My solution to OCnferece expansion...

This is a very tired subject but I wanted to go on record before someone else claims this idea...

We can all agree that one of the reasons why the SEC/BIG/Pac 12 all work well is because they are regionally dominant in CFB. the schools/fans reflect the regions culture, more-so in SEC and BIG. I think that adds ALOT to the fan experience and the overall strength of the conferences.

when people talk about super conferences, they often ignore the borders set up these "regions". Example: SEC fans would balk at the thought of allowing a school like Rutgers in because they are not "sec material". this is reflected everywhere...

A lot of people want every 100+ D-1 FBS program to have an equal shot/legitimate path to winning a national championship. which is currently a ludicrous thought for most programs, but some have shown enough success to be taken seriously. on this thought it has been argued that CFB should adopt a premier league system allowing schools to get upgraded and downgraded based on their success on the field.

MY proposal: Compromise on these two facets.

let each major conference adopt a Premier league model by developing a sub conference within itself.

Example: maintain the SEC as it is now. but let other regional schools form to develop an "SEC-lite". this can be made up the following: southern MIss, Houston, UCF, WKU, etc. etc. they play a schedule and the best team at the end of the year, via a championship game, gets upgraded to SEC-Heavy" and play a schedule with the likes of Alabama/Florida/etc.

Why this could work?
- gives every school in the country a legitimate path to a championship.
- the TV money may grow because of increased interest in games that otherwise would be afterthought.
*everyone would be interested in the game against the two worst teams in "SEC-Heavy" because of the threat of them getting downgraded.
- Championship game for SEC-Lite teams playing for a chance to join "SEC-Heavy" results in another TV event.
- Fans of smaller schools having a renewed interest in the sport resulting in more dollars being spent in the sports which has a definite trickle down effect.

WHY this would not work...
- maintaining annual rivalries, especially if one team is relegated to a different part of the conference.
- the blue-bloods are not very keen on evening the playing field for inferior programs/regional schools.
- every major conference would need to adopt this model and some may not have great options to pick from. to develop their "****-LIte" side of the conference.
- telling a conference like the American Conference to fold would be a tough sell.


just a thought.