Thirteen and Counting...

Rivalries define college football. Alabama/Auburn, Michigan/Ohio State, Oregon/Oregon State, Harvard/Yale, you name the team, there's probably at least two "rivals" on their schedule. As a Gamecock fan, there's the obvious Thanksgiving-weekend clash with in-state foe Clemson. For those of you who are less familiar with the nature of rivalries, the Clemson/Carolina game is what you would call a "natural rivalry" given the fact that both schools are located in the Palmetto State. Then there's the South Carolina/Georgia game which is circled on the Gamecocks' calendar every season, but is more of a conference and schedule creation than it is natural.

Now that I've drawn the distinction between natural and 'circumstantial' rivalries, let's apply this notion to conference realignment. More specifically, let's consider a few different scenarios for the SEC moving forward as a mega-conference. SEC elitists, like my wife, don't want to see any schools added to the juggernaut. This "no one else is good enough" stance is noble although unfeasible. Besides, you don't have to look beyond Vandy, Kentucky and Ole Miss to realize that not every school in the conference has a perennial Top 25 football program. I, on the other hand, am taking this expansion talk in stride. I'm aware of the power that comes with adding major TV markets, perennial powers and new traditions.

So, to cut to the chase, here are a few scenarios that play to the rumors and would pave the way for an entirely new matrix of rivalries. You can start drooling ESPN...



"Go West Young Man"    

Picking the bones of the Big-12 carcass would be an easy fit and huge shot in the arm for the conference. In this scenario, the SEC has added Texas, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State to join recently added Texas A&M in the west division. Here's the visual:


SEC EAST
Alabama
Auburn
Florida
Georgia
Kentucky
South Carolina
Tennessee
Vanderbilt

Every season, fans will get Alabama/Florida, Alabama/Georgia, Alabama/South Carolina, Auburn/Florida... you get the point.

SEC WEST
Arkansas
LSU
Mississippi State
Oklahoma
Oklahoma State
Ole Miss
Texas
Texas A&M

Arkansas gets to reignite old Southwest conference rivalries. LSU gets annual match-ups with the incoming Big-12 teams. College Gameday could pretty much fill its season with this side of the conference.

"Northern Exposure"

With reports that West Virginia is a done deal, this scenario gives them some company. The Mountaineers are joined by Virginia Tech, and, wait for it... the East Carolina Pirates. West Virginia taps into the Pittsburgh market and Virginia Tech delivers viewers from Washington D.C.. East Carolina is getting a big upgrade in notoriety with this move. With that increase comes big ratings in the Raleigh market.

SEC EAST
East Carolina
Florida
Georgia
Kentucky
South Carolina
Tennessee
Virginia Tech
West Virginia

With West Virginia and Va. Tech going up against the meat and potatoes of the existing SEC East would create a handful of additional Top 25 match-ups each season. Appalachia rejoices.

SEC WEST
Alabama
Arkansas
Auburn
LSU
Mississippi State
Ole Miss
Texas A&M
Vanderbilt

Vandy's move to the West is certainly nothing to get excited about. LSU and 'Bama are breathing a sigh of relief having dodged the beef of the Big-12 bullet under this model.

"East-Coast Bias"

We're going to run with the apparent certainty of West Virginia's entry into the league again here. Vanderbilt heads to the ACC with UConn, Rutgers, Army, and Navy to round out their own mega-conference. Virginia Tech, Clemson and Florida State pack up their pigskins and head to greener pastures.




SEC EAST
Clemson
Florida
Florida State
Georgia
Kentucky
South Carolina
Virginia Tech
West Virginia

Clemson/Georgia, Virginia Tech/West Virginia, South Carolina/Florida State... and so on and so forth. Kentucky is the only team that has trouble breaking into the Top25.

SEC WEST
Alabama
Arkansas
Auburn
LSU
Mississippi State
Ole Miss
Tennessee
Texas A&M

As Tennessee returns to form, the SEC west will remain the most dominant corner in college football.

Best-Case

Texas A&M and West Virginia bring the conference to 14 teams. Vanderbilt flees the strengthening league for the softer ACC leaving three slots remaining. Into those three slots slide Oklahoma, Oklahoma State and Florida State.




SEC EAST
Auburn
Florida
Florida State
Georgia
Kentucky
South Carolina
Tennessee
West Virginia

Auburn jumps to the eastern division to keep the balance. Fear not Iron Bowl-ers. Alabama will become their annual opposite-division opponent.

SEC WEST
Alabama
Arkansas
LSU
Mississippi State
Oklahoma
Oklahoma State
Ole Miss
Texas A&M

Alabama/Oklahoma, Oklahoma State/LSU... every season... need I say more?

College Football: A Proposed Evolution

As a fan of college football, this has to be the slowest work-week of the year. Wafts of cigar smoke, beer, and barbecue short-ribs are just around the corner. It's week one baby! And much as is the case with the political landscape, I'm also detecting a hint of revolution.

The last 18 months have been loaded with countless rumors of programs jumping from conference to conference like frogs on lily pads. So, in the spirit of football philandery I couldn't resist putting together my own version of what would be "good" for college football.

This new mega-conference structure would mark the end of the NCAA. Competition would be permitted to flood the college landscape. It's no longer an institution's concern whether or not players are being courted by agents or selling free swag for a little walking around money. As long as scholarship athletes make the grades to stay eligible and show up to practice, all is well. So, without further ado, I give you the new age of college football...

SEC

Behold! The mother, father, brother, uncle and grandfather of american college football conferences. The souped-up SEC parted ways with perennial doormat Vanderbilt to make way for Clemson, East Carolina, Florida State, and Virginia Tech in the east. Tennessee changed divisions to join Texas A&M in the west. 

Fresh power and promise are ushered into "The East". Clemson is a natural fit as they were an SEC program in ACC clothing to begin with. They bring with them a passionate fan base and zealous alumni program. To the same point, Florida State, much to the dismay of Gator fans, is a natural fit as well. East Carolina gives the conference access to the Raleigh market. The Pirates will benefit greatly from being the only football-first school in the Tarheel State. By extending an invitation to Virginia Tech, the SEC wins viewers in the Washington D.C./Northern Virginia television market.

"The West" sees fewer changes though also expanding to eight teams. With the addition of four east-coast teams to the eastern division, Tennessee makes more sense in the SEC West. Texas A&M proves recent rumors to be true and brings with them The 12th Man, and the Houston television market.

EAST
Clemson

East Carolina

Florida

Florida State

Georgia

Kentucky

South Carolina 

Virginia Tech

WEST

Alabama

Arkansas

Auburn

LSU

Mississippi State

Ole Miss

Tennessee

Texas A&M

Big Ten (or errrr ummm 16?)

With the creation of the new mega conferences, it has become increasingly foolish to nearly impossible to remain an Independent. Notre Dame picked their poison, and that poison was the BigTen. Mizzou joins Nebraska in expanding the conference to the west. Like the ACC, the BigTen took advantage of the crumbling Big East by adding Pitt and West Virginia. The BigTen now sits securely as the number two conference in college football.

***Leaders and Legends... dumbest, most impractical idea of all time***
EAST
Indiana
Michigan
Michigan State
Notre Dame
Ohio State
Penn State
Pittsburgh
West Virginia


WEST
Illinois

Iowa

Minnesota

Missouri

Nebraska

Northwestern

Purdue

Wisconsin 

Pacific-16

The "Pac-12" hadn't even gotten used to their new logo before they were thrust into the mad grab for 16 teams. Boise State will get their chance to prove they are national contenders while BYU seeks sanctuary from the thankless world that is NCAA Independence. Fresno State and Hawaii will take on the challenge of competing in the 3rd strongest conference rather than remain a member of the only FBS conference with fewer than 16 schools. Bring on the luaus! 

NORTH

Boise State
Brigham Young
Colorado
Oregon

Oregon State
Utah
Washington

Washington State

SOUTH
Arizona

Arizona State

California
Fresno State

Hawaii

Stanford

UCLA

USC

Great Plains Athletic Conference (aka Big12 The Remix)

The go-to carcass in this game of musical conference has unarguably been the Big12. Despite the persistent thievery, they've managed to bounce back from life support with a descent membership. Eight new faces to the conference make the "G-Pack" almost unrecognizable when compared to what we knew as the Big12. TCU isn't a big fan of Texas' Longhorn Network, but the Horned Frogs had nowhere else to go once the Big East dissolved. Colorado State, New Mexico, and Wyoming come over from the now defunct Mountain West. Houston, SMU, Tulsa, and UTEP get an upgrade from Conference USA. 

NORTH
Colorado State

Iowa State

Kansas

Kansas State

Oklahoma

Oklahoma State
Tulsa
Wyoming


SOUTH
Baylor

Houston

New Mexico

Southern Methodist

Texas

Texas Tech

TCU

UTEP

ACC
The new-look ACC has established itself as the "Ivy League PLUS" division. Clemson, Florida State, and Virginia Tech have bolted to the SEC paving the way for Army, Connecticut, Navy, Rutgers, Syracuse, Temple, and Vandy to bring the conference to 16 teams. Football has taken a significant blow, but the ACC will dominate come basketball season.  

NORTH
Army

Boston College

Connecticut

Maryland
Navy

Rutgers 

Syracuse

Temple

SOUTH
Duke 

Georgia Tech

Miami (FL)

North Carolina

North Carolina State

Vanderbilt 

Virginia

Wake Forest

                










Conference "New-SA" USA

"Cast-offs" from the former Big East, Sun Belt, and WAC have combined with the remaining members of Conference USA that didn't flee for the greener pastures of the GPAC and SEC. The new-look conference USA sports a top tear that consists of Cincinnati, Louisville, South Florida, Miami (OH), Southern Miss, Troy, UAB, and Central Florida. Though not nearly as potent as its big brother, the SEC, Conference USA has managed to scrap together a descent television product that will strengthen the conference over time.  

NORTH

Cincinnati

Louisville

Louisiana Tech
Marshall
Miami (OH)

Memphis

Middle Tennessee
Ohio

SOUTH

North Texas

Rice

South Florida

Southern Miss

Troy

Tulane

UAB

UCF 

WAC

As the only conference in the FCS shy of 16 teams, the restructured WAC more closely resembles The Land of Misfit Toys than it does an athletic conference. Nevada is the clear perennial power and Air Force is the only other consistent bowl team. This league's futility is only surpassed by that of the MAC.

Air Force
Idaho

Nevada

New Mexico State

San Jose State

UNLV

Utah State

San Diego State

Mid-American Conference (aka Football Purgatory)
Not much can be said for the unfortunate MAC. Miami (OH) and Ohio U. jumped ship for the slightly upgraded Conference USA. The Sun Belt dried up and tossed its' unwanted raisins into the conference, further weakening the poster-child of mid-major football. And not to be overlooked, Western Kentucky made the migration from Conference USA giving the "Mega-MAC" possession of arguably the worst team in college football. At least the FCS gets a playoff...

NORTH
Akron

Bowling Green

Buffalo

Central Michigan

Eastern Michigan

Northern Illinois

Toledo
Western Michigan

SOUTH
Arkansas State

Ball State
Florida Atlantic

Florida International

Kent State
Louisiana-Lafayette

Louisiana-Monroe

Western Kentucky