With a new structure, we could have a single umbrella "conference" that is separate from the P2. Secure new media rights for the regular season and playoffs. Give the media companies something new to promote. And give fans reason to care, since it would be very regional focused. It could be 42 teams (as one example shown below), structured in very small regional pods similar to the NFL structure. This would reduce travel for schools, leverage some existing rivalries, allow for greater scheduling flexibility, still allow for OOC scheduling with the P2, and setup nicely for determining playoff teams (or a completely separate playoff of 8-16 schools). A structure like this could get very creative with marketing, revenue sharing, etc. and give schools something new and positive to help build. This current focus on the P2 and everyone feeling like beggars is just stupid and needs to stop. Lets take our paid players and create some new value for the sport. ** Edited by HokieAl at 11/26/2025, 3:48:28 PM

that would compete with the existing contracts. A lot of mouths to feed, and I'm pretty sure no one would take less money than they are now.

But no one in power has the balls to do it. Instead, everyone just lingers in a crappy system realizing we are headed for a cliff and hoping to not get back stabbed by their conference, the CFP, the power brokers in the P2, the TV bean counters, and so on. It's malaise.

Assuming the SEC and B1G don't boot anyone. VT better hope 48 is the number. In my perfect world, 64 would be the number with eight 8 school divisions based on regions and historical rivalries. Play 7 division games. Schedule one G5 or below-the-cut-line P4 school in the first 3 weeks. Have three out of division games. Playoffs: Have 3rd place division vs. 2nd place division for a "wildcard game" at Atlanta, Charlotte, Dallas, Vegas, Indy, KC, LA, DC the same weekend as typical conference championship games. Take a bye week (Army vs. Navy, new G5 playoffs?) then reseed the bracket for home hosts 1 vs 8, 2 vs 7, etc.

sticking point, not who will be included. The way to do it is set the bar so high, that Universities will bow out. Say, set the football budget at $200K and the athletic budget at $300K in todays dollars. Make it a hard minimum, and you will lose the ones that are riding on the backs of the blue bloods. In addition, lose the buy in games, and only play schools in your league. What do you do with a basketball blue blood like Duke? Do include them? This idea that there will be 40, 48, or even 60 schools in a new league will not happen IMHO.

a way of restraining trade. Even if the schools don't win that lawsuit, the new system could be tied up in the courts for multiple years which would still achieve the objective of buying more time for Congress or states to get involved in the issue.

the barriers of entry are votes of the existing owners, and money. The current configuration of the FBS playoff system is private, not through the NCAA. They could set the parameters of who could be included in their playoffs, as that would not trigger anti trust (I think). It's a private business entity, and what if they decide that the G5, B12, and ACC are not eligible to participate? What if they set the barrier of entry that any school that participates must have a minimum amount of money for player salaries, a minimum stadium capacity, a minimum budget, and so on and so forth?

would agree to bar themselves from having access to the FBS Playoffs? Even if the P2s want to dissolve the CFP Administration, LLC, they may not get their wish (aka enough votes). Depending on how the bylaws were structured, unanimous consent may be required before anything is passed.

format was the wrong example. After the current media contract, how easy would it be to form a new playoff format, and set new guidelines? When many are talking about a break away league, it could be done through the media companies, and the playoffs.

are the essentially the same groups that currently own the FBS Playoffs. I'm assuming the reason the schools opted to go with this structure for BCS and FBS Playoffs is because every school has access to it which gave the organization protection from antitrust laws. If a new organization has to be formed for the new postseason structure, then I guess you would have to take a look at how the organization who ran the BCA was structured and whether it was truly afforded antitrust protection or not. At least that seems to be the only known example at this time that mirrors the P2s forming a P2-only private entity. If the remaining FBS conferences and Notre Dame wish to continue the current organization (minus the P2s) with its own postseason, then the networks may have to guarantee them similar payouts to prevent them from pursuing antitrust litigation. Also, the P2s may have to form a brand new division (either for football or all sports) to try to distance themselves from antitrust laws. The 8 FBS conferences and Notre Dame may have a tougher time proving their case if the P2 League is a separate division level within the NCAA umbrella. Whereas if the 8 FBS conferences and Notre Dame have no playoffs, then they might have an easier time proving their case. I believe a precedence was set in the late '70s and early '80s when DI announced the creation of DI-A and DI-AA subdivisions in football. Schools sued when they were selected/assigned to DI-AA instead of being allowed to remain in DI-A. Eventually the lawsuit was settled in the mid-80s. I believe something similar will happen if the P2s and networks tried to cut out the remaining DI-FBS and maybe DI-FCS without throwing them some sort of bone.

may will not be the organization that oversees a breakaway football league - and that might be the simple answer. Separate football.

though. Plus, if it is for all sports, then the NCAA may not have much of a choice. FWIW the bylaws have provisions providing guidelines for competitions against NAIA teams. Something similar would have to happen if the P2s formed a new association regardless whether it was just for football or for all sports (assuming the P2s want to continue competing against the rest for the FBS schools).

have to buy off the rest if they want to be included. Does the G5 and P schools that are not invited have the guts to do that?

open their checkbooks to foot the bill.

the networks want a break away league.

started so we can move on to the new system. Rip the band-aid off.

record for all of them to encourage better regular season matchups. Keep it simple, fair as possible, and understandable, but unfortunately that ship has sailed.

that would be the sensible structure, but.......

I can think of a lot of schools I'd like to have in that others would say no.

Thanks List.