G5 Playoff

[mtfblue]

Group of Five playoff being pitched by Derek Dooley, financially backed by private equity firms

The ex-Tennessee coach's proposal is an attempt to offset the financial setback under the new CFP media rights deal

www.cbssports.com

 

[ewglenn]

I love the idea but no way that it gets passed. Realignment to 8 conferences of 8 teams that are geographically aligned then having those 8 champions play in a playoff for the CFP spot is brilliant. It addresses every issue that the G5 has. We would have conferences that build rivalries, reduce travel, while adding money to everyone’s pocket while still having a shot at the actual national championship. Great idea but it will never happen.

 

[MidTennMtneer]

I'd 1000% get behind this, but it'll never happen. Too many egos involved. Maybe with Aresco retired, but I doubt it.

Sankey said this week that if the CFP deal hadn't gotten worked out for 12 teams, the SEC was ready to walk. There is zero doubt in my mind that the expanded playoff won't last past its first media deal. The P2 will be gone. So something needs done to build up G5 brands for sure.

I do applaud the outside the box thinking which the G5 desperately need to do. I've said before CUSA should do pods and make their own playoff to be unique. Adapt that to the G5.

 

[ewglenn]

These look really good to me. This would give everyone 5 OOC games to fill in with other regional matchups and rivalries that aren’t on conference (App vs GS, MTSU vs Troy, the Ohio schools, etc.). If money would go up a lot I could see some people getting on board but it would need to be substantially more money and cut travel by a lot.

Northeast
UMASS
Buffalo
Army
Navy
Temple
Liberty
JMU
ODU

MAC
EMU
CMU
WMU
Toledo
Kent State
Bowling Green
Akron
NIU

Coastal
ECU
Kennesaw St
CCU
GS
GSU
FAU
FIU
USF

Mid South
App St
Miami (OH)
Marshall
WKU
Charlotte
Ohio
Ball St
MTSU

Southern
UAB
JSU
Troy
USA
USM
Memphis
Arkansas St
Tulane

Cajun
Tulsa
ULM
Louisiana Lafayette
Louisiana Tech
SHSU
Rice
UNT
Missouri St

Desert
UTSA
TX State
NMSU
UTEP
UNM
Air Force
Colorado St
Wyoming

West Coast
Hawaii
Fresno St
San Jose St
SDSU
Nevada
UNLV
Boise St
Utah St

 

[RaiderDoug]

This would work well.

Ego's are a problem, but there'$ work around$ for team$ that think they're better than everyone el$e. If the $$$'s are bigger than they are now, they'll make it work. The AAC is pretty much the problem, and I get it - they're bigger budgeted, have more teams with Q-ratings (Memphis, Boise), more history than your average FCS newb, but eventually once they see they're getting left out of the P-whatever, it'll make sense.

I don't know when, but this will happen eventually.

 

[MT01]

Won't happen but I believe it's less about ego and more about alignment in a different sense. Some schools have been together for decades. This would upset that. For example Western Michigan has been with Ohio and Miami since the 40s, which is longer than some of these schools have even existed.

And why would it make any sense for MT to be with Miami and Ohio instead of UAB and Troy?

Memphis - putting the obvious aside for a moment - makes no sense that they would be put with Jax St and South Alabama instead of MT. There are also all sorts of issues with the east and coastal but I digress.

Lastly, 8 teams has always been a problematic configuration for conferences, which is another reason why it would be flawed. You would be better off having four 16-team conferences where you can alleviate a lot of the clear issues with this proposal.

 

[RaiderDoug]

Won't happen but I believe it's less about ego and more about alignment in a different sense. Some schools have been together for decades. This would upset that. For example Western Michigan has been with Ohio and Miami since the 40s, which is longer than some of these schools have even existed.

And why would it make any sense for MT to be with Miami and Ohio instead of UAB and Troy?

Memphis - putting the obvious aside for a moment - makes no sense that they would be put with Jax St and South Alabama instead of MT. There are also all sorts of issues with the east and coastal but I digress.

Lastly, 8 teams has always been a problematic configuration for conferences, which is another reason why it would be flawed. You would be better off having four 16-team conferences where you can alleviate a lot of the clear issues with this proposal.

You can swap teams here and there to come up with any configuration that works better for any particular party. You might even see some lower budgeted less-competitive P-conference teams drop down (or forced out), so that could alter the team's in the mix.

I think the bigger takeaway is that these discussions are happening.

I see no way that the P-conferences, as the $$$'s and gap grows, continues to give access to G-conference teams. The $$$'s are too big - it's going to break apart eventually. Texas is never going to willingly share a penny with North Texas. Alabama was more than happy to murder the entire UAB program. P-conferences just haven't figured out a way to horde it all....yet.

This is the only real logical endpoint.

 

[MT01]

The logical end point is it eventually ends up in the courts. And whatever that renders.

 

[MidTennMtneer]

The logical end point is it eventually ends up in the courts. And whatever that renders.

It wouldn't surprise me if behind the scenes there is a push from the SEC etc for a G5 playoff to happen. It would prevent this eventually winding up in the courts if they shut the G5 teams out of the CFP if those G5 teams already had a playoff system. There is less of a legal issue.

The big conferences also are fully aware they could be paying a huge settlement based on the current court cases so they want to keep as much $ as they can. Well, that and greed.

One AD stated after the SEC threat to leave saying fine, we will prevent non-football sports from competing in NCAA championships. Sheesh. That won't stop them. The P2 would be perfectly fine leaving the NCAA for their own thing. Egos and greed, both of which led to the courts now and will lead to a G5 playoff/split.

 

[RaiderDoug]

I'm not sure what the courts can or will do.

There's already a precedent for multi-tiered athletic divisions. No court is going to rule that a program/school/conference is entitled to access to a playoff or a particular share of any $$$$'s.

We already saw the B10 simply annihilate the P12, and no one was able to do anything about it. If the legal system was the remedy, Oregon State and Wazzu and the P12 office would have gone down that path.

Once the P2 figure out the $$$$'s and TV contracts, nothing in the world is going to stop them from breaking away.

 

[MT01]

I hope they try. I don’t usually say this but the sooner this gets into the courts the better. Antitrust is antitrust regardless of industry.

 

[MT01]

I'm not sure what the courts can or will do.

There's already a precedent for multi-tiered athletic divisions. No court is going to rule that a program/school/conference is entitled to access to a playoff or a particular share of any $$$$'s.

We already saw the B10 simply annihilate the P12, and no one was able to do anything about it. If the legal system was the remedy, Oregon State and Wazzu and the P12 office would have gone down that path.

Once the P2 figure out the $$$$'s and TV contracts, nothing in the world is going to stop them from breaking away.

There is no precedent. Divisions were created voluntarily when there was virtually no money involved. Different scenario today.

Also, with respect to Wazzu and Oregon St it’s a completely different issue. Those two schools were focused on preserving the PAC brand for themselves by preventing the other schools from dissolving it and second retain the left behind value to themselves. Their focus was near term preservation not the long game. I can see those being two schools to challenge any future attempts to further isolate schools no in a privileged conference.

 

[sWiley]

I don't watch college athletics much anymore, but when I do, you can bet it's from an illegal stream on an offshore streaming website. (I proudly don't pay for any cable or packages anymore and never will again). I am very proud to not contribute any $$$$ to this cancer anymore......though I have heard that advertisement sales are now including eyeballs from illegal streams in their pricing estimates, so they may be getting a few pennies out of people like me unfortunately from ad revenue, but it ain't much.

The whole thing has been poisoned and become very uninteresting, very quicky.

If the gambling trend had not gone parabolic across the country, college athletics would be in dire straits right now in my opinion. It's a shame and very frustrating to see the gambling trend further enable their greediness and poisonous behaviors. Hopefully the luster of gambling wears off soon and the grow-at-all-costs attitude will catch up quick to these cesspool managers along with a collapse in revenue.

 

[ewglenn]

Won't happen but I believe it's less about ego and more about alignment in a different sense. Some schools have been together for decades. This would upset that. For example Western Michigan has been with Ohio and Miami since the 40s, which is longer than some of these schools have even existed.

And why would it make any sense for MT to be with Miami and Ohio instead of UAB and Troy?

Memphis - putting the obvious aside for a moment - makes no sense that they would be put with Jax St and South Alabama instead of MT. There are also all sorts of issues with the east and coastal but I digress.

Lastly, 8 teams has always been a problematic configuration for conferences, which is another reason why it would be flawed. You would be better off having four 16-team conferences where you can alleviate a lot of the clear issues with this proposal.

Look at a G5 team map and figure a better way to group every one of them based strictly on geography. That’s about the best you’ll be able to come up with I guarantee it. I didn’t look at what was best for each team, I looked at it based on what would be the best for the entire G5 to make what was being pitched work.

 

[MidTennMtneer]

EWGlenn's idea is best regionally, but I think it would make for too many games to be played. Make the G5 a G4. 4 conf of 16 teams, each with 4 pods. Playoff is 4 teams. So that's 15 games before starting the CFP. There are currently 63 G5 teams. (Not counting Wazzu or OSU, who knows what they are right now) so 1 would have to be added. Would be nice to kick a few back to FCS but we all know that won't happen. I personally see the conferences remaining mainly intact with a few changes and see CUSA essentially merging with someone.

And that is where this gets tough.

With the FSU/Clemson/ACC mess, that conference could implode and many be left out. We all know the end game is a settlement but that will open the door for others. Will the ACC add more and a G5 implode? Will it collapse? Will some schools be forced to become our level? Way too many unknowns at this point.

While I 1000% support our own playoff for a CFP spot, we also don't want to lock ourselves in to something and get short changed. The end game is P2 then everyone else so to make this work no deals should go past the CFP contract.

If this is played right, it could lead to becoming the playoff for all teams not in the P2. I see them each going to about 20-24 teams and that'll be it. So of the 70 current P4 teams, there will be almost 30 left out. When they split (when not if), the B12/ACC remnants will need something.

But then what if only P2 football splits? Will the other sports work together to regionalize again? Just sooooooo many unknowns. Just remember wherever the most $ is and the least common sense is, that is where this will go.

 

[mtfblue]

they are already being short changed, they dropped the percentage to keep the payout low for the G5

 

[MidTennMtneer]

So I've gotten roasted for my take of this on X. Which honestly surprises me.

Those against this feel we are laying down and accepting we aren't in the same level. That we should at least have a chance.

Well I partly agree. We should have a chance. But we aren't the same as UGA or Michigan or Bama has been. And really few even Power teams are.

Right now our access to the CFP is improved over the 4 team, but our only chance in making it is being the highest ranked G5 champ. As we saw last year and before, that means going at worst 11-1 as a champ. Period.

With a playoff, we could make it at 9-3. Win our conf, win the G5 playoff, and boom. CFP spot. Heck, if they do it right and make it 4 conferences you could have 2 at large and give a non-champ a chance.

Honestly someone explain to me why that is a bad thing and how it is giving up on a chance?

I firmly believe it should be all FBS conf champs in the playoff, but that'll never happen. I'm beginning to think some sort of relegation is the only answer but that means splitting football off completely. So who knows.

But how is a G5 playoff "admitting defeat", when it actually will give more teams a chance at the CFP?

 

[MT01]

So I've gotten roasted for my take of this on X. Which honestly surprises me.

Those against this feel we are laying down and accepting we aren't in the same level. That we should at least have a chance.

Well I partly agree. We should have a chance. But we aren't the same as UGA or Michigan or Bama has been. And really few even Power teams are.

Right now our access to the CFP is improved over the 4 team, but our only chance in making it is being the highest ranked G5 champ. As we saw last year and before, that means going at worst 11-1 as a champ. Period.

With a playoff, we could make it at 9-3. Win our conf, win the G5 playoff, and boom. CFP spot. Heck, if they do it right and make it 4 conferences you could have 2 at large and give a non-champ a chance.

Honestly someone explain to me why that is a bad thing and how it is giving up on a chance?

I firmly believe it should be all FBS conf champs in the playoff, but that'll never happen. I'm beginning to think some sort of relegation is the only answer but that means splitting football off completely. So who knows.

But how is a G5 playoff "admitting defeat", when it actually will give more teams a chance at the CFP?

It probably won't improve chances. Going to limit regular season game so you can have a G5 playoff? What's the point of the G5 playoff unless it's a guaranteed spot in the big playoff? It's still going to be just one seat. G5 already has that without one.

If the P4/5 or whatever breaks off and forms their own entity then what's left will probably have its own playoff. Until or unless that happens there is no reason to be basically nudging them in that direction further. Why would we ever want a three or four loss team playing the #1 team in the nation in the CFP? Pretty much guarantees annihilation and gives fodder to why G5 shouldn't be in the playoff.

Schools like Boise, TCU, Cincy, etc are models all G5 should follow until we officially and formally restricted from access. Creating a playoff outside of THE playoff sends the wrong message.

 

[Brew_Raider]

 

[Brew_Raider]

I know these are not exactly G5 playoff related, but it explains how the gap is growing and why a G5 playoff/split is more likely.

 

[MidTennMtneer]

I know these are not exactly G5 playoff related, but it explains how the gap is growing and why a G5 playoff/split is more likely.

View embedded media

If that goes through even close to the first iteration of the settlement, there will be current P4 schools that will have to drop down. Many can't take that $20m/yr hit, and won't.

Another aspect of it is $10m more in extra scholarships for Olympic sports. That's $30m extra.

A lot of these schools have a budget of $100-$125m and are already on the low end budget and performance wise of their conferences. I think that is where the opt out variable is key in this. They are wanting to get rid of those lower current Power schools and this is the opportunity.

In my initial support of a G5 playoff I've talked with several people and even Group of Five Guys brought up a good point. No we as MT aren't UGA or UM, but neither are a good chunk of the P4. There are more P4 schools closer to us than to the top 10 or so teams.

 

[mtfblue]

new poll coming

https://footballscoop.com/news/group-of-five-schools-to-unveil-all-new-top-25

 

[Brew_Raider]

College football players association supports a non-employee solution with collective bargaining power.

This is a class that doesn’t exist under current law and would require congressional action.

So college sports is in the hands of lobbyists and Congress. This has been negotiated with Congress for months now.

 

[MidTennMtneer]

new poll coming

https://footballscoop.com/news/group-of-five-schools-to-unveil-all-new-top-25

I'm mixed on that. I used to be 100% for it, but as I've said above, I've been listening to opposing views and good points have been raised.

It isn't an if but when the P2 split. When that happens, we have an opportunity as the G5 to remain the "next group down" and keeping a playoff with the B12/ACC remnants. If we separate ourselves more now, there is a legit chance we could be pushed down even further. The B12/ACC would be more likely for us to join with them to create a playoff than them joining us. Then end result is the same but the perception is different.

Rankings help create that divide more. I agree on the TV aspect. I get that point. But I worry on the longterm implications with so much still unknown.

 

[Brew_Raider]

Sonny Dykes and a few other coaches on the P4/G5 inevitable split. Mentions the G5 playoff and a G5 rankings.

Alabama and La Tech aren’t playing the same sport.

 

[MidTennMtneer]

It's gonna get interesting. The whole settlement that is being worked on for the NCAA case hinges on them getting an anti-trust exemption. The bill introduced yesterday does that, AND, gives conferences the same exemption. In other words they'd have full power to limit athlete compensation.

I've seen some articles say it is DOA but others say it has a chance as the NCAA spends millions on lobbying each year. In '23 they and the Power conferences spent a combined nearly $3m on lobbying.

To me if something like that does go through, it kind of gives the power conferences more power, and with the $ they have we will be left behind leading to a split because it would allow Baker's proposal of schools opting out to come to fruition.

 

[RaiderDoug]

Just split it already - rip the band aid off - it's always easier that way.

IMHO, when it does split, the idea that the upper level is going to contain 50+ teams is, IMHO, silly. This is driven by $$$$'s, and the networks/conference don't want more Wake Forest's, Vandy's, and Purdue's.

You're going to have maybe 30......ala the NFL. The rest is going to coalesce into something new. If anyone in the G5 had a brain bigger than their ego, they'd be making these moves already.

I feel like we're all on the Titanic, and there's a perfectly good lifeboat to our left, but we're staying on the sinking ship as long as possible on the slim to none chance there's a spot available in the first class lifeboat.

 

[MT01]

Just split it already - rip the band aid off - it's always easier that way.

IMHO, when it does split, the idea that the upper level is going to contain 50+ teams is, IMHO, silly. This is driven by $$$$'s, and the networks/conference don't want more Wake Forest's, Vandy's, and Purdue's.

You're going to have maybe 30......ala the NFL. The rest is going to coalesce into something new. If anyone in the G5 had a brain bigger than their ego, they'd be making these moves already.

I feel like we're all on the Titanic, and there's a perfectly good lifeboat to our left, but we're staying on the sinking ship as long as possible on the slim to none chance there's a spot available in the first class lifeboat.

They really don't have a choice to keep the Purdues and Vandys (if they are already a part of the one of the two leagues), because the more you narrow it the more opponents you give to the other side to contest. It's one thing for MT and Troy to be excluded, but when you have major state university's being excommunicated then states will get involved and file lawsuits. If you have just 30 P programs that's another - what 40 or so - that are currently considered power conference schools relegated. Is a state like Texas going to sit silent while Texas Tech, TCU, Houston, SMU, and Baylor get relegated just so Texas and Texas A&M can have their status further propped up? The AG for Texas is a two-time Baylor grad. This is just one example of what will be many that play out across the nation if there is an attempt relegate so many privileged schools.

 

[ewglenn]

I think eventually there will be a group of schools that decide to break off that isn’t related to a conference. The idea that the Bama, Michigan and Clemsons of the world are going to be okay playing Vandy, Northwestern and Wake. There will be a total implosion of what we know college athletics in the near future. We should be focused on aligning with regional teams that will drive fan interest and cut cost, not trying to say we’re the same as the big boys.

 

[MT01]

I guess we'll see. Not sure schools like Oklahoma State, NC State, UVA and/or Va Tech, Miami, Arizona, and/or Arizona St, the Texas schools, etc., will simply lay down and just let that happen.

You think if they go to 30, Ole Miss or Miss St are going to be in it? There's a lot of schools with a lot of lawyers with alumni with really deep pockets that aren't just going to go well gosh darn I sure do hate the way that went down. lol

Sorry not happening unless most of the current power schools are part of the new power dynamic. There's going to be strength in those numbers if they try to do anything along those lines.

 

[MT01]

Here's a list of schools based on revenue/expenses from about 28 to 56, most of which in power conferences currently, that would be on the chopping block.

28	Missouri	SEC	$141,157,028	$125,621,128	$13,157,427	9.32%
29	Minnesota	Big 10	$135,198,272	$130,285,463	$7,986,732	5.91%
30	Mississippi	SEC	$133,557,937	$138,796,990	$4,074,525*	3.05%
31	Arizona	Pac-12	$124,353,539	$124,944,926	$31,112,818	25.02%
32	North Carolina	ACC	$122,603,567	$120,314,967	$9,603,022	7.83%
33	Arizona State	Pac-12	$121,079,615	$124,008,192	$19,253,112*	15.90%
34	California	Pac-12	$118,212,179	$114,485,848	$29,129,403*	24.64%
35	Kansas	Big 12	$118,020,175	$108,696,078	$1,516,194	1.28%
36	Utah	Pac-12	$115,719,266	$111,880,434	$13,516,660	11.68%
37	Purdue	Big 10	$115,139,432	$93,025,810	$0	0.00%
38	Virginia Tech	ACC	$113,000,052	$117,777,441	$14,193,159	12.56%
39	Iowa State	Big 12	$111,287,492	$111,227,458	$1,847,367	1.66%
40	Mississippi State	SEC	$110,653,367	$105,841,622	$0*	0.00%
41	Texas Tech	Big 12	$110,154,695	$104,778,443	$5,830,118	5.29%
42	Rutgers	Big 10	$109,601,529	$138,439,077	$24,034,296	21.93%
43	Maryland	Big 10	$107,526,374	$114,385,462	$15,252,530	14.18%
44	Georgia Tech	ACC	$106,635,094	$104,719,581	$11,865,676	11.13%
45	West Virginia	Big 12	$105,193,311	$97,067,706	$8,887,649	8.45%
46	Oklahoma State	Big 12	$104,404,398	$103,317,156	$13,009,612	12.46%
47	UCLA	Pac-12	$103,061,344	$131,106,913	$2,577,213	2.50%
48	North Carolina State	ACC	$102,387,569	$100,991,410	$7,011,627	6.85%
49	Kansas State	Big 12	$100,822,204	$82,220,606	$0	0.00%
50	Connecticut	Big East	$99,041,960	$96,742,518	$55,341,505*	55.88%
51	Colorado	Pac-12	$94,873,830	$95,968,696	$11,889,383	12.53%
52	Central Florida	AAC	$89,228,205	$69,099,289	$48,795,899	54.69%
53	Washington State	Pac-12	$85,028,825	$83,691,991	$15,363,703	18.07%
54	Oregon State	Pac-12	$83,480,015	$87,729,627	$11,122,141	13.32%
55	Cincinnati	AAC	$83,344,028	$75,902,262	$26,913,237	32.29%
56	Houston	AAC	$78,088,086	$73,806,404	$48,451,950	62.05%

 

[MT01]

So, if I'm a legislature in the states of say Oklahoma, Iowa, Mississippi, and Texas, I'm like oh hell no if NCAA or some other power controlling a new entity tries to break away.

So, it's ok that Oklahoma is going to see their revenue balloon to $500M while Okla St has to play Ark St and Tulsa in conference games and see their revenue dip to $20M? I'd like to see in what universe that doesn't lead to obscene lawsuits. Congress is never going to pass this. And even if they did, this would eventually go to the Supreme Court. It's so egregious this is even being contemplated by tax exempt institutions.

 

[RaiderDoug]

So, if I'm a legislature in the states of say Oklahoma, Iowa, Mississippi, and Texas, I'm like oh hell no if NCAA or some other power controlling a new entity tries to break away.

So, it's ok that Oklahoma is going to see their revenue balloon to $500M while Okla St has to play Ark St and Tulsa in conference games and see their revenue dip to $20M? I'd like to see in what universe that doesn't lead to obscene lawsuits. Congress is never going to pass this. And even if they did, this would eventually go to the Supreme Court. It's so egregious this is even being contemplated by tax exempt institutions.

There's nothing illegal or monopolistic about one school leaving the conference for another. What are the grounds for the lawsuit? What are the actual damages they would be claiming - there's no inherent law that states that Texas must share revenue with Texas Tech or is any way responsible for Texas Tech's revenue streams..

AG's can scream and cry and file all the lawsuits they want. They'll score some points amongst the voting blocks, some billable hours will be rung up, some settlement dollars will change hands, and then the schools who want to leave will go on their merry way.

No court anywhere is going to rule that School X must stay with school Y to the detriment of School X. Like you said, look at Oklahoma. If any state could have stopped OU from leaving OSU behind in the B12, it would have been Oklahoma. And they couldn't.

Look no further than the dissolution of the PAC12. Oregon State and Wazzu were in the same position that all of those schools will be in, and all they got was a nice buyout and the rights to the PAC name, whatever that's worth.

If ESPN/TV Networks/Private Equity Superleague ponies up enough cash, it's all over but the shouting.

 

[MT01]

There's a big difference between one being in one power conference and the other being in a different perceivably better power conference.

That has absolutely no bearing to what's being proposed where Oklahoma - a not for profit educational institution that receives federal money and has tax exempt status - will receive hundreds of millions of dollars more than another land grant not for profit educational institution that also receives federal money and has tax exempt status - on the basis of its athletics programs. As for the Wash St and Oregon St issue I already addressed that in a different thread why it's not relevant to this issue.

This is why they are seeking a Congressional carve out. Because they know it's illegal. Hard stop. No amount of ESPN money can change that. And there really isn't much more to say beyond that. So, this is going to be fun thread to revisit in a few years. That said, I don't believe they will get a bill passed because those Oklahoma representatives have to figure out how to make Sooners and Cowboys happy at the same time. And that refrain will play out in many other states. We'll see if they're stupid enough to try this without an actual act of Congress.

 

[sWiley]

College sports getting more disgusting by the day

Are you guys reading what your typing out here ?

Congress giving anti trust exemptions ? Legal monopolies ? The top 30 breaking away and saying screw everybody else ?

Is this really what college sports fans want ?

Such a sad state of affairs.

 

[MT01]

Yep, it's disappointing.

 

[crposton]

The only thing states could do is cut funding to the schools or possibly not allow it if legislature has that power. I think all these schools need to lose nonprofit status. Donations won’t be as plentiful if they are not tax write-offs. I also think if it gets to 30 or so it will be less profitable. If people wanted the NFL, they would just watch the NFL.

 

[sWiley]

The only thing states could do is cut funding to the schools or possibly not allow it if legislature has that power. I think all these schools need to lose nonprofit status. Donations won’t be as plentiful if they are not tax write-offs. I also think if it gets to 30 or so it will be less profitable. If people wanted the NFL, they would just watch the NFL.

Indeed. It would be amazing if they lost non-profit status, broke away, and then collapsed because the product became too stale and nobody was donating anymore since it’s not a write off.

The only thing keeping it afloat would be ESPN money ? What happens if that dries up ?

 

[Brew_Raider]

It will depend on the legislation. The 2 proposed models (employee or the new model proposed in legislation/ supported by the CFPA) on the table for a break away include all the current B10 and SEC schools because both models include collective bargaining at the conference level.

I think several schools that would probably not be involved in the breakout will be because they were in the right place at the right time and are now along for the ride because they’ve been in the SEC/B10 and already part of the TV deal and revenue sharing model.

 

[RaiderDoug]

College sports getting more disgusting by the day

Are you guys reading what your typing out here ?

Congress giving anti trust exemptions ? Legal monopolies ? The top 30 breaking away and saying screw everybody else ?

Is this really what college sports fans want ?

Such a sad state of affairs.

You can cry and scream and pout and throw all the fits you want, but at the end of the day you have two choices.

1. Quit being a fan.

2. Roll with the punches.

Either one is fine, but you don't have a 3rd choice.

There is nothing in the world that is going to change this. You guys thinking Congress is going to step in and save us all are off your rocker. Half of the politicians in this country will be at those big P2 games kissing babies and waving for votes.


Personally, I'm coming around to a G5 separation. If anything, it was foolish for us to believe that the old blue bloods were ever going to allow little programs a seat at the table and a slice of the pie.

I think there is an appetite for "college" college football. Rivalries, traditions, regionalism, etc. You better believe that I am going to watch a G5 top 25 matchup between MT and, say Appy State, especially if it has a bearing on a playoff.