Tech, UTEP, Wyoming
Pac 10 Conference: Arizona, Arizona State, California, Oregon, Oregon State, Stanford, UCLA, USC, Washington, Washington State
Southwestern Conference: Baylor, Houston, North Texas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, Rice, SMU, Texas, Texas A&M, Tulsa
Western Athletic Conference: Boise State, BYU, Fresno State, Hawaii, Nevada, San Diego State, San Jose State, UNLV, Utah, Utah State

Why are you trying to make college football just like pro football? Are you not aware that we already have the NFL?

Yes, college football has the money element but comparing that to the profit motive of the NFL is simply not correct. The money made from college football supports collegiate athletics at every single school, it isn't to line the pockets of some billionaire whom already has more money than he know's what to do with.

Some of the sports college football supports:

Men's and women's cross-country
Women's field hockey
Men's and women's soccer teams
Women's volleyball
Men's water polo
Men's and women's fencing
Men's and women's gymnastics
Men's and women's ice hockey teams
Men's, women's, and mixed rifle
Men's, women's, and mixed skiing
Men's and women's swimming and diving
Men's and women's indoor track and field
Men's wrestling
Men's baseball
Women's softball
Men's and women's golf
Men's and women's lacrosse teams
Women's rowing
Men's and women's tennis
Men's and women's outdoor track and field
Men's volleyball and women's beach volleyball
Women's water polo

For anyone who has participated in collegiate sports this is a wonderful opportunity to continue in a sport after high school. The benefits generated for the school and the athlete far outweigh the costs.

Maybe this doesn't fit your vicarious needs as a fan but it is a wonderful American tradition. If anything, we should make collegiate sports less like pro sports, not more.

Yes football picks up the slack for all those things, but it has reached a point where it costs so much to operate/compete that only a small number of schools are even able to cover the costs of the entire athletic budget with football revenues. Even schools that sell out every game! It's getting closer to coming to a point where something has to change. The current system is unsustainable for 80+% of schools. That's clearly a guess

They just have to do what every organization has to do, balance their budget. It's surprising what a foreign concept that is these days.
 

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