Looming NFL Lockout For 2011 Makes USC's Appeal Even More Important

As most people are starting to realize, the chances of a full, 2011 NFL season are pretty dang small.

Everyone who would like to be described as "in the know" is on the lockout bandwagon (I haven't quite figured out what that means for the NFL draft), so next year, college football will likely be the only gig in town.

Imagine what that will mean for viewership.

There are entire markets across the country in some of the biggest cities that can adequately be described as purely professional sports towns. Denver comes to mind, and even New York City could fit (maybe to a slightly lesser degree).

All of the people in those cities who follow their professional teams will suddenly be Saturday sports fans. College viewership would grow; the question is, just how much will it expand, and who will benefit?

If these new fans start to pick alliances they will likely be outside of their immediate area, simply because if they had local ties they would already be college football fans. They will likely gravitate towards the conference that they perceive to be the most exciting.

With Utah definitely coming in and Colorado joining by that point, the "Pac-12" will definitely have the glamor factor.

Heck, the Pac-12 is quickly press-jacking every other major conference in the country, and it appears destined to take over as the conference of the future. All of the teams are exciting and the biggest names are lining up to play on the west coast.

Jake Locker and Matt Barkley are probably the best two quarterbacks in the college game. Don't forget, if Locker had gone out to the draft this year he would have been picked in front of Sam Bradford.

But the biggest name in the conference has always been and always will be USC. And the chance to draw in even more fans might be resting on the NCAA appeal.

If USC wins and has bowl game eligibility and lighter scholarship sanctions, the possibility of the Trojans contending for yet another conference title is highly possible. If they lose, it would be a colossal failure and ruin any attempt at expanding the Trojan family.

College football should see its biggest season ever in 2011. It would be cruel and unusual punishment from the NCAA to make USC sit the year out, but their punishments have already surpassed extreme.

In the end, its just one more reason to keep and eye on the proceedings. Fortunately the process could take a year, so it will be hard to miss them.