College Football Conference Realignments: The Dream Scenario

The College Football world is in turmoil, as schools continue to shuffle conferences.  It seems that every day we receive more news about a possible conference adjustment.  This constant shuffling is bad for college sports.  A committee needs to be developed in order to figure out the best move for everyone involved.

The majority of the moves are about money, which makes this more concerning.  It appears that the moves being made are not necessarily in the best interest of the schools or students.

I decided to form my own committee—of me, myself and I.  Putting together several 16 team conferences was a difficult task, but also fun.  I only focused on football, meaning some basketball rivalries were ignored.

This isn't a perfect solution, but it makes some sense.  The realignment is a long term solution but not everlasting.  For example, there will be another Boise State, that emerges onto the national scene.  At that point, another readjustment will need to take place.  However, it wouldn't be the constant instability we currently face.

A playoff system could emerge from this realignment.  Each conference would have a championship game, with the winners facing off in a playoff.

College Football Conference Realignment: Reshaping the ACC

Here is the first conference, which resembles the current ACC.  There are several additions and subtractions, most notably the subtraction of North Carolina.  Of course, this move is a big issue in the basketball world, but we are only focusing on football.

Some of the big additions are West Virginia and South Florida.  Both schools bring rabid fan-bases to the conference, as well as good on the field play.  Temple and Troy are two schools making the step up to a bigger conference.  Both schools have shown improvements and are on their way to building decent programs.

The conference keeps a lot of the same rivalries, while adding some new ones.  It would be great to see West Virginia and Virginia Tech face off each year.  Of course, we can throw in some protected rivalries like Florida State vs Miami.

Division 1: Clemson, Florida State, Temple, NC State, Wake Forest, Connecticut, Syracuse, Boston College

Division 2: Duke, Troy, Miami, Virginia, Virginia Tech, East Carolina, South Florida, West Virginia.

College Football Conference Realignment: Reshaping the Big 12

The next conference is a beefed up Big 12, keeping the conference intact.  This conference has an opportunity to be a real powerhouse.  The power of this conference will depend on the continued development of two new programs.

The addition of Boise State and TCU bring some new blood.  Both teams are in the middle of a great run, and with continued development would bring more National Championship contenders to the conference.  Both teams are in the same division, making for a great rivalry.

Houston gets a nice bump, mainly due to location.  However, they could bring some intriguing upset potential.  I forced BYU out of their independence, only because independents don't exists in my world.

The biggest story line here is that both Texas and Oklahoma remain.  They are in separate divisions but will have a protected rivalry game.

Division 1: Baylor, Texas Tech, Houston, Texas, SMU, Boise State, TCU, Iowa State

Division 2: Kansas, Kansas State, Missouri, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, BYU, Tulsa, and Cincinnati

College Football Conference Realignment: Reshaping the Big 10

Here is the reshaped Big 10 conference.  There wasn't any subtractions, only additions.  I felt that the Big 10 had a good structure, competition, and rivalries.  The additions made strengthen every aspect of the conference.

The biggest addition is Notre Dame, which is a logical move.  Notre Dame has a strong history with Michigan, Michigan State, and Penn State.  They make sense geographically, competition-wise, and with good strong rivalries.

I also brought in Maryland, Pittsburgh, and Rutgers.  Each of these schools have some local rivals, and help fill out the conference.  These additions help strengthen the eastern part of the Big 10, helping take away from Penn State's isolation.

The protected rivalries would remain in tact, with the addition of a yearly Penn State vs Notre Dame game.  I might have gotten a little carried away, as no mid-level filler schools were added.

Division 1: Notre Dame, Michigan, Michigan State, Minnesota, Northwestern, Purdue, Nebraska, Iowa

Division 2: Maryland, Illinois, Indiana, Ohio State, Penn State, Wisconsin, Pittsburgh, Rutgers

College Football Conference Realignment: Reshaping the Pac-12

This conference received the least amount of change.  It is basically the Pac-12 with the addition of some filler schools.  I considered adding Boise State to this conference, but didn't want to breakup the TCU and Boise State pairing.

The additions are mostly geographical, and not that impressive.  Hawaii, Air Force, San Diego State, and Fresno State are all decent programs, but lack any star power.  Looking back, it might have been the right move to put Boise State somewhere in this conference.

However, the current structure seems to work for the Pac-12, making it easier not to make to many adjustments.

Division 1: Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado, UCLA, USC, Air Force, San Diego State, Hawaii

Division 2: California, Oregon, Oregon State, Stanford, Utah, Washington, Washington State, Fresno State

College Football Conference Realignment: Reshaping the SEC

Due to the realignment, the SEC has some competition for the top overall conference.  The Big 12 and Big 10 both got a bump, with their additions.  However, the SEC received a few new-comers that strengthen the competition.

North Carolina and Georgia Tech move from the ACC, bringing a new element to the conference.  I felt that North Carolina has the revenue and potential to compete in the SEC.  The past few years, North Carolina has done a great job recruiting.  The move to the SEC would require more of a commitment to football, but they are capable of competing.

Georgia Tech's move brings a little more meaning to their instate rivalry, with Georgia.  This move might be tough for the Yellow Jackets, but someone needed to make the move.  Louisville also draws the short straw, but the move will bring more revenue to the program.

Division 1: Alabama, Arkansas, Auburn, LSU, Mississippi State, Ole Miss, Texas A&M, Louisville

Division 2: Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, South Carolina, Tennessee, Vanderbilt, North Carolina, Georgia Tech

College Football Conference Realignment: The Remaining Schools

It was difficult figuring out the big conferences, making filling out the rest impossible.  However, there are enough teams here for two more conferences.  Neither would be a power-house, but could create some intriguing matchups.

Overall, the main point of this was to get the bigger schools situated.

Remaining Schools: Akron, Ball State, Bowling Green, Buffalo, Central Michigan, Eastern Michigan, Kent State, Miami (OH), Northern Illinois, Ohio, Marshall, Toledo, Western Michigan, Army, Navy, UCF, UTEP, Rice.