Super Conference? Forget About How Your Dad Did Things

Estimated reading time: 6 minutes

Jim Quist @ACCTheQ –

So you say you want some realignment action in your conference? What do you say we create a Super Conference? It’s time we broke out of the box and forget all about how our dear old dads did things. Those days are long gone. After all, why not go big or simply go home when it comes to playing the long game in college sports? Look, we’re long past answering the question, is college sports a business and should it be run like one? The NCAA was a nice effort but it’s been out of it’s depth for decades. It’s a toothless tiger that can no longer exercise control over the big boys of college football. If we’re honest with ourselves, they barely can keep basketball in check. So, let’s toss all of this nonsense by the wayside and come up with something, should I say, interesting.

The realignment hornets nest that the SEC unleashed with courting Texas and Oklahoma with a wink and a nod from ESPN has revealed much about where we really stand. At this point in the discussion I recommend listening to our latest ACC Nation Podcast with Jeff Adams of the Law Firm, Abbey-Adams. There is a world of reality waiting for you in listening to Adams’ words on what can, can’t, might and should happen with college sports as we know it. After absorbing the head meets wall at 70mph impact of what Adams reveals it suddenly becomes apparent we are about to see a shakeup in college sports unlike anything we’ve imagined. Adams’ question, where is that leader with a cape?

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That answer will likely come later than we’d all like as this entire scenario is difficult for one person to wrap their head around. But, eventually that individual or group will step up and stability will return. For the time being it appears to be (gasp) ESPN. In the meantime, the landscape will be littered with social media punditry (some good, some absurd), concepts for new conferences and some fascinating tweaks to the business model as we now know it.

Count me in for a bit of all three. I’ve seen some interesting articles, some halfcocked observations and once in a while a glimmer of an idea that makes me feel that we’re close to something revolutionary. Just what kind of changes might occur? We spoke with the Editor of Trojans Wire, Matt Zemek for his thoughts on realignment. True to form, Zemek did not hold back on this episode of ACC Nation Podcast. It’s good to look back on when this story was first breaking to get a feel for ‘the moment’.

Super Conference?

When I mention, go big or go home, I truly mean, go big. As in, let’s dominate this landscape unlike anything you’ve ever imagined. If the NFL and NBA (among other pro sports) can blanket the nation (and Canada) with their brands why can’t college sports? I already hear the whimpering and whining and a multitude of excuses as to why it can’t be done. Again, this is a business. So let’s start with the premise that is basic to all successful businesses. The idea is to grow. If all you plan on doing is having a mom and pop stand on the corner, well good luck because you’ve locked yourself into becoming a once in a generation operation. With that in mind it’s time to apply the growth model to college sports. As you are about to read, this is a serious step and it’s all about the green.

Start with two similar conferences, the ACC and Big Ten. Both have a goal to deliver top shelf academic environments and have rich sports traditions, though one is known more for football and the other for basketball. That divide has slipped away over the years as college football has more parity and the same is true about hoops. A merger and I’m talking about a complete merger of all 28 teams (bear with me for the rest) is and should not be out of the question.

Where Can You Get Some Delicious Chicken And Waffles?

How can you make the impossible, possible? I’m looking at Notre Dame. A merger of this magnitude can happen without them but the door will rapidly shut after it happens. The Irish will be looking at little to no chance of making it to a 12 team football playoff if a large portion of their schedule become relegated to the PAC 12 and non-Power 5 conferences. Sorry, but the reality is the folks in this proposed conference and the SEC will be looking after their own.

Football Supremacy

Notre Dame is the first stop along the way. Rivalries and television markets equal money. The second stop is West Virginia to round out a geographically driven need.

Nothing’s perfect but imagine the following pods as part of this Super Conference –

POD A
Ohio State
Michigan
Michigan State
Notre Dame
Indiana
Purdue

POD B
Nebraska
Minnesota
Northwestern
Iowa
Illinois
Wisconsin

POD C
Boston College
Syracuse
Pitt
Rutgers
West Virginia
Penn State

POD D
Miami
Clemson
Florida State
Georgia Tech
Wake Forest
Duke

POD E
Virginia
NC State
Louisville
Maryland
Virginia Tech
North Carolina

Go Big Or Go Home

Thirty teams? Are you mad? Up front I said it’s time to think outside the box and create a Super Conference that dominates the college sports world. Is there any doubt that a conference that includes this group of teams, covers the East coast, Midwest and some of the Plains wouldn’t catch your attention?

To be honest, I did consider looking at removing teams but realized that would be short-sighted. All are equal in football and basketball? No, but again if they want to be a part of this they need to invest and grow their respective programs.

In the world of football each team would continue playing 12 regular season games. Six of those games from within their respective pods. How the remaining games would be played would be determined by the manner in which the conference pods decided on their conference championship. Or would there even need to be a conference championship considering how the face of football is changing? If not, 4 additional games would be in-conference with one game against a team from each pod that could rotate each year.

It’s all coming down to how teams are ranked as to whether they’ll make it into the playoffs. With that in mind the odds for multiple teams coming out of this merged conference increases dramatically thereby negating the recent move by the SEC.

And let’s be honest for a moment. Who wouldn’t be absolutely glued to their TV, smartphone or seats in the stadium with some of these potential matchups each year? You want excitement in college sports, well here it is and it brings the money.

Egos Aside

Things change in life. You have to put those familiar items of your childhood aside as you become an adult. Say goodbye to the names. No more ACC, no more Big Ten. If this were a merger between the ACC and PAC 12 I’d say call it, A&P but there are enough of you out that remember the supermarket and would run me out of town. You may well for this suggestion as well.

I want you to just take a few minutes to chew on this idea about a Super Conference. Add your thoughts to it. Maybe you’ll hit upon the perfect plan. Let’s hope those guiding college sports will do just that.