winston-hoo

It will stay at 12; SEC/B1G with three guarantees including Conf Champ winner and loser plus at large: byes will go to their champ game participants; B12 and ACC and highest G5 (must be top 20) champs get an auto; 3 at large bids remaining go to remaining highest ranked (across all schools). They will protect their championship games as their TV partners will demand it.

Historically, they draw big numbers but this is on the backs of Texas and OK. Games without those typically not ratings winners. There is always the argument that those teams got the best time slots (like FSU/Clem/ND ACC away) but there is also a reason why networks do so. Another hope is the Colorado will continue to have Dion mania but that’s doubtful. Most of the teams they’ve added in the last few years don’t add a lot in terms of viewership (with many like in the ACC low physical attendees too).

ESPN could pay conference more for some years an extra ND game (last week when away) and a potentially more valuable championship game.

2 pod + 3 rotating pod + final week pairing* + 3 power 4 games** * for top 3, this is conference semi-final for three division winners plus top runner up. Everyone else, paired by finish and no repeat. Only division games count. Would need to figure out home/away. This would give ND just their 5 games plus last week matchup (potentially semifinal) along with chance to win ACC championship while barely moving off their current commitment. ** for many ACC teams, this would be three non conference counting ACC matchups (for volume and to help protect rivalries). But would also include such matches as CU vs USC, LU vs UK, etc toward this commitment. ND would not be required. ** Edited by winston-hoo at 8/26/2023, 1:08:29 PM

ACC, B12, and PAC all have revenue problem especially with their historically prominent FB teams (not sure that exists right now in B12 with those who fit that mold leaving). That said, if they created a Champions league (FB only), it would cure many of those woes for those who think they deserve more. Concept is simple, 12 team league that gets paid more, consisting of 4 pods of three: ACC, B12, PAC, ND (ND plus one each from ACC and B12). Each of the three conferences can uniquely select who they put in. The home network would carry the game and surely pay more for better content. For the ACCs 4 teams I’d say Clem and FSU as permanent members (not a fan of either but I think their TV+home crowd+historical achievements+value to conference warrant this) plus two more. Each year the ACC champ would replace the lower ranking of the other two. The other conferences can pick how they see fit. The pods would play within their pod and then a rotation through the others - a total of 5 games plus a championship for the top two teams on opposite sides of rotating pods. The ACC teams in the league would play another 3 or 4 non conference games against the ACC including their rivalries. ND games within the league would count towards their commitment. A couple of options for the remaining 10 teams: no divisions with rotating schedules inc rivalries or have divisions adjusting for permanent loss of Clem and FSU and have a couple teams that float between divisions based on need. In terms of playoff, champ league, sec, and b10 champions automatic bye. Acc, b12, and pac champs in without bye unless in top 4. Thoughts. Fire away,!