Why Four (4) 16-Team Mega Conferences Work

The Premise

Two things persist in discussions about major college football – (1) the need for a playoff system and (2) expansion.  Here’s a solution that not only satisfies both but maintains rivalries across the nation while developing new and exciting possibilities.  First, we start with the premise that 4 division conferences would be the model for the conferences presently known as the Big Ten, ACC, SEC, and Pac 10 – let’s update them to the Big 16, ACC, Southern and Pac 16.  Before I break down the conferences and divisions I should point out that there are 4 primary losers in this deal – Iowa State, Cincinnati, Texas Tech and Baylor.  In addition, those “mid-majors” of the nation – TCU, BYU, Boise State and East Carolina will remain on the outside looking in.  Obviously, the Big East and Big 12 dissolve. 

 

The Playoffs Solution

By establishing 4 Mega Conferences with 4 divisions each, you have the perfect formula for a playoff system within the current construct of conference championships and Bowl Games.  As a slight variation on the NFL playoff scenario, each division winner would make the 4-team Conference playoffs with seeding arranged by best conference record and the necessary designation of tiebreakers.  As a result, the #1 seed plays #4 and the #2 seed plays #3, these conference playoffs would be played on the Conference’s television network at two rotating neutral football venues.  The winners would compete in the Conference Championship at a third rotating neutral professional football venue. With that said, let’s begin our tour of the NCAA 4 Mega Conferences.

 

The Mega Conferences

The Big 16 Conference                     

North Division

Michigan State

Michigan

Northwestern

Notre Dame*

East Division

Ohio State

Penn State

Pittsburgh**

Rutgers**

South Division

Indiana

Purdue

Illinois

Missouri***

West Division

Wisconsin

Minnesota

Iowa

Nebraska***

 

* Formerly Independent

** Formerly of the Big East

*** Formerly of the Big 12

 

With this alignment, historic and current rivalries are preserved. In addition, conference scheduling could accommodate the preservation of rivalries such as Michigan v Ohio State, Nebraska v Missouri, etc. Each division is filled with rivalries – Notre Dame plays Michigan State and Michigan nearly every year and the Northwestern rivalry existed in the early 1900’s.  Ohio State and Penn State enjoy a rivalry currently and Penn State, Pittsburgh and Rutgers all would have former ties to the Big East. Iowa, Minnesota and Wisconsin all share rivalries and adding Nebraska is a natural for Iowa.  The South Division as constituted has more value in hoops but Illinois and Missouri currently enjoy a rivalry game played annually in St. Louis.  Consider divisional playoff games in Detroit, St. Louis, Kansas City, Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, New York, Chicago, Cleveland, Indianapolis, Green Bay and Minneapolis.

 

The Atlantic Coast Conference        

North Division

Boston College

Syracuse**

Connecticut**

Temple****

East Division

North Carolina

NC State

Duke

Wake Forest

South Division

Florida State

Miami

Clemson

Georgia Tech

West Division

West Virginia**

Maryland

Virginia Tech

Virginia

 

** Formerly of the Big East

**** Formerly of the MAC/Atlantic 10

 

It would be natural to question Temple, but the former ties to the Big East in addition to strong market (Philadelphia), emerging football and respected basketball programs make for a good addition to solidify the North Division of the Conference.  Also, Boston College has more natural rivals. The North Carolina contingency is a natural as is the mid-Atlantic cluster. Consider divisional playoff games in New York, Boston, Charlotte, Jacksonville, Orlando and Washington DC.

 

The Southern Conference                

North Division

Kentucky

Louisville**

Tennessee

Vanderbilt

East Division

Florida

South Florida**

Georgia

South Carolina

South Division

Mississippi

Mississippi State

Alabama

Auburn

West Division

Oklahoma***

Oklahoma State***

Arkansas

LSU

 

** Formerly of the Big East

*** Formerly of the Big 12

 

The Break-up of the Big 12 is complete as the schools from Oklahoma depart to join the Southern Conference.  Louisville provides a boost to hoops and a natural rival to Kentucky.  Arkansas renews Big 8 relations with Oklahoma and Oklahoma State and Florida allows South Florida in on the party.  Nothing speaks more to the “Good Ole South than the South Division as aligned. Consider divisional playoff games in Nashville, Atlanta, Birmingham, Orlando and New Orleans.

 

 

 

 

The Pacific 16 Conference               

North Division

Washington

Washington State

Oregon

Oregon State

East Division

Colorado***

Utah******

Kansas State***

Kansas***
South Division

Arizona

Arizona State

Texas***

Texas A&M***

West Division

Stanford

California

USC

UCLA

 

*** Formerly of the Big 12

***** Formerly of the MWC

 

The Pac 10, like the Big 10, values education and Utah, Colorado, Kansas, Texas A&M and Texas certainly fit the bill.  The big boy has landed – Texas joins the wild, wild, west and brings along A&M.  Kansas does the same for Kansas State and Utah makes the cut to join the big boys.  Great markets added and natural rivals included in the deal.  Consider divisional playoff games in Denver, Seattle, San Antonio, Dallas, Phoenix, Oakland and San Francisco.

 

The Mid-Major Conferences

The rest of the nation’s teams would either be in a mess or could also form 4X4 conference alignments as suggested below.  By adding the Army v Navy rivalry game, Iowa State and Cincinnati, the MAC Conference adds a few good markets (Cincinnati and Baltimore) and quality and/or historic programs.  Conference USA adds Big 12 refugees furthering its positioning within the state of Texas while adding the emerging demographics found in New Mexico.  A merger of the WAC and MWC is the final development necessary to complete the Mid-Major Conference scheme.

These additions work geographically and in the case of the WAC/MWC merger a stronger conference is formed with Air Force, BYU, TCU, Boise State, and Fresno State headlining.  I have no solution for the Sun Belt Conference other than to acknowledge it as an 8 team conference. Naturally, this doesn’t resolve the BCS issue but perhaps consideration can be made for these conference champions to figure in the mix consistent with the current weighted formula.

MAC                                   

Buffalo

Ohio

Bowling Green

Kent State

Akron

Miami Ohio

Toledo

Ball State

Cincinnati**

Central Michigan

Western Michigan

Eastern Michigan

Northern Illinois

Iowa State***

Navy*

Army*

 

Conference USA

UCF

East Carolina

Southern Miss

UAB

Troy*******

Memphis

Marshall

Tulane

Houston

SMU

UTEP

Tulsa

Rice

Texas Tech***

Baylor***

New Mexico******

 

WAC/MWC                     

Air Force

BYU

Colorado State

San Diego State

TCU

UNLV

Wyoming

Boise State

Fresno State

Hawaii

Idaho

La Tech

Nevada

San Jose State

Utah State

New Mexico State

* Formerly Independent

** Formerly of the Big East

*** Formerly of the Big 12

****** Formerly of the MWC

******* Formerly of the Sun Belt

The Scheduling                      

The 4X4 format would suggest the following 12 games scheduling system:

• Annual Division Games = 3 games
• Annual Preserved Conference Rivalry Games = 1 game
• Triennial Cross-Divisional Games (i.e. North v South) = 4 games
• Out of Conference Games = 4 games

What is most important here is the ability for teams to schedule 4 non-conference games while maintaining a home-away balance with 8 conference games. The annual preserved rivalry games will upset this formula in certain years but this is a minor scheduling quirk. 

The Wrap                              

So there you have it – expansion, mega conferences, playoffs, championships, and bowl games all in one nice package complete with rivalries and geographic sensibility. Imagine the possibilities when the ACC v Big 16 challenge comes to major college football.  Imagine 4 Mega Conference Television Networks available throughout the nation.  And now I leave you with a “cliff hanger” – would the bowl games choose the conference champions or the higher ranked playoff losers?  Oh Brother, Charlie Brown… let the games begin.