Here comes the doomsday thread, sorry

[MugNight]

Eh, I don't buy it.

1. Does the NFL really need a minor league system? They've made money hand over fist for decades and have never put any of it towards developing a minor league. To me, that means there's no ROI from a combination of improved player development or fan engagement.
2. As big as college football is, the NFL still dwarfs it. The blue bloods have largely driven everything towards getting more for themselves - money, power, control. Cozying up to the NFL goes the other way on that. For example, can you imagine Texas being cool with doing something because the Cowboys or Texans told them to? I can't. "Hey Texas, we know you have that big coming up this weekend, but our QB went down so yours is getting called up."
3. Would NFL teams want the headache of dealing with colleges that have other priorities? If they wanted a minor league, they'd fund and control everything about it without cutting others in.

I don’t buy it either. If I squint really hard I guess I could see a beefed up version of Pro Day where teams /scouts compensate players for certain access to them before they’re draft eligible.

It also feels like tail wagging the dog for agents representing college athlete to build relationships with certain pro teams early.

 

[cyspy]

This isn't that all far fetched. Wouldn't be surprised if something like this doesn't happen.

 

[aeroclone]

Nah there is no P2 or a league that is that small, you cut out too many people. It just doesn’t work

Perhaps you should tell that to the B1G, SEC, and TV networks who have basically done this already. The P2 have now collected all the biggest and most valuable brands under their tents. Whether they formally break away or not, for most practical purposes they already have.

 

[FriendlySpartan]

LOL!!! I want Tottenham to lose every match naturally BUT as it pertains to this entire discussion I in no way ever want to see them not play in the EPL because not playing them would be so boring. So they need to lose just enough to stay in the EPL and not be relegated haha.

As a Liverpool fan I was kinda cheering for Everton to be relegated last year but that’s just because I hate pickford

 

[PickSix]

This isn't that all far fetched. Wouldn't be surprised if something like this doesn't happen.

I don't see any incentive for the NFL to pump money into a system that already develops their talent at zero cost to the NFL.

They have a hell of a set up already.

 

[FriendlySpartan]

Perhaps you should tell that to the B1G, SEC, and TV networks who have basically done this already. The P2 have now collected all the biggest and most valuable brands under their tents. Whether they formally break away or not, for most practical purposes they already have.

Yes they have the media deals but there is still a path for the Big12, ACC and G5 to make the playoffs. As people pointed out the teams that make the playoff with actually get more diverse next year. Next year a team from the Big12 who never played in the playoff will get in and so will a G5. As long as their is some access it counts.

 

[jctisu]

As a Liverpool fan I was kinda cheering for Everton to be relegated last year but that’s just because I hate pickford

You're not wrong and yes for a season it would be hilarious to own your rival that way. But never playing them again would suck.

 

[WhoISthis]

1. No a P2 is not good for Iowa state

2. A P2 with 20 schools is not profitable as people will stop watching, again this isn’t the NFL

1. Better isn’t the same as good.. Good was long ago not a choice
2. Likely incorrect given networks would be paying premium rights for a much smaller set of schools. The top 24 are just that because they get casual and t-shirt fans. What they’d lose in viewership from “protesting” fans is offset by paying less schools at that rate. Have a decade of inviting the other 45 schools to the postseason. Gradually decrease the overlap, just like what’s going to occur to the G5, and the FCS decades ago

 

[FriendlySpartan]

You're not wrong and yes for a season it would be hilarious to own your rival that way. But never playing them again would suck.

Yeah I’d want them to come back the following year just for the epic chants

 

[FriendlySpartan]

1. Better isn’t the same as good.. Good was long ago not a choice
2. Likely incorrect given networks would be paying premium rights for a much smaller set of schools. The top 24 are just that because they get casual and t-shirt fans. What they’d lose in viewership from “protesting” fans is offset by paying less schools at that rate. Have a decade of inviting the other 45 schools to the postseason. Gradually decrease the overlap, just like what’s going to occur to the G5, and the FCS decades ago

Dude, if you lose viewership you lose ad dollars. That’s what pays for these huge media deals. That’s the endgame. Losing viewership like you are suggesting is catastrophic for the networks. That’s why it won’t happen. That’s basic economics

 

[clonechemist]

The only equitable way to do this a promotion/relegation system. But it’s not really about on field success is it? It’s about buying your way in and pulling the ladder up behind you. The underachieving cash cows will never risk dropping out of the big boy table.

Promotion and relegation would be awesome!

 

[aeroclone]

Yes they have the media deals but there is still a path for the Big12, ACC and G5 to make the playoffs. As people pointed out the teams that make the playoff with actually get more diverse next year. Next year a team from the Big12 who never played in the playoff will get in and so will a G5. As long as their is some access it counts.

They get to send one sacrificial lamb to the playoffs each year to lose a first round game. The money and exposure gap will continue to grow. Nobody outside the P2 will have a serious shot at winning. And all the at large bids will go to the P2.

This is like saying there is no P5 in basketball because all the little scrub conferences have a path to make the NCAA tourney. Sure they do, but they don't compete on anywhere near the same level.

10-20 years ago before this nonsense started, you had multiple teams contending for national titles out of all the major conferences. There was some semblance of parity across the P5. That has been killed. There is now a P2. Then a next 2. Then a G5. And there are big gaps between the tiers.

 

[Die4Cy]

Man it just feels like the NCAA is latching on for the ride. I would’ve liked to have seen better leadership out of them these past 15 years to manage the changing landscape and lead positive, sustainable change.

I guess the schools could just leave if the NCAA pushed too hard, but it’s disappointing to see the NCAA become a P2 whipping boy in the interest of its own survival.

To be totally fair to the NCAA, they did fight NIL and changes to transfer rules for a long time because the competitive problems they create were foreseeable. They didn't want this genie out of the bottle to begin with.

 

[clonechemist]

This is about as least surprising as possible, this was always the outcome once conference expansion took off followed by NIL etc...

I do think this will kind of become almost like the premier league in England to some degree

1) SEC & Big 10 in the premier league with the most money
2) The Championship will be the ACC / Big 12 essentially, more money than others, not as much as the premier
3) Then everyone else
4) The FCS essentially becomes non-league football


Maybe there's a promotion system or something, I've no clue.

I think this could actually be really cool, but only if:

1.) true promotion and relegation happens every year

2.) some kind of salary cap, and salary floor, is put in place for each level

 

[ClubCy]

They get to send one sacrificial lamb to the playoffs each year to lose a first round game. The money and exposure gap will continue to grow. Nobody outside the P2 will have a serious shot at winning. And all the at large bids will go to the P2.

This is like saying there is no P5 in basketball because all the little scrub conferences have a path to make the NCAA tourney. Sure they do, but they don't compete on anywhere near the same level.

10-20 years ago before this nonsense started, you had multiple teams contending for national titles out of all the major conferences. There was some semblance of parity across the P5. That has been killed. There is now a P2. Then a next 2. Then a G5. And there are big gaps between the tiers.

I don’t want sound like an advocate for the P2 but there has never really been parity in college football. It’s been the same handful of teams from the SEC and the same top dogs from each conference. I had to go back to 1990 (Colorado and GT) to find a national champ that didn’t fall under the same umbrella that still exists today.

It’s a regional sport where the best players typically come from the same concentrated area which lead to blue bloods, which lead to the money flow of tv, which lead to where are today.

All they had to do x amount of years ago was have a commissioner or a leader act on behalf of everyone and not let individual conferences go crazy.

 

[FriendlySpartan]

They get to send one sacrificial lamb to the playoffs each year to lose a first round game. The money and exposure gap will continue to grow. Nobody outside the P2 will have a serious shot at winning. And all the at large bids will go to the P2.

This is like saying there is no P5 in basketball because all the little scrub conferences have a path to make the NCAA tourney. Sure they do, but they don't compete on anywhere near the same level.

10-20 years ago before this nonsense started, you had multiple teams contending for national titles out of all the major conferences. There was some semblance of parity across the P5. That has been killed. There is now a P2. Then a next 2. Then a G5. And there are big gaps between the tiers.

Everyone thought TCU was a sacrificial lamb last year and that worked out. FSU and Clemson are still in the ACC so if a team from the Big12 rises up you will still have multipule teams in each conference competing for a title. The blue bloods were the only ones competing for the titles anyway in football.

I could easily see ISU as the Big12 rep next year and that wouldn’t have happened in a 4 team playoff or in a P2.

 

[ClubCy]

Everyone thought TCU was a sacrificial lamb last year and that worked out. FSU and Clemson are still in the ACC so if a team from the Big12 rises up you will still have multipule teams in each conference competing for a title. The blue bloods were the only ones competing for the titles anyway in football.

I could easily see ISU as the Big12 rep next year and that wouldn’t have happened in a 4 team playoff or in a P2.

Sign me up.

Honestly going forward the best case season for ISU will be win the Big 12, get one of those first round home games in December (brrr give me a southern team), and then neutral site against a top 4 team in a cool destination. Iowa State was and will never win a National championship but sign me the F up for that kind of season every now and then.

 

[twincyties]

Let’s be honest here. When we say “Big 10” we’re talking Michigan, Ohio State and maybe Penn State. Half that conference is out. There is no way you’re taking Northwestern, Indiana, Rutgers, etc just because they’re legacy Big 10.

SEC is a different story, but you’ve got the same questions about Missouri, Vandy, Kentucky, Mississippi State, etc.

Also think it’s interesting how you deal with schools that are football powerhouses but suck at basketball or vice versa.

 

[FriendlySpartan]

Let’s be honest here. When we say “Big 10” we’re talking Michigan, Ohio State and maybe Penn State. Half that conference is out. There is no way you’re taking Northwestern, Indiana, Rutgers, etc just because they’re legacy Big 10.

SEC is a different story, but you’ve got the same questions about Missouri, Vandy, Kentucky, Mississippi State, etc.

Also think it’s interesting how you deal with schools that are football powerhouses but suck at basketball or vice versa.

Umm no one is splitting up the BigTen or sec man, might be misunderstanding hats going on

This also doesn’t effect basketball at this time either

 

[twincyties]

Umm no one is splitting up the BigTen or sec man, might be misunderstanding hats going on

This also doesn’t effect basketball at this time either

My point is that if you’re talking about a top “division” based on strength of program, viewership, product on field, etc half the Big 10 or more is garbage.