Stewart Mandel's Final Mailbag for Sports Illustrated tackles a tough question

knapplc

knapplc

International Man of Mystery
LINK

Looking ahead 15 years (since 15 years was the length of your tenure at SI.com), what will the college football landscape look like?
-- Karen Charmatz, Atlanta

Last Friday, on the final day of the O’Bannon v. NCAA trial, U.S. District Judge Claudia Wilken threw out hypothetical alternatives to the current NCAA model, such as a salary cap, a luxury tax and a revenue-sharing system among conferences. I’m not saying any of those things will happen, but the fact that they were discussed in federal court should tell you just how differently college sports could look in 15 years. They’re going to become more professionalized, with athletes in the revenue sports compensated in some form. Between that and the inevitable refocusing of the sport around the playoff -- which, by then, will include at least eight teams and probably more -- we’ll likely see a reclassification of what, exactly, is major college football. Being in the Big Ten or Big 12 may no longer be enough. I could see the 25 or 30 richest programs/viable playoff contenders becoming an unofficial confederation unto themselves.
Click to expand...
First, it's been a lot of fun reading Stewart's Mailbag every week these past 15 years. I hope he keeps doing something similar wherever he ends up.

On to his main point, underlined above. I truly believe this is the direction major college football is heading. In order to remain viable, a few Haves will split away from the Have Nots, and from the NCAA. They will control their own destinies, and the lion's share of TV profits.

But who will be in that super conference? Blue-bloods like Nebraska, Alabama, Ohio State, Texas, Oklahoma - those are obvious. But who else? And how big is viable? 40 teams? 30? Who would you choose from this list, or leave out? Who did I miss?

ACC - Boston College
ACC - Clemson
ACC - Florida State
ACC - Miami
ACC - North Carolina

ACC - Virginia Tech
Big 10 - Iowa
Big 10 - Michigan
Big 10 - Michigan State
Big 10 - Nebraska
Big 10 - Ohio State
Big 10 - Penn State
Big 10 - Wisconsin
Big XII - Iowa State
Big XII - Kansas State
Big XII - Oklahoma
Big XII - Oklahoma State
Big XII - Texas
Big XII - Texas Tech
Big XII - West Virginia
IND - Notre Dame
MWC - Boise State
PAC-12 - Arizona State
PAC-12 - California
PAC-12 - Colorado
PAC-12 - Oregon
PAC-12 - Oregon State
PAC-12 - Stanford
PAC-12 - UCLA
PAC-12 - USC
PAC-12 - Washington
PAC-12 - Washington State
SEC - Alabama
SEC - Arkansas
SEC - Florida
SEC - Georgia
SEC - LSU
SEC - Missouri
SEC - Ole Miss
SEC - South Carolina
SEC - Tennessee
SEC - Texas A&M

 
Last edited by a moderator:
This could conceivably be a good thing for fans of "big time" college football. Easier to get the big games scheduled, schedules get more balanced, and potentially a television revenue gold mine.

If they included relegation it would be awesome.

 
I think Kansas gets included. Really depends on if you're just talking about football breaking away or the entire athletics dept.

 
Just football. It doesn't make sense for any other sport. The Olympic sports would still rely on the conference model, probably.

Also, I added VA Tech at polo's request.

 
Off topic, but what's the story with Stewart? Why is he leaving SI? I've read his mailbag for a while, too, although not very much lately.

 
zoogies said:
Off topic, but what's the story with Stewart? Why is he leaving SI? I've read his mailbag for a while, too, although not very much lately.
Click to expand...
Said last week it was a much bigger opportunity. Potential TV time with FoxSports1, etc. Traina just left SI.com as well. I'm wondering if SI isn't slowing dying. Even CNN.com just switch to bleacher report as their sports reporting package.

 
I have no problem with teams splintering off as long as they are never allowed to schedule FCS or "lower tiered" FBS schools.

Put your money where your mouth is. You want to be a part of the elite group? Go play other elite groups week in and week out.

 
I hope they build their brand enough to pose something of a challenge to ESPN. That would benefit everyone.

 
knapplc said:
I hope they build their brand enough to pose something of a challenge to ESPN. That would benefit everyone.
Click to expand...
They've got a tough road to hoe in that respect.

But I have a neighbor who works in the production truck for their Thursday night college football games. That's a foot in the door, and hopefully the cross promote like crazy when they have golf starting next year.

 
What specifically would happen to expectations at a school like Nebraska if this happened? Does 9-3 become an outstanding season, rather than "average"?

 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top