Conference Realignment: Impending Shifts in the NCAA

Quite often is the case that the summer months, void of college athletics save for the looming College World Series, do not bring about much chatter amongst talking heads in the collegiate world of sports—at least none such of which us common folk are aware.

This summer is already shaping up to deliver a huge transformation to the college landscape.

I’m talking conference realignment—changes that will forge new rivalries and perhaps see some others fade. 

Leagues like the Big 12, Pac-10, SEC, and Big Ten—the powerhouse conferences of the NCAA—are subject to drastic alterations that will see a number of universities relocate their interests towards other parts of the country.

Nothing is set in stone yet, obviously, but the invitations for some programs to leave their current securities for what are likely to be greener pastures are just around the corner, according to athletic directors and commissioners for several of these conferences.

After the dust settles, it seems likely to result in four super conferences: a 16-team Pac-10 and Big 12 cooperative, the Big Ten—which is expected to add up to four more universities from current Big 12 and Big East territory—the SEC (again, likely to invite a few to join them), and a Northeastern alliance between any remaining ACC and Big East programs.

The driving point behind this major realignment is exactly what one would expect—money. In this case, lucrative television contracts are keeping negotiations afloat, and between ABC/ESPN, FOX, and the Big Ten Network, there is ample revenue to throw at universities across the nation.

College football is a large focal point behind such realignment, but is the multimillion-dollar sport ready for this drastic change?

The answer is yes.

After brushing up on the current Big 12 summit, it is said that the Pac-10 has plans to invite Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and Colorado out west, creating a two-division conference, pitting those six teams with Arizona and Arizona State and leaving the rival division with the rest of the conference programs: Washington, Washington State, Oregon, Oregon State, USC, UCLA, Cal, and Stanford.

A Western union that would make college football fans drool—that’s what that is.

In the Midwest, the Big Ten still seeks out Notre Dame to join its ranks along with plans for Missouri and a couple of Big East teams that command valuable television markets.  Think Rutgers, Pittsburgh, UConn, and Syracuse.

While the SEC, from the media’s love-affair-with-the-SEC-point-of-view, may not need to realign to maintain a firm grasp as college football’s top conference, it could seize a few programs from ACC territory, leaving the remaining schools to ally with what’s left of the Big East.

Academic powerhouses with college football giants.

But with such big plans, complexities will emerge.

For instance, if Notre Dame keeps its independent status, the Big Ten will be forced to hunt for another bid of legitimate marketability and power. Rumors have swirled of Texas A&M bolting for the SEC, leaving Texas in the dust as well as the bold Pac-10 plans. 

And what of the remaining Big 12 teams? They geographically fall into Mountain West and Conference USA territories. How will those mid-major conferences keep up with the big boys?

At any rate, we can leave those details for the ADs and commissioners to hammer out.

For now, I’ll grab my popcorn and watch as the college athletic and academic platforms go under monster reconstruction the like of which our generation has never seen.