Here comes the doomsday thread, sorry

Marcelason78

Well-Known Member
Mar 4, 2022
3,828
4,458
113
I personally have always said that you won’t see a super league because you cut off way to many people from watching your product so I don’t think a 20 team league will happen in the near future. It just dilutes the viewership too much
Agree on the 20 team league, but that’s not what is being floated here, right? Closer to a 40 team break off?
 

byebye

Well-Known Member
Jul 4, 2021
641
845
93
Everyone - $100 million is not the final number - it's not a cutoff - it's a number shared by a dying organization facing irrelevancy trying not to scare EVERYONE at once, while signaling to those that matter that they don't want to get left in the cold - in the end, the top schools & the networks will decide what this looks like & it'll be something similar to the size of the NFL & will not include Iowa State
 

FriendlySpartan

Well-Known Member
Jul 26, 2021
9,706
10,162
113
38
Agree on the 20 team league, but that’s not what is being floated here, right? Closer to a 40 team break off?
I mean based on the reporting it’s going to be the P4. Between media deals and payouts very few of those schools wouldn’t be able to compete in this. Also if it’s a hard figure then the schools that are hurting have an exact number they can ask the big time donors to support. It’s possible you could see a shift from NIL donations to the school it’s self to meet the need.
 

PickSix

Well-Known Member
Aug 25, 2013
866
1,372
93
Schools winning at high levels in football and basketball help their enrollment as well. Baylor and TCU are prime examples of this in our own conference.
Yep.

It also keeps alumni engaged and brings people back to town. Opens up great fundraising opportunities. There's a reason small schools are fighting for the chance to join the lower rungs of FBS, and there's a reason SMU ponied up close to $100 million to join the P4.

Honestly, if $6 mil/year is the price to play, I imagine it's well worth it and should be doable for a power 4 budget.
 

HFCS

Well-Known Member
Aug 13, 2010
75,859
66,298
113
LA LA Land
That probably includes the Big 12 and ACC schools.

This is where the G5 hooks up with the better FCS leagues, IMO.

Depends when it happens.

If it happens now most definitely includes B12/ACC. If it happens after 4-6 ACC schools and Notre Dame align with SEC/Big Ten who knows.
 
Last edited:
  • Agree
Reactions: Chitowncy

WooBadger18

Well-Known Member
Sep 5, 2012
15,159
13,565
113
On Wisconsin
I personally have always said that you won’t see a super league because you cut off way to many people from watching your product so I don’t think a 20 team league will happen in the near future. It just dilutes the viewership too much
Yeah, but I could see tv producers and executives not getting that. It’s also possible that we are dramatically underestimating the number of people who will continue to watch
 

ClubCy

Well-Known Member
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Apr 8, 2023
4,350
6,868
113
Agree on the 20 team league, but that’s not what is being floated here, right? Closer to a 40 team break off?
I read it as no one is forbidden. There’s a minimum amount of $$ that you need to invest in to “get in the door” once you’re in the door it’s up to you to decide how much you want to spend. There’s not going to be a cutoff at this is the 40 teams we want and the rest of you can rot.

They want schools to invest more because that means they will ultimately get a better tv product. Look at how the Big 10 is operating with their new financials. You think Indiana would have paid a $20 million buyout 10 years ago.

If I’m the Big 10 I’m saying: look we got you the big payday but you better use it for a better product on the field to help us out.
 
  • Like
Reactions: FriendlySpartan

HFCS

Well-Known Member
Aug 13, 2010
75,859
66,298
113
LA LA Land
Now read what it says about having to abide by Title IX, you pay 3 million to mens football and basketball? Well you have to pay that to women's athletes as well.

I'm not sure you can transfer title IX over to pro sports. Logically, legally or both. It makes sense when you're giving out scholarships, especially at state funded schools. The US Womens Soccer team only has an excellent point about their pay because they generate as much or more revenue as the USMNT. Outside of figure skating, gymnastics and maybe tennis it's hard to find another example like that in the world of sports.

If/when they become just real pros (many are already) they need to have more loose affiliation with the schools. It's a true mess but paying a star QB who generates millions the same as a freshman crew rower (male or female) is going to eventually fall apart just as much if not more than the status quo.
 
  • Like
Reactions: HawaiiClone

FriendlySpartan

Well-Known Member
Jul 26, 2021
9,706
10,162
113
38
I read it as no one is forbidden. There’s a minimum amount of $$ that you need to invest in to “get in the door” once you’re in the door it’s up to you to decide how much you want to spend. There’s not going to be a cutoff at this is the 40 teams we want and the rest of you can rot.

They want schools to invest more because that means they will ultimately get a better tv product. Look at how the Big 10 is operating with their new financials. You think Indiana would have paid a $20 million buyout 10 years ago.

If I’m the Big 10 I’m saying: look we got you the big payday but you better use it for a better product on the field to help us out.
This is it exactly, it essentially cuts out the G5 so they don’t get a payout amount or compete in the same bowls. Cinci getting into the playoff was the main driver behind this. I have a massive G5 bias so I’m in the same camp but I also realize this is going to hurt a bunch of G5 schools
 

SolterraCyclone

Well-Known Member
Jul 26, 2021
2,425
3,341
113
38
I personally have always said that you won’t see a super league because you cut off way to many people from watching your product so I don’t think a 20 team league will happen in the near future. It just dilutes the viewership too much
I personally agree with you

But the decision makers haven’t made their decisions based on the long-term health of the sport. They’ve made (and will continue to make) their decisions based on maximizing short-term revenue.
 

KnappShack

Well-Known Member
May 26, 2008
23,904
32,270
113
Parts Unknown
This is it exactly, it essentially cuts out the G5 so they don’t get a payout amount or compete in the same bowls. Cinci getting into the playoff was the main driver behind this. I have a massive G5 bias so I’m in the same camp but I also realize this is going to hurt a bunch of G5 schools

If it keeps on raining the levee's gonna break.

When the levee breaks got no place to stay
 

CloneIce

Well-Known Member
Apr 11, 2006
37,772
21,151
113
The doomsday preppers on this are worried too much. Most of the P5 programs can afford this change. Also we can talk about how NIL and pay for play will hurt viewers. The proof is the opposite. Numbers are up across the board with college football. Ironically the PAC 12 championship/ last game as a league had their highest viewership football game in conference history.
Sport gambling from our phones has been a huge driver of viewership for college and pro sports. And the pro sports leagues are really embracing it.
 

NorthCyd

Well-Known Member
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Aug 22, 2011
21,218
35,909
113
Agree on the 20 team league, but that’s not what is being floated here, right? Closer to a 40 team break off?
It's not about forming a super league. Its about addressing the issue of schools paying players. There is no break off per se. Each school, and probably each conference in reality, is going to have to decide if they and their members can afford it. This has been an issue that's been percolating since NIL happened. It was only a matter of time before they tried to figure out a way for schools to pay players if they can afford it.
 

FriendlySpartan

Well-Known Member
Jul 26, 2021
9,706
10,162
113
38
It's not about forming a super league. Its about addressing the issue of schools paying players. There is no break off per se. Each school, and probably each conference in reality, is going to have to decide if they and their members can afford it. This has been an issue that's been percolating since NIL happened. It was only a matter of time before they tried to figure out a way for schools to pay players if they can afford it.
So this is an interesting point, could a conference have some members that can’t afford it and how does that affect conference affiliation and the media contracts. Like is this a crazy way to break up the ACC saying that schools like Wake, Cal, and BC wouldn’t be competing at the same level of FSU/Clemson? Round about way of doing it but could have ripple effects for the ACC and schools like cinci in the big12.
 
  • Like
Reactions: Marcelason78

CRcyclone6

Well-Known Member
Bookie
Dec 27, 2007
12,152
4,098
113
54
Cedar Rapids
I would have never guessed that college sports would get to something like this. Of course I never thought we would have a bowled in south end zone and always thought the Media Relations office would be in a trailer on the west side of the Olsen Bldg.
 
  • Haha
Reactions: Chitowncy

spierceisu

Well-Known Member
Jan 28, 2007
1,122
1,026
113
42
Ankeny
Hopefully they go take the top 30 schools and they can go **** themselves and ISU gets in the next league with the next 30-40 power schools and we can be a power there. I've grown really excited about the Big 12 and how even the playing field is. I used to want to be in the Big10 but honestly that sounds not fun. I have zero envy of the MN, Illinois, Indianas and heck even Iowas of the world. They have almost no hope of ever winning anything meaningful
I have thought that for a while now. If more money means more winning, it is good, but all they do is spend it on something and up the costs for fans to also pay for it. If they are a "non profit" i wonder what schools like Vanderbilt do with all their money. They don't win, fans don't go, and their facilities aren't exactly top of the line. When the goal of athletics is winning and they don't win, what good does money do?
 

NorthCyd

Well-Known Member
SuperFanatic
SuperFanatic T2
Aug 22, 2011
21,218
35,909
113
So this is an interesting point, could a conference have some members that can’t afford it and how does that affect conference affiliation and the media contracts. Like is this a crazy way to break up the ACC saying that schools like Wake, Cal, and BC wouldn’t be competing at the same level of FSU/Clemson? Round about way of doing it but could have ripple effects for the ACC and schools like cinci in the big12.
I'll be curious to see what schools can't actually afford what is being proposed. At the end of the day the NCAA represents the member institutions so it can't exclude a bunch of members that don't want to be excluded. My guess is they'll find numbers that work for everyone that needs it to work.
 
  • Like
Reactions: FriendlySpartan

CloneIce

Well-Known Member
Apr 11, 2006
37,772
21,151
113
Everyone - $100 million is not the final number - it's not a cutoff - it's a number shared by a dying organization facing irrelevancy trying not to scare EVERYONE at once, while signaling to those that matter that they don't want to get left in the cold - in the end, the top schools & the networks will decide what this looks like & it'll be something similar to the size of the NFL & will not include Iowa State
One thing to keep in mind - the networks need sports content, and a lot of it. And it won’t help their ratings if half the P4 conference teams get relegated.
 
  • Like
Reactions: DukeofStratford