College Football Playoffs Discussion (12/16/24 Team Format)

[Jaxbuck]

Just sayin': Hell, there are at least 69 Power 4 teams now.

ACC: 17
BIG XII: 17
B1G: 18
SEC: 16
Independent: 1

I just see too many problems with determining who is in and who is out of the 30 team "super league". There are 138 teams in the NCAA Division 1 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS). If you would put it up for a vote as to creating a 30 team super league and letting them control all the money; the vote would probably be (something like) 108 to 30 against it........

Besides I don't really think that the individual schools in the Power 4 conferences really want a "super league"; I think they basically like the current/traditional conference format.

The idea is that no one else really gets a vote. You have 34 in the SEC and B1G now, plus ND and maybe a few ACC teams (Miami...?)

Those entities merge into a super league, negotiate with networks and make/enforce their own rules. Why would they give a fuck about the other 100 or so teams in FBS?

 

[ScriptOhio]

The idea is that no one else really gets a vote. You have 34 in the SEC and B1G now, plus ND and maybe a few ACC teams (Miami...?)

Those entities merge into a super league, negotiate with networks and make/enforce their own rules. Why would they give a fuck about the other 100 or so teams in FBS?

I'm sure that the other 100 FBS schools wouldn't just take it in stride:

as well as the refusal to play any of the football 30 Super League schools in any other sports; which could really adversely effect those 30 school's athletic departments.

 

[Jaxbuck]

I'm sure that the other 100 FBS schools wouldn't just take it in stride:

as well as the refusal to play any of the football 30 Super League schools in any other sports; which could really adversely effect those 30 school's athletic departments.

Suing is a rich mans game.

Who has more money?

and what are you going to litigate over? The B12 is going to sue the B1G and SEC for entering into a private business deal? How does that harm the B12? What trespass occurred?

Poverty conferences are free to go make their own tv deals.

 

[RhodeIslandBuck]

Suing is a rich mans game.

Who has more money?

and what are you going to litigate over? The B12 is going to sue the B1G and SEC for entering into a private business deal? How does that harm the B12? What trespass occurred?

Poverty conferences are free to go make their own tv deals.

This

If you're not in that top 40 concerning brand names...well, you're fucked.

Hell, I'd even say there are teams ALREADY in the Big Ten/SEC that should be shaking their boots at the prospect of a super league, but I'm admittedly a little short on knowledge regarding the legality of kicking a team out of a conference, that's a little more grey.

 

[dragurd]

I'm sure that the other 100 FBS schools wouldn't just take it in stride:

as well as the refusal to play any of the football 30 Super League schools in any other sports; which could really adversely effect those 30 school's athletic departments.

Honestly the NCAA needs to stop raising the north Alabama's of the world to FBS. FBS needs contraction not growth of teams that can't afford it and can't even put 15-20k in the seats consisirently

 

[dragurd]

This

If you're not in that top 40 concerning brand names...well, you're fucked.

Hell, I'd even say there are teams ALREADY in the Big Ten/SEC that should be shaking their boots at the prospect of a super league, but I'm admittedly a little short on knowledge regarding the legality of kicking a team out of a conference, that's a little more grey.

I doubt the Big 10 or SEC kick anyone out. Only schools to leave would be ones who go Chicago route and basically say the money they are paying is not worth it. That's why they Big 10 and SEC are the winners in this. Their little sisters of the poor we're looking at you Rutgers/Vandy/Northwestern get opportunities similar schools in other conferences don't. It's why I'm not surprised Cal made a play for it. And am surprised Stanford didn't.

 

[ORD_Buckeye]

Good for Sankey. 24 would be a joke. 16 is OK but only if it adds a second round of home games.

 

[ScriptOhio]

Suing is a rich mans game.

Who has more money?

and what are you going to litigate over? The B12 is going to sue the B1G and SEC for entering into a private business deal? How does that harm the B12? What trespass occurred?

Poverty conferences are free to go make their own tv deals.

I'd guess a large number of these 100 (or so) non Super League schools have a law school that produced thousands of alumni that would be more than willing to work "pro bono" to support their old alma mater. They would sue for the same thing the "Group of Five " conferences sued to get entry into the College Football Playoffs. The threat of antitrust litigation is the primary reason smaller conferences are legally guaranteed access. Because all FBS teams technically play on the same competitive tier, a total lockout would be deemed a restriction of trade and an illegal monopoly.

 

[Jaxbuck]

I'd guess a large number of these 100 (or so) non Super League schools have a law school that produced thousands of alumni that would be more than willing to work "pro bono" to support their old alma mater. They would sue for the same thing the "Group of Five " conferences sued to get entry into the College Football Playoffs. The threat of antitrust litigation is the primary reason smaller conferences are legally guaranteed access. Because all FBS teams technically play on the same competitive tier, a total lockout would be deemed a restriction of trade and an illegal monopoly.

That is exactly what they are buying themselves out of right now.

They are working with Ted Cruz to buy the ability to restrict trade and collude. Why is it hard to imagine them buying the votes to get an anti trust exemption like the other major pro sports?

The very worst thing that happens is they give the poverty conferences some money to go away and do their own thing. The big 2 already take something like 60% of the revenue from the CFP without changing a thing.

It becomes a simple math exercise: The cost of buying an anti trust exemption vs the 40% subsidy to unproductive schools/conferences.

I'm guessing 40% of billions of dollars means the non super league teams are about to get a new deal whether they like it or not (meaning it's more cost effective to buy the politicians than pay the poverty schools).