If I Was a Member of the SEC & Big Ten I Would Start Looking Over My Shoulder | CFB

David Smoak, Paul Catalina and Craig Smoak discuss their thoughts on ISU AD Jamie Pollard’s comments about the future of the college football landscape, his thoughts on the future of the SEC & Big Ten, and more.
With Craig Smoak, David Smoak, & Paul Catalina
Boise St AD Jeremiah Dickey joins the show, we talk EA Sports Cover athletes, Grayson Grundhoefer with his weekly segment on Baylor, and our old friend Tim Brando of Fox Sports joins us to talk college football & basketball. Plus Paul Catalina's Top 5 with Funded Sports Trader's Katherine Cafarelli and her best bets of the week.
Use promo code: 365Sports at fundedsportstrader.com.

[@claytongardinier5179]

When the AFL and NFL combined they did not kick out the perceived weak teams. Bad analogy. Commissioners are not the same as the teams themselves.

[@johnbarker5009]

If you think the Alabamas are going to prop up the Vanderbilts to make sure the conference has the best possible competition, I think you're wrong.

[@wesleyowens4089]

It's happened before. When the swc collapsed they effectively kicked out SMU, Houston, rice and I think TCU as well. And when the swac turned into the mwc they basically got rid of half the teams. Then over time a bunch of the mwc teams have left like ASU, Arizona, Utah, BYU, and TCU. Just now Oregon State and Washington were kicked out of the club. So there is a future where the best of the B1G and the best of the sec form a new conference and leave out the underperformers. I however think that is unlikely and it is far more likely that the B1G and sec pick apart the acc for whatever value is left and break off from everybody else and the underperformers get dragged along

[@frankmilitary]

Iowa State has already been left behind so their AD has nothing to fear.

[@A1Googler]

EXACTLY

[@observer466]

If his school were in either league, he would not be looking over his shoulder. You are right on.

[@haroldflashman4687]

lol yeah! He sounded like a real cry baby, who knows he’s totally impotent! He knows no one cares about his school and no cares about his opinions. He’s not happy that all he can do is watch helplessly and hope his school isn’t left out.

[@Donjkoontz]

At ISU we already knew that the Big10 and SEC were never an option…but it’s the right point. CFP putting all the money to those 2…but technically the Big12 has been raided, we just had the ability to hit a level of survivability…and turn ourselves into a 2nd tier(still solid football) landing spot plus the perk of being the best bball conference

[@amandawilliams2209]

This is amazing work

[@marilynnbrown4650]

Good morning! Love ya and so happy for all your success

[@lukecalhoun6569]

The only ones trumpeting this fear are the schools that can''t get in the BIG or SEC.

[@retireorbust]

No, we're schools like you who survived what you've done to us. We're anticipating it with great joy. You'll come to the black and blue conference and beg to get in. Of course, we'll let you in because we're all in this together and have been played by the media, mainly ESPN.

[@stephenhamel9464]

To all the people saying “NEVER GONNA HAPPEN”, I ask if 5-10yrs ago did you seriously think that OU and Texas would be in the SEC or USC, UCLA, Oregon and Washington would be in the Big 10? I’m not saying that it will happen but I think it could.

[@roris5882]

But those schools didn't get kicked out of their conferences. They chose to join other conferences to remain financially relevant, which is actually very common, to better prepare for the inevitability of paying their players by maximizing their revenue.

[@icu17siberia]

I thought USC/UCLA would go. Didn't think Oregon and Washington would feel a need to follow them at flat money though

[@natchitoches6702]

I absolutely predicted that Texas and OU would join the SEC or the Pac-12 5-10 years ago. Once they announced they were joining the SEC, I knew the Pac-12 was doomed unless it merged with the Big 12. Otherwise, it was perfectly predictably that USC, UCLA, Oregon, and Washington would leave and the Big 10 as the only logical option.

[@TheTinfoilmanlive]

Everybody should hope ACC stays strong 🙃

[@andrewbrown7641]

It's not going to unfortunately

[@gilbertlancaster4793]

your feed is great keep on the good work

[@ericlofroos2405]

What good is a “market”, if the team(s) in that market can’t compete, and no one watches their games? National Viewership equals Money! That’s the reality of where we’re at now in “College” Football.

[@undisclosed3863]

That's probably right. One thing I don't understand yet is that say if you take Northwestern. They average only 23,000 in attendance but their in the Chicago TV market. So does mean there is some large enough number of NW fans who are watching instead of going?

[@roris5882]

Northwestern could be a school left behind because they are a rinky dink private school with a tiny alumni and fan base. Plus ND is more popular in the Chicago area. Also, if the B1G adds ND, they don't need 3 schools in a state with the population of Indiana. The only thing protecting Indiana and Purdue is they are large state schools with large alumni bases and loyal fan bases. I think Rutgers is safe because they are located in the Tri-State Area ( near NYC), so they have a lot of potential for the future.

[@icu17siberia]

@@undisclosed3863 yes. NW has a large alumni base and they are spread to many major metro areas

[@icu17siberia]

@@undisclosed3863 similar to Stanford

[@seanevans9329]

College football will become a tv series like breaking bad, sopranos, ect..popular shows but everyone didn't or even cared to watch. It will implode by 2030..

[@user-xp3ig2tk2r]

Once the broadcast partners get the programming content they want to fill their schedule, the smaller schools get left behind. CFP has become a tv show. Ratings will drive everything and the top dogs won’t want to share. Traditions won’t mean squat!

[@roris5882]

The G-8 Spring College Football League, Playoff Championship Game, brought to you by CW

[@TheLAGopher]

Every school can't have a winning record every year and the so called "Super League" would never adopt an NFL style "draft" and scheduling that effectively rewards poorer performing teams in the name of "Parody" to protect all NFL teams. Somebody has to be willing to take loses more often then the regular natty contenders.

[@aBrewster29]

Minnesota, Northwestern, Illinois, Indiana, Purdue, Rutgers, Maryland, Mississippi St, Missouri, Ole Miss, South Carolina, Vanderbilt.

[@yoc329]

same ole miss and mizzou who finished top 10 last year ? and projected top 10 this year ?

[@aBrewster29]

@@yoc329 I have nothing against those programs. I’m merely commenting on their financial profile in comparison with the larger schools pulling in 90-100,000+ fans.

[@virgilmacek3389]

such a gorgeous video

[@alyssarowland5785]

Pleasant video

[@carlbarker2457]

You are the reason, I am smiling today

[@rwillson291]

Paul, you are spot on! To all those who are saying that the B1G and SEC would never boot out underperforming football teams, allow me to offer a scenario. If the P2 decide to formalize their new league with new branding, their own playoffs, dominant TV deals--and, by the way, there is an ENORMOUS entrance fee (as previously suggested by Joel Klatt)---who is still in? When that happens and suddenly the non-performing schools that "would never be booted" decide NOT to stay in the P2, does it really matter how decisions were made? Traditions be damned. $$$ and ego will build something only the TV execs and maybe Greg Sankey are seeking.

[@TheLAGopher]

People seem to be forgeting that both the SEC and B1G are set to receive big cash payouts due to their media deals which are shared equally among the existing schools (Minus Oregon and Washington who will take reduced shares for most of the new B1G contract) The non performing schools were non performing because they chose to focus on academics and could still get big money from sharing research. For years, the B1G (and PAC-12 for that matter)were happy to let a Michigan and OSU (and USC in the PAC) compete for nattys because everyone else was still able to sell tickets to their games,and their alumni bases were happy getting to any bowl that got them out of the midwest in December. If they would now have to perform to stay in the B1G. And if they will have massive resources from the new media deals.Why couldn't an Indiana or Northwestern outbid any Big 12 or ACC school for top players and coaches to become a "Performer"? People, especially those fans of Big 12 schools, seem to be missing this point. What the bottom rung B1G and SEC schools have done in the past is pretty much irrelevant to the new situation in college football. Why couldn't a Northwestern in this new era get 5 star kids to pass on Baylor, Iowa State,Kansas,TCU,Colorado, Utah, Arizona,etc.. to play for a B1G school with more NIL money, and more exposure,playing big time B1G programs? Why couldn't a Vandy make a turn around like Missouri did when it can get a promising coach to jump from Oklahoma State to an SEC program flush with cash? Why couldn't Arkansas get an up and coming coach from the Big 12 or ACC to sign on and play schools like Alabama,Texas, Georgia,and Oklahoma,while making 80 million from the new media rights deal every year?

[@Bbbmurr]

If ur a school who wants to continue to spend the bare minimum on ur football program while still collecting that big check then yes u should watch ur back

[@roris5882]

I agree, if schools aren't pulling their weight then nothing is going to protect them when the valuable brands vote to move their football programs to the Super League while their's are left behind. Unless the conferences force all their members to pay their football players the revenue they generate, as part of the House Settlement. If the conferences are negotiating with their football player unions then the bottom feeders will get better by default because they will be forced to pay their players the same base pay every other conference member is.

[@johnbarker5009]

@@roris5882 how high is up? How much is more? Where does it end?

[@terrencenewman5580]

Could the SEC and BIG 10 kick out schools? Not really. The lawsuits would be endless. Could the top SEC schools and top BIG 10 schools leave their conferences and the lower level teams to start a new super league with Notre Dame and the top ACC schools(FSU, Clemson, UNC). Yes that could totally happen and people underestimating that possibility haven’t been paying attention.

[@TheLAGopher]

The problem with that is if the top B1G schools left the conference they would burn the academic and research bridges built up over decades that pay the B1G schools more than even the new media deals. The top SEC brands would bring down the top B1G (and ACC) schools by bringing in less research money.

[@Size-11]

Iowa State representative he was right on with that analogy

[@chandlerwhite8302]

No he’s not. He has no idea how the SEC operates. They are not kicking out anyone.

[@Size-11]

@@chandlerwhite8302 I was talking about how the SEC in the Big Ten or eventually going to compete and eat on one another that’s it

[@christymurray1675]

stupendaaaa,Super ! You are so striking!

[@user-ev5wp2ig4m]

I’m a college football fan living outside the SEC/BiG footprint; the TV media moguls are fooling themselves if they think outside viewers will watch SEC/BiG games other than a top 10 matchup.

[@A1Googler]

The Big Ten could carry itself without the SEC. We have enough regional coverage not to need those matchups.

[@user-ev5wp2ig4m]

Let me clarify; as an “outsider “ I have no interest in watching SEC and/or BiG matchups other than a top ten game

[@gocygo63]

​...I don't watch any Big 10 or SEC games NOW...regardless of a top 10 match-up or otherwise...but the networks have a habit of looking the other way & whistling in the wind when they're reminded of that viewing group...& it's a bigger viewing group then they like to admit...

[@rjenkins66bj]

They already do. Thats why they are given the huge contract. I live in SOCAL people watch SEC games every weekend.

[@chandlerwhite8302]

@@gocygo63Comngrats on being in the small minority of fans.

[@rosieatkins2372]

Why other people dont like this, they have no reason to dislikes

[@megcummings764]

Wow one of my favorite

[@kylebrandt3374]

I don't think iowa gets booted out

[@milldude19]

Yeah the doofus in the Rangers hat isn't taking the competitiveness of the school into the equation or their larger regional/national reach in fandom.

[@chandlerwhite8302]

@@milldude19 The next smart thing that guy says will be the first.

[@TheLAGopher]

@@milldude19 And they are not asking who do you replace those schools with? Big 12 schools with smaller markets and alumni bases?

[@robertcotton9044]

There are simple solutions that will never happen. TV has all the power. If they decide to make common sense rules, this would save a lot or of work and heartache. Add schools to make 140 teams. Have 14 team regional conferences. Schedule teams to play other teams that finish in the same place as they did in their conference. Cap recruiting, players sign contracts, limit portal transfers, and NIL would be independent for players and agents to pursue individual contracts

[@roris5882]

The TV networks are making common sense rules. They are doing whatever makes them the most revenue and the conferences are consolidating all the most valuable schools to prepare for the inevitability of paying their players. Soon the B1G and SEC will have all the best players and teams, so they won't want to share their playoff revenue with the teams that cannot pull their own weight financially or talent wise.

[@sarahmccoy1941]

Who is Jamie Pollard? There were a lot of media is west Des Moines at his press conference?

[@johnsettin7234]

Does the NY TV Market prefer to watch Rutgers vs Syracuse OR Alabama vs Southern Cal? I do not think they will choose inclusion by market.

[@A1Googler]

Rutgers and SoCal are Big Ten. And I prefer Big Ten matchups. I do not have an interest in SEC matchups

[@jaypee9812]

I haven't watched anything since Big East football was killed

[@rjenkins66bj]

You have large military bases in SOCAL. Camp Pendleton and the US NAVY

[@miawalker9526]

Very nice

[@carolduncan8387]

Just fresh video , buddy

[@carolynmcmillan3108]

Smart video

[@davidfloyd9134]

There are a few schools in the Acc & Big12 which I believe can keep up financially: UNC, FSU, UVA, Clemson, Miami, Louisville, Texas Tech, KU, Utah, ASU and WVU.

[@xmositoxc147]

For a few years ... at some point they need to upgrade an arena or football facilities, and they will have to shift their money from paying athletes to that. Or pay the same money and fall behind significantly on facilities

[@noelramirez1551]

What about UCF we literally just got like 90 million from the city of Orlando from the tourists tax and that can be an annual thing since the county distributes the money I Don't see any other big 12 team that has that

[@MichaelSmith-xb5cp]

You people don't get it, ACC B12 G5 and ND will never sniff the playoffs again unless they are an undefeated champions, the money will be flowed to the playoffs. SEC and B1G plan to claim ten or eleven spots every year, so that 3 and 4 loss teams get in. ND takes one of the remainders provided they are UD, and then they choose the last wildcard from the rest of CFB at their own discretion just to pretend it's fair, as well as prove that the chosen patsy is unworthy. In ADDITION , more than half of the P2 has no chance against the upper echelons of P2, so they've mathematically already have it figured out that ALL the money is going to flow to just a dozen schools before the first kickoff........COLLUSION.

[@TheLAGopher]

Most of those few schools in the Big 12 and ACC with the ability to keep up financially,will end up in the P2.Not as replacements for existing schools,but as further additions that help everyone on the inside make more money.

[@jeffreyburress2200]

Great show. One of your best. You're absolutely right on what you talked about.

[@gabrielsoliz8563]

Vanderbilt is a Private institution so the SEC wouldn't risk a Billion dollar lawsuit from Vanderbilt if they ever decided to cut them from the conference

[@hey2yogi2]

Miami,and clemson were part of the sec back in the early days

[@Gh0stRider]

So which schools gets cut from the Big XII?

[@corneliusdansbyjr6165]

Baylor, Iowa State, Cincinnati, UCF, Arizona State, maybe TCU/Houston

[@roris5882]

All of them...

[@TheLAGopher]

Colorado,Utah, and Arizona would ditch the Big 12 in a heartbeat to go B1G.

[@greg89kelly]

Its weird that he mentioned Michigan State. They are top 30 historical program, a top 15 revenue generating program along with top 20 in attendance.

[@LEE_65]

Someone has to take the losses even if you take the 20 top Brands and put them in a separate conference someone has to lose

[@heartbreak25]

This is what people don't understand. If the B1G got rid of Purdue for Kansas State, then Kansas State would just become the new Purdue of the conference.

[@roris5882]

That's why the SEC only plays 8 conference games so they can pad their schedules with another guaranteed win every season, instead of playing each other and half their teams suffering another loss.

[@sctexan5392]

I think in the SEC, only the TV contract is split amount the schools. A team that goes to the bigger bowls get, I think, more money they don't have to share.

[@joannowens3706]

You’re on the target Goodmorning :0

[@ricksaunders8074]

When OKLAHOMA and texass were invited to the SEC then USC UCLA to the BIG10 I saw the big picture that was about to happen By 2027 there will be two 20 team leagues SEC BIG10 the others aced out They will start their own league I'm not a fan of it even though my team is in the SEC

[@ernestgardner7439]

I tell everyone how amazing you are

[@melanieorduna5672]

"Amazing" & "Interesting"

[@Knowityall]

I won't comment on the Big 10, because i'm not that familiar with their set up. I'm not one of them, but SEC fans have been debating for years what good does Miss. St. and Vandy bring to the conference. I always thought of Vandy as the brains behind the operation. Maybe they are the real Palpatine behind the Empire/SEC's success. (Jokin, but who knows...)

[@A1Googler]

Big Ten fan and alum here. No one vested in the Big 10 is talking about booting members. The Big Ten is the nation's oldest and most stable conference. Most of this speculation and rumors are from ppl on the outside or new to Big Ten.

[@chandlerwhite8302]

Vsndy brings an element of academic credibility. Miss State is a relatively easy win for the elites that has some perceived credibility because they will win 6 or 7 and make a minor bowl most years.

[@heartbreak25]

I'm a PSU alum who lives in Chicago which has the largest concentration of B1G alums and home of the B1G HQ. This conversation NEVER comes up online, offline, or any line. It's something started by Big 12 and ACC fans projecting onto us. We value academics and stability more than anything because of the size of the schools , size of our markets, and most of us are pro sports cities anyway. Northwestern just raised $6 billion in an 18-month capital campaign. Why would we ever want to do anything to adversely impact them and their alums?

[@roris5882]

The only thing the bigger B1G brands have bitched about forever is being forced to share their ticket sale revenue with the schools with tiny stadiums because the schools with 100K+ stadiums have to share Millions and the schools with tiny stadiums have to share peanuts.

[@rjenkins66bj]

That only fan talk, nothing from the SEC

[@Ikedawg43]

I’m just here for the Vanderbilt slander 👍

[@TXM33]

The conference exit fee’s are ridiculous.

[@michaelhart6318]

Didn't realize Missouri's admission into the SEC pissed off this many angry, bitter people.

[@judah9934]

Exactly right I rather see texas tech vs baylor prime time slot than ms state vs Vanderbilt or Michigan vs Indiana

[@chopkong]

Viewership and ratings is the name of the game, in today's college football. I would say that in a few years, we may not even see the NCAA governing college football either. What value does the NCAA bring other than setting rules. I believe within a few years, the SEC, BIG and possibly a smattering of teams from the Big 12 and ACC will create their own league, rules, and TV contracts; and won't need the NCAA any longer. I believe there will be a centralized employer where by each player get's paid s certain amount, thus the league can now control player salaries, marketing, branding, and create recruiting/transfer rules, etc.

[@heartbreak25]

B1G kicking out schools is just clickbait from the ACC and Big 12 channels. I'm a PSU alum who lives 35 minutes from the B1G headquarters and NO ONE from any school is even entertaining this conversation. Keep in mind that just about every team except Iowa, Oregon, and Nebraska is in a pro sports market. And the B1G academic alliance is real. The idea we'd do anything to adversely harm our alliance that boosts the value of B1G degrees just to earn a few extra million in football is ridiculous. There's nothing wrong with the current strategy of just boosting existing brands through quality matchups and acquiring new market share in realignment.

[@rwillson291]

When the TV execs show Petitti Minnesota', Indiana', and Northwestern's TV ratings versus Clemson', FSU', and North Carolina's ratings--and he has to pick which he wants in his league--and, by the way, he can add another zero to his personal income if he picks the right 3 (assuming ND is already in)... well, you do the math.

[@heartbreak25]

@@rwillson291 Sorry, but you guys are parroting and projecting. The B1G works like the NFL where the commissioner works for the University Presidents and not the other way around. When the presidents lost confidence in Kevin Warren then Warren was gone. Pettiti has been on the job for a year so if you think he's going to dictate to the founding members plus Michigan and PSU then you don't understand the B1G. PSU did over $1.3 billion in research funding last year alone compared to $200 million in athletic revenue. Which one is really the cash cow? The federal government writes blank checks to research and innovation and it's far bigger than all the TV networks combined.

[@chestnuthillmedia3931]

⁠​⁠​⁠@@rwillson291The university presidents run the conference, not Petitti. No president is kicking out another academic institution from their conference just because they can earn more money, especially in the Big Ten. I don’t think that the SEC presidents would do this either. If schools decide to break off and form another conference, that’s one thing, but no one is voting to kick out another member school. That’s not the way presidents operate.

[@TheLAGopher]

Finally somebody talking some sense. Channels with no idea how the B1G has always worked,keep overlooking the fact that in the B1G football doesn't mean more than academic alliances and research relationships,and it never will.

[@heartbreak25]

@@TheLAGopher I keep telling people that in B1G country, "It Just Means Less" because we're Sunday football cities and not Saturday football cities. That's a gift and curse. On one hand, we turn a blind eye when the commissioners and presidents make decisions solely to grow revenue and sustain the conference decade after decade. Hopefully we strike the right balance in the playoff era. But I'm living a great life if we don't win it all. LOL!

[@angelsaulovelazquez3232]

I personally watch other games and other conference matchups so that I can see how they affect my team and rankings (compared to my team). I want to see how the team from the SEC that we played matches up with other SEC teams etc. That is the only reason I watch other games. If they decide to eliminate teams and go to a "super" league then I think they will lose a lot of the viewership that is ingrained for folks like my self.

[@johnbarker5009]

Pollard is right. If the ESPN-driven point is to create a super conference with only the best college football teams, with everyone else irrelevant, there are two things that ultimately have to happen. At some point, the Big 10 and SEC turn on each other. To do so, the conferences will jettison their worst teams. The path we're on now makes it inevitable. In the process, though, college football will lose about 2/3 of their current audience. No one wants to spend their Saturdays watching an NFL farm league between teams you've never had an attachment to when you can watch the NFL 3 days per week. Clearly those who are running this show think otherwise, but just look at the UFL ratings. Less than 1M viewers per week. I don't think an eventual college super conference would drop that low, but it sure won't get the eyeballs college football gets today.

[@stephanledford9792]

I wonder how the decision would be made to cut a team from the SEC or Big 10? My team is Arkansas, and they have NOT done well in football for some time, yet more years than not they are in the top ten in basketball, baseball (both of which make money for the school), soccer, gymnastics, softball, track, etc. If the decision is made just based on how the team does in college football, then yes, Arkansas is gone, which comes back to my question - is college football the only thing considered? Using a wild example, suppose that Arkansas finishes #1 in every single college sport EXCEPT football, where they go 5-6-0 and don't go to a bowl game. Does Arkansas or any other school that is competitive in multiple sports get cut from the SEC / Big 10, or is their overall program evaluated?

[@roris5882]

Arkansas is a state flagship university, so I would imagine they would be fine. The schools being looked at side eyed are the rinky dink private schools that don't take football seriously because they are just pocketing the huge amount of revenue generated by being an annual conference punching bag.

[@TheLAGopher]

@@roris5882 The B1G takes academics and research seriously.They don't kick out schools that bring in that research money.What they are doing is increasing the value of existing programs by (mostly) bringing in schools that offer even more research money while also being (traditionally) higher performing football brands as well.

[@roris5882]

@@TheLAGopher Yup, the B1G already has a monopoly over the AAU. So they would have no problems assisting FSU earn their AAU membership. The same could be said for Clemson, but obviously they would have more work to do to improve their academics. They could probably get it done within a decade, with access to that extra B1G revenue that coukd be used to hit benchmarks in their B1G approved Academic Improvement Plan.

[@IMWeblike]

Interesting that the NCAA was not mentioned once (good or bad).

[@3tom1789]

The nfl has 32 teams, college ain’t going to 20. They’ll be 40-45 or so. FSU, ND, UNC, Clemson, UVA and a couple more to the Big2 and that’ll be it

[@nycpwcsi]

I live in NYC and trust me Rutgers is not NY market lol. Close proximity yes but stations in NYC mention UCONN as much as they do Rutgers.

[@A1Googler]

Why mention Rutgers? We love Rutgers in the Big Ten

[@dantesinfernopurgatory7826]

@@A1Googler Look for Rutgers to have a breakout season in 2024.

[@chestnuthillmedia3931]

Rutgers has the #2 recruiting class in the country in men’s basketball. Games have been sold out for two years. They have the #1 running back returning in football, along with one of the top defenses. They just beat Miami in a bowl game, and they have a huge alumni presence in New York, and of course, the academic profile that’s important to the Big Ten.

[@roris5882]

Rutgers is actually getting better and becoming somewhat competitive. They have made the best out of their situation. They have a lot of potential for the future.

[@killbaal4149]

This is just wishful thinking by the non P2 entities. This is their first talking point and then they go on with if there isn’t equity between all conferences then the fans will stop watching. The problem with that is the P2 already have their built in fan bases and I would argue the P2 fans are more conference oriented instead of just focused on their specific team. They will always have good numbers and the games are meaningful for conference standings. For every non P2 fan that refuses to watch the P2 is probably a P2 fan that doesn’t care about the other teams and conferences, either. The PAC 12 is a bad analogy since it was so xenophobic to change and poorly managed for decades.

[@waynebennett745]

As I have pointed out NUMEROUS times, just because you're not strong in fb DOES NOT mean you aren't great in OTHER sports (Kentucky basketball, Vandy baseball, ...). *SMH*

[@safromnc8616]

Where does the most $$ come from ?

[@AFNick]

I would be pro premier league if there was promotion-relegation of 5+ tiers that include all of current FBS schools

[@phillipwhite659]

To call this college football is a joke it's big business.

[@josephpage9851]

Vandy wasn't invited in to the sec, but one of the 3 schools that started the sec. The old Old Southern league had gotten too big and unwieldy to manage!

[@dfausti66]

Well done!

[@Richard-by6br]

No one is getting kicked out!!! Silly...

[@joe_zeay]

@5:49 SEC 🧁 cupcakes

[@michelleweintraub945]

Well if you take the top 20 teams with the most wins, then WVU wouldn’t have to worry because they are ranked 15 with most wins.

[@justins1378]

I get the point BUT the comparisons are bad here overall. If the Big Ten and SEC cut half the teams they'd still do well, but the next 2 conferences might overtake them. Make actual rivals and play solid games. The only way it works is if they do it like soccer and you can play your way in and out so teams have something to play for. Otherwise, would you say as the Big Ten cut Rutgers and Maryland and lose those markets and fans? Would the SEC cut Vandy? What about when those teams join others

[@TheLAGopher]

Another thing to concider is if the B1G and SEC cut half those teams,how are the big dogs going to pad their win/lose records? Somebody has to lose and there will always be a few big brands bigger than the rest.If you have nothing but blue bloods in a conference, somebody is no longer going to be an elite program unless you put in NFL type "leveling" devices such as a player draft in reverse order of conference record,and scheduling to "punish" successful teams and reward poor performers. If it's just elite programs with some more elite than others, you take away hope from the later that they could ever catch up.

[@malcolmoverton9079]

It will be a sad day if some schools in a conference kick out others!

[@ericblomquist1975]

I think it will got o reduced revenue sharing. It almost has to.

[@roris5882]

The valuable schools will just vote to move their football programs to the Super League while the bottom feeders get left behind to make peanuts.

[@CarlaJenkinsTV]

I am in the Big 10 (Ohio State) and I only hear about us booting out Purdue, Illinois and Indiana from ACC and Big 12 channels. No one is getting rid of any founding member. They're just mad that Ohio State has won playoff games and a championship serving as the anchor that Oklahoma and Texas couldn't be.

[@A1Googler]

Yea. I only hear talks from Big 12 ppl or ppl on the outside looking in about booting teams. No, the Big Ten is not booting teams nor merging with the SEC. The Big Ten COPC has different standards incompatible with how the SEC runs things. And no, the Pac 12 did not get eaten. These ppl are always putting out this false narrative. The Pac 12 ran itself into the ground and broke apart.

[@jonm4501]

Unless there's a national level of equal revenue sharing and a spending cap, there's going to be pressure to contract members to preserve bigger dollars for the anchor schools. Times are changing. Seriously two schools in Indiana, and two schools in Mississippi at the top level? Some founding members could get pushed out as this continues to evolve.

[@observer466]

@@jonm4501 Remember that the B1G claims to be an academic conference that plays sports. The B1G is not likely to do that.

[@raggles123]

Calm down Bozo, in the modern era, Ohio University won 2 Nattys, 2002 22 years ago and 2014 10 years ago. Somebody from 'bama can make this statement, and even Georgia. Not Ohio University.

[@undisclosed3863]

ESPN doesn't think that way. So. You know. Sorry.

[@eujr4SC]

USC not having a softball team, but using it as an example just feels like a low blow for a school that would probably dominate the sport.

[@locman6228]

Look at Oregon State and WSU. It's already happening. Why not in the future.

[@TheRCBuildersPost]

Nothing is impossible but what I love about the SEC is that every school brings something to the table. Even in football Kentucky and Vanderbilt will beat a team every year they are not supposed to. But, you got Kentucky basketball, Vandy baseball and so on. Personally, I watched every SEC game. Now that they are bringing in schools that are definitely not in the South East, it's not SEC anymore

[@BallisticBevo]

Maybe the SEC should pull a Yormark and pay Kansas under the table to join the SEC.

[@JuneBaby01]

Naaw, I don't think they have to worry about being kicked out...at least not anytime soon. SEC members have such conference security that they don't even need an exit fee, because none have left the conference in about 60 years, not since GT & Tulane. And apparently that loyalty cuts both ways...I see where people used to post these ridiculous scenarios where certain SEC teams were leaving voluntarily to join some conference or the other... well surprise! it never happened, probably never will!!!

[@natchitoches6702]

The end goal will be to maximize the audience size and not create too much political pushback, so that means some schools will end up in the final super league for reasons other than their historic success, that is big media markets and located in states with political clout. Who will be added do to those reasons: Miami, Virginia and/or Virginia Tech, North Carolina, Florida State, Colorado, Arizona and/or Arizona State, and Utah. Clemson will probably be in because of brand. Notre Dame is definitely in. Other possibilities due to media markets and political clout, though they are weaker brands: Pitt, Boston College, Kansas, Stanford and/or Cal. Schools currently in that might be in risk of being booted out (but probably not because of law suits): Mississippi State and Nebraska. Vanderbilt is safe because of both media market and political clout. Arkansas has both Jerry Jones and the Tyson and Walton families supporting it; they are going nowhere. Illinois has a chunk of the Chicago market. Indiana and Purdue have the Indianapolis market. If they were not already in, one might get left behind, but they're safe since they both are in.

[@joe_zeay]

Sour grapes from Iowa State . Consolidation stops at 2 conferences because SEC wants to remain regional And not become national.

[@edcummings9511]

The elites never survive without us. Peons through history and even now and even in football over the long horse

[@eileeneaton8176]

Too beautiful

[@alexa7736]

That makes no sense to eliminate schools where you see professional sports, expanding, and adding more teams I think he was just talking about the commissioners, which isn’t a real big deal since commissioners get changed out all the time I strongly disagree with this whole notion that teams are going to get booted out of the D1 conference They’re definitely going to add around 50 teams to make the television rights better

[@A1Googler]

1. The Big Ten and the SEC will not merge. What drives the Big Ten more than anything is COPC. And we value our tradition and rivalries. 2. The PAC 12 did not get eaten. The Pac 12 was mismanaged and fell apart.

[@DavidM442]

The Iowa AD said the opposite so what is your inside sources?

[@josecuervo3351]

@@DavidM442- The Iowa St AD is just frustrated that he is not in the Big Ten.

[@A1Googler]

​@@DavidM442 My inside source? I am a Big Ten alum. I am able to talk to Big Ten COPC, commissioner, and my AD via email without issue. I am sure you too can do the same with your school. What Iowa AD? The interim AD from Clemson/SEC country? You think she knows more about the Big Ten than me or Dietz - our deputy commissioner and former Big Ten athlete?

[@rjenkins66bj]

SEC has had some of the oldest rivalries in the country. The SEC has great game day atmosphere. Sell out stadiums leads in overall attendance every year. Why are people outside of the SEC making up stuff. They don't know nothing about.

[@icu17siberia]

The Pac 12 forgot who was buttering their bread. The rest was when, not if

[@Dqzmngf7530]

If you take the top 20 winningest teams, the Big 12 only has one, WVU at number 15.

[@johnpierson4696]

If you take the top 20 winningest programs of all-time.....Take me home Country Roads!

[@eujr4SC]

Excluding some of the G5 schools, WVU still isn’t in the top 20 anymore.

[@johnpierson4696]

@@eujr4SCYou need to check your list again. WVU is 15th

[@eujr4SC]

@@johnpierson4696 Michigan - .734 Ohio State - .734 Alabama - .733 Notre Dame - .730 Oklahoma - .725 Texas - .702 USC - .695 Penn State - .689 Nebraska - .678 Florida State - .671 Tennessee - .669 Georgia - .666 LSU - .645 Miami - .629 Florida - .626 Auburn - .625 Clemson - .624 Washington - .620 Texas A&M - .603 Virginia Tech - .601 Arizona State - .599 Michigan State - .596 Utah - .596 West Virginia - .594

[@johnpierson4696]

@@eujr4SC All time wins not %

[@eujr4SC]

@@johnpierson4696 Yea idk if WVU really wants to claim that stat…of the “top 15” all time wins WVU has a disproportionate number of games against non-FBS teams at 463 with a 325-110-28 record over them. I get you play who you play and back then sometimes could only schedule with local high schools or whatever. But the next closest school is 392 games against non-FBS teams (Penn State). My school USC has 189 games like that and being on the west coast was even harder to schedule games because of so few schools playing football. Even with Michigan at 1004 wins only 231 of their games were against non-FBS teams. Again I get it, every team back then did it. But WVU has a way higher amount than the rest in the top 15 and was able to schedule games on the east coast and for whatever reason chose not to.

[@frankmilitary]

Even if this becomes true, why is Pollard saying it? Iowa State, with no tv market and modest football success isn’t going to replace anyone left behind. And very presumptuous to think a bunch of current ACC teams would be a better alternative if that league folds. Hard to see many current BIG 10 or SEC teams getting kicked out. How small of a “super league” are we talking? Not sure 20 is enough, Craig.

[@TotalDrganMania]

The one thing being missed is Iowa State is in an area with a growing TV market. Itll be decades, but the Des Moines metro is growing pretty reasonably. Plus, they have a relatively large and passionate alumni/fan base. Still not as big as the Big 10 markets, but they follow the same line of thought as the rest of the modern Big 12, which is planting flags in growing markets

[@gordonshields8844]

Qué hermosa

[@jona.scholt4362]

The only people I hear talking about this aren't from the SEC or Big Ten; it's from fans of schools desperate to take the place of those schools. Won't happen

[@A1Googler]

EXACTLY

[@DavidM442]

Started with former President of Nebraska and became louder after comments from current President of Nebraska saying they were in danger of being kicked out of B1G

[@DavidM442]

Is it fair to criticize BigXII fans only because they pay attention year round?

[@rickbarry1969]

It is absurd to even think that the SEC Presidents are gonna boot Vandy or whomever. It simply will not happen.

[@rjenkins66bj]

That's all about AAU. Some FSU and Clemson people. Think the B1G will let them in without it. You keep telling them. They want listen.

[@icu17siberia]

I think the ISU guy doesn't appreciate the value of traditions in the B10 and SEC, including travel

[@jmac4765]

He works and lives in prime Big Ten country and works with the University of Iowa year round. He very much understands the Big Ten.

[@observer466]

The PAC12 analogy is dumb. The PAC committed suicide by not taking a decent, but not great, deal with ESPN.

[@icu17siberia]

And, the Pac12 was ok with its 2 biggest brands being unhappy

[@jamesmccarty3326]

I will not be watching one second over super league game any fan of any school that’s not in it needs to do the same money to them. Don’t give it to them.

[@perrygrimes4297]

Süpersinn

[@gregnelson1330]

With Super League (70 teams) I feel a Super Deluxe Division will be required, the 10 very best teams! They could drop out via performance. They'd make 4x's the money and they'd playoff the 6 best to be Collrege World Football Champion. The remaining 60 teamsplay the new CFP.

[@A1Googler]

Nope.

[@roris5882]

48 Teams

[@hey2yogi2]

Vanderbilt is a founding member and cant be kicked out.

[@terristiver5291]

They arent gonna jettison the half-nots, but what will happen is TV will dictate OOC matchups betweens the leagues.

[@alexhopkins1476]

AwsMe

[@russellsnyder4437]

I don't see anyone getting booted, but I can absolutely see unequal revenue sharing.

[@Bradstonepro]

Big 12 people want this to happen sooooo bad.

[@davidmorrison5186]

Larry Scott ex pac12 commission and the presidents are to blame. Espn offered them the same big 10 deal and they didn't take it. Did the horrible pac12 network deal. Also after adding Colorado and utah they stopped trying to expand. Smh welp now rhe whole conference is blown up

[@jonm4501]

At some point, this should boil down to viewership, right? Every time there's realignment its all based on eyeballs on the product. Markets do matter. And they know that with just a few years of winning that a current market can become a strong market with high viewership. I think this is what bugs a lot of the G5 is they have teams with large alumni and big TV markets that a few years of winning can flip in their favor. I keep saying that ESPN knows they can't create a race to the bottom, and what I mean is, the consistently weaker brands will get pushed down and then out, and that includes some in the current SEC and BIG makeup. In the long run, in order for the numbers to work for the anchor schools, you have to feed them a steady stream of losers. For every winner there's a loser. So, lets say the super league is 40-50 teams. And if OSU, Texas, Alabama, etc. expect to be in the mix every single year, then there's an equal amount of teams that will be out of the mix every single year. So if they truly breakoff then where do all these losers come from? From their own ranks. And then overtime it will become boring seeing the same teams in the CFP every year. People want parity, people want underdogs. ESPN knows this; its what brings in new viewers. The only way this works in the long run, is to have revenue sharing, a spending cap AND a spending requirement, and player movement limitations, AND 1 commissioner. Sounds like the NFL. OSU, Texas, Alabama, etc. will have to get used to losing more and the CFP having a broader mix of teams in it from year-to-year. The rules will state that you can't just take the money and go spend it on a new library, it will have to go to maintaining a competitive program, which does imperil the athletic models of schools like Northwestern, Vanderbilt, etc.

[@michaelbelford888]

who really wants to see Michigan, Ohio State, Georgia and Alabama play each other every week. Might get boring

[@Anthony-ow8kd]

If the SEC or BIG TEN get rid of the bottom feeders, wouldn't they replace them with the best of the other conferences.

[@swallman]

Sour grapes from B12 members when they had a great opportunity years ago but voted with Texas. The old B12 should have merged with the PAC 12 when they had the chance.

[@JS-cu3mv]

The big 10 and SEC don’t want any schools in the Big 12, or they’d already be in those two conferences. They only want a few schools in the ACC, nowhere close to even half the league. Awkward, USC DOES NOT HAVE A SOFTBALL TEAM lol

[@Mzbbxhfbfnsx]

There’s a reason pro leagues don’t go past 32 teams. NFL is the largest I believe. A college conference with 30+ schools is ridiculous, 40+ is insanity. That’s not sustainable, you lose all identity. Most D1 high school conferences are 8 schools deep on average.

[@roris5882]

Anything over 50 Teams is dilutive, so when the B1G and SEC combine to create a Super League they will add teams until they stop adding value.

[@glenthomason1428]

I remember when the Western Athletic Conference added schools. Then the top tier split to form the Mountain West. President has been set.

[@A1Googler]

Nope. The Big Ten is the oldest and most stable conference. And given our size and regional coverage, we could effective operate independent of other conferences, play a few nonconf FCS for warm, play conf schedule and CCG, and still pull bank.