The Big 12 expansion groundswell

[Uncle Ted]

Some people watch college football because they don't want to break the Sabbath.

When God's team is playing it is ok to watch them.

[Copelius]

We need that incredible Wyoming v Colorado State game to ensure fan viewership, or that insane Arizona State v Oregon State matchup that drives millions thousands to the television screen!

The others won’t be anymore excluded than they are now. The way you have to look at this is simple, why would the SEC and B1G, in this new world where they can destroy conferences where the members have been together for 100 years, share with Rutgers the spoils of a playoff or NC? Americans are already trending away from NCAA football in terms of viewership, attendance and with HS kids playing less football than before participation.

Amateur football is heading towards its demise. The way it looks now is if you aren’t in the B1G or SEC your program probs has a shelf life of 15-20 years.

In 15-20 I won't likely have the marbles left to know or care about my team, so works for me.

[Jeff Lebowski]

We need that incredible Wyoming v Colorado State game to ensure fan viewership, or that insane Arizona State v Oregon State matchup that drives millions thousands to the television screen!

The others won’t be anymore excluded than they are now. The way you have to look at this is simple, why would the SEC and B1G, in this new world where they can destroy conferences where the members have been together for 100 years, share with Rutgers the spoils of a playoff or NC? Americans are already trending away from NCAA football in terms of viewership, attendance and with HS kids playing less football than before participation.

Amateur football is heading towards its demise. The way it looks now is if you aren’t in the B1G or SEC your program probs has a shelf life of 15-20 years.

How many true blue bloods are there? 10? 12?

Why would they share any money with the non blue bloods?

If you aren’t a blue blood your program probably has a shelf life of 15-20 years.

Simple logic folks.

[Moliere]

We need that incredible Wyoming v Colorado State game to ensure fan viewership, or that insane Arizona State v Oregon State matchup that drives millions thousands to the television screen!

The others won’t be anymore excluded than they are now. The way you have to look at this is simple, why would the SEC and B1G, in this new world where they can destroy conferences where the members have been together for 100 years, share with Rutgers the spoils of a playoff or NC? Americans are already trending away from NCAA football in terms of viewership, attendance and with HS kids playing less football than before participation.

Amateur football is heading towards its demise. The way it looks now is if you aren’t in the B1G or SEC your program probs has a shelf life of 15-20 years.

Rutgers is included because teams need to pad their win/loss record and have a week or two break from playing tough teams. They are paid to be the whipping boy and is the reason they (and no other serial bottom dwellers of the two largest conferences) won’t be kicked out.

[Uncle Ted]

How many true blue bloods are there? 10? 12?

Why would they share any money with the non blue bloods?

If you aren’t a blue blood your program probably has a shelf life of 15-20 years.

Simple logic folks.

I think the difference between the "have's" and "have not's" going forward is going to be NIL money. UofUtah is so desperate to keep up with BYU in this area they had to get their business school involved: https://www.si.com/college/utah/othe...for-nil-profit (Is UofUtah's business school even in the top 50?)

On the other hand the amount of money BYU players are getting is raising NCAA eyebrows: https://bleacherreport.com/articles/...nil-violations

[Paperback Writer]

Rutgers is included because teams need to pad their win/loss record and have a week or two break from playing tough teams. They are paid to be the whipping boy and is the reason they (and no other serial bottom dwellers of the two largest conferences) won’t be kicked out.

Also, the B1G did just the opposite. The B1G invited Rutgers to share in the spoils rather than exclude them. Most likely for the reason you mention.

[fusnik]

Also, the B1G did just the opposite. The B1G invited Rutgers to share in the spoils rather than exclude them. Most likely for the reason you mention.

With a 16 team playoff having multiple losses isn’t going to matter.

Division 1 (the current mid majors B12 included) will get 1-2 auto bids to throw meat at those schools.

The B1G will get 5 autos and the SEC will get 5 autos with 4 at large bids based on conference strength, SOS, etc. Of those 40 teams the top 14 teams get into the playoff.

You are telling me that doesn’t get more eyeballs than the Music City Bowl and the current bowl lineup?

[fusnik]

How many true blue bloods are there? 10? 12?

Why would they share any money with the non blue bloods?

If you aren’t a blue blood your program probably has a shelf life of 15-20 years.

Simple logic folks.

Yeah because 10 teams leagues are super successful.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Yeah because 10 teams leagues are super successful.

Wait. You can't just shrink to a small number without consequences?

[fusnik]

Wait. You can't just shrink to a small number without consequences?

Honestly and I say this as meanly as possible, when did Falafal take over this account?

[Bo Diddley]

You are proving our point. NFL and MLB have fans in Utah and Nebraska because sports fans will follow the sports they like at the highest level. But how many XFL or diehard Bees fans are there in Utah? If you exclude all but 40 schools and make that super league a de facto NFL minor league, it will not command the viewership, interest, or revenue the current leagues do collectively. Why watch Ohio State vs Michigan in the NFL D league when you can just watch the real thing the next day?

College football =/= NFL. People love both sports.

I see this as a somewhat elastic equation. The haves are trying to pull in more money--more of a share of the available revenue. That net effect is less support as a whole. I think what they're trying to do is pull in as much money as they can without breaking the system. If they turn into a true minor league, their value drops considerably.

Bottom line, I think they're willing to give up some collective fan support for more money in their individual pockets. I don't think they push the system to the breaking point.

[Jeff Lebowski]

Honestly and I say this as meanly as possible, when did Falafal take over this account?

Haha.

I love falafel.

[falafel]

[Uncle Ted]

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[UVACoug]

Is there really fan ‘interest’ outside of 40-50 programs? Not real fan internet to move the needle television/streaming wise.

Nobody cares about Indiana v Minnesota or Vanderbilt v Mississippi State or Cal v Wazzou.

People cared about Oklahoma and Texas against regional opponents yet Oklahoma and Texas decided to be second rate citizens in a conference that neither of them will win over the next 8-10 years.

Of course there’s fan interest for other schools. And those fans watch the 40-50 top teams because what happens to them has a large impact on their own teams. Why would someone, with no tie to an SEC or B1G team, continue watching college football at all if their team is no longer around? The NFL puts out a much better product.

Which brings me to the actual premise of my post, which you conveniently forgot. You said those top 40-50 teams would cut ties with academic institutions. That is what I was responding to. Why would those teams want to cut ties with the main thing that makes college football a huge profitable enterprise and the only thing that differentiates it from other minor league sports? It makes no sense at all.

When you reduce the size of the pie, each slice gets smaller. Of course there are always going to be some fans that watch no matter what because they just like football, in any context. But I think your mistaken if you don’t think a large portion of the general CFB audience only watches because of ties they have to their school or local team. Those people won’t continue watching if their team is no longer around.