The End of NCAA, Beginning of Semi Pro College Athletics?

Jer

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There is some very quiet talk about a possible post NCAA world brewing with the SEC likely the conference that splits first. I’ve heard it almost talked about in a new semi professional league going forward. Guessing Texas and OU see that as the future and knew they were in a different level compared to the rest of the B12 and are moving to get on board.

The question is going to then be about if that becomes universal and the Big 10 plays me too and moves quickly to follow. Realistically there are only a couple top tier Universities in each conference but they need the other teams to schedule against. It will be interesting to see if this is part of a way to then create a “big market” vs “little market” revenue difference.

Probably not a great way this all shakes out for ISU with the only real silver lining being if the Big 10 takes us. Sports aren’t quite the end all be all out West as in the rest of the country so a PAC 12 move would be a huge step down from that, though probably the only Plan B that saves us from a mediocre league of similar sized schools in a leftover league.

There are a lot of questions as to why Texas and OU would move all of a sudden as they are setup the best competitively where they are. I think that is missing the other side of the question. That appears to be if there is going to be a break from the NCAA, how can they beat align themselves with the first and maybe only true super conference?

I don’t know if this break occurs at the same time Texas and OU join the SEC (assuming they do) or at a later date, but it appears to be a lot of the unspoken about motive for all of this sudden news.

Ive said for months that NIL is amazing for players but would ruin the sport as many of us enjoy it - as the last bastion of semi competitive ball without money impacting every player decision. It at least had a facade of being somewhat still pure for the vast majority of kids that knew they were never going pro.

IF this happens, you can either thank or blame NIL as the justification the SEC needed for what they’ve long seemed but couldn’t do until now. I know it was a need for the players, but there is little justifiable reason to stay in the NCAA for the top 10-15 Universities as it only holds them back while helping all the rest have a universal playing field. That is likely about to change.
 
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Clonehomer

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What happens if the SEC splits and the other conferences don't? Wouldn't it be the ultimate flex move by the Big10 schools to just say no thanks and leave the SEC on an island? As important as football is to those schools, they cannot survive on their own. They need at least a majority of the P5 schools to join them.
 

Trice

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I agree that we're on hyperspeed into a new world of "college" athletics (air quotes intentional).

I do think if this breakaway, super-conference thing happens where CFB is organized around the 40 most powerful schools, many of them will enjoy the financial rewards but find the rest of the experience a lot less fulfilling than they think.

This isn't pro sports. College athletics drives a lot of activity and perception for these universities. Fundraising, enrollment, public perception...all influenced by sports. And in a concentrated CFB world, wins are harder to come by. Suddenly schools like Texas that win 8 or 9 games in a "bad" year is barely making bowl eligibility.

These schools need non-blueblood schools far more than they think they do.
 

TXCyclones

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So the SEC becomes the only semi-pro conference? That leaves out Ohio State, Michigan, USC, Oregon, Notre Dame (I'm sure I'm overlooking a couple other programs with solid history. And is there going to be one conference for semi-pro football and yet another for basketball? And are teams on one excluded from the other?
 

Jer

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So the SEC becomes the only semi-pro conference? That leaves out Ohio State, Michigan, USC, Oregon, Notre Dame (I'm sure I'm overlooking a couple other programs with solid history. And is there going to be one conference for semi-pro football and yet another for basketball? And are teams on one excluded from the other?

That’s the big unknown. I think the SEC is worried about them first and only and the rest will be left to shake out behind them. I think they figure as long as they move first, any of the ways it plays out works for what they want.
 

CYTUTT

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Would they lose non-profit status? would it make a difference?
 

Althetuna

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That’s the big unknown. I think the SEC is worried about them first and only and the rest will be left to shake out behind them. I think they figure as long as they move first, any of the ways it plays out works for what they want.
Yes and by going first it freezes everyone else until a decision is made.
 

Cyclone06

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Would they lose non-profit status? would it make a difference?
This is a good point. With NIL and the obvious money grabs of all collegiate athletic programs, it seems to me that it is time to reset. Colleges and universities most important goal should not be maximizing and growing their athletic programs. Time to end the sham. When the most important person on your college's campus is your football coach, followed by the mbb coach... time we all admit our priorities have really gotten out of line.
 

knowlesjam

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If the super conference does happen, you basically are adding another level of play...remaining schools stay in the NCAA and you still have a playoff system. Man, a lot of crap is going to fall out over the next few years...can only hope that Pollard keeps our boat afloat.
 

qwerty

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If they are no longer in the NCAA do
* the players actually have to attend class?
* do they set their own rules for teams (can have 130 "scholarships", etc.)?
* do the non-football sports still participate in NCAA or are they still affiliated in everything except football?
* as someone above mentions - do they lose non-profit status?
 

Clonehomer

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That’s the big unknown. I think the SEC is worried about them first and only and the rest will be left to shake out behind them. I think they figure as long as they move first, any of the ways it plays out works for what they want.

The difference is that only in the SEC is the AD more powerful than the school president. Everywhere else, the best interest of the school is taken ahead of the best interest of the football team. So I don't see the Big10, ACC, or PAC12 making a jump away from the status quo. Especially if there is a negative impact to the other sports teams.