We're a little over a month from College Football kicking off, but in the news cycle of the last week there was a huge story that was leaked. Texas and Oklahoma are looking to leave the Big 12 and join the SEC, creating the first 16 team Superconference. This news has sent shockwaves through the sport, the speculation about what's true and not true has been flowing. There are questions about who goes where, what conference collapses? Does the Big 12 reach out to schools from the American? Does the SEC have eyes for more than the two biggest fish? Of course what does this mean for Notre Dame? Living in B1G territory we automatically think of ourselves and wonder what the B1G will do. I have an idea that may seem strange to you, but after I explain it you may find yourself in agreement with me. I think the B1G and the Pac-12 should join forces. They need to add a few more teams, which I'll get into, but we'll get there.
First of all this isn't entirely my idea, I must give credit to Jon Miller, an Iowa podcast host and former radio guy in the Des Moines area. He put this seed in my head and since then I've ran with it. The B16 and Pac-16 will look like this. B16 invite Iowa State and Kansas, the Pac-16 invite Texas Tech, Oklahoma State, Kansas State and one of Boise State, BYU, TCU, or Baylor. I believe the Pac-12 isn't thrilled with the prospect of religious schools in the conference so BYU, TCU, and Baylor are hard sells. West Viriginia can go join the ACC where they belong so they can play Pittsburgh.
Once the B16 is formed, we build 4 pods. The pods are for football only, you play the 4 teams in your pod every year and play 2 teams from the other 3 pods each year and switch off. That way in a 4 year span you'll have played at home/away vs every school in the conference. The other 3 games come from the alliance with the Pac-16. Kansas and Kansas State want to play, go for it. Ohio State and USC, sign me up. Colorado vs Nebraska, SURE. That's your 12 game schedule, 9 conference games 3 non-con games vs the other conference. The beauty of this plan is, all the money stays in the leagues, no paying someone a million dollars. Plus Fox will own all the broadcast rights for both leagues so we can play 3 nights a week and maybe a double header Friday night.
The B16 pods will be as follows. Pod 1: Maryland, Michigan State, Penn State, and Rutgers. Pod 2 Indiana, Michigan, Ohio State, and Purdue. Pod 3 Illinois, Minnesota, jNorthwestern, and Wisconsin. Pod 4 Iowa, Iowa State, Kansas State, and Nebraska. Best 2 records play in the B16 title game. Then whomever wins the B16 Title Game goes to Pasadena to play vs the Pac-16 Champion in the Rose Bowl. Winner of that game goes and plays vs the SEC/ACC Sugar Bowl winner for a chance at the National Title. It's basically NFC vs AFC. You get the traditional bowl game and you get a clear National Champion, it's perfect. No selection committees, no schools that don't belong, and hopefully no blowouts.
I understand that this leaves out the little guys of college football and for that I'm sorry. But you don't see the SEC asking UCF and Memphis to join they are asking Texas and OU. The sport is going to become more elite and sadly the rich are going to continue to get richer. Perhaps the G5 schools can come up with their own version of this playoff format. There will be no relegation as much as people want it, these are state run schools with state approved budgets, they will never agree to take less money.
If the B1G and Pac-12, along with Fox can somehow come to an agreement like I outlined above I think it will be the perfect plan to fight the SEC and ESPN who are working together to create this Superconference. If the Big Ten wants to be 2nd best, which they haven't been in revenue for a long time they will think outside the box and try something drastic. Let me know your thoughts, hit me up on twitter @derekbredeson.
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