Newest Conference Realignment Thread

[Bearcat22]

The problem with this scenario is that there is a glass ceiling for UC. When the Big East was still around and there was a BCS system, UC had a chance to play for a National Title. They were three seconds away, in fact. With this new system, there is no way UC makes it into the 4 team playoff. So, yes, UC can play in a BCS bowl from time to time but that is as far as it goes for this program. You can't tell recruits that you have a chance to play in the playoff. That cuts a lot of recruits out of your recruiting pool. If UC was in the ACC, Tubs could show recruits a realistic way to play for a National Championship. Look, any conference UC would go to right now would present challenges with winning so maybe, if UC finds it's way into a major conference in the next 4-5 years, being in the AAC isn't a bad thing. If UC can continue it's winning ways over the next 4-5 years, UC would have a decade of unbelievable success in football. Then, if UC is able to make a move to a better conference, they may be better equipped to compete immediately. I just don't like the idea of being happy with going to a BCS game every so often. I want a chance to play for a National Title. It may never happen even if UC is in an ACC or Big 12 but I KNOW it will never happen being in the American.

To quote Don Draper "If you don't like the message change the conversation". Tuberville needs to be selling these recruits on his ability to get the best out of them so they are as prepared as they can be for the NFL.

As far as the conference stuff goes, it sucks because we're left feeling like we have no control (which we don't). What we can control is showing up for games, being loud, and pressuring the AD to bring on higher quality out of conference opponents. Will we land somewhere better? I have no idea. Until then, let's rally around the fact that we're now the resistance effort to the BCS / Big 4 conferences. We want our success to be a constant pain in the butt to the big money players. If the BCS / Big 4 are pop music than we become the punk movement. For the orderly establishment we should represent chaos to their system. Throw that in with our black uniforms and this shouldn't be all that hard to market.

 

[Scheids21]

I think its possible for non"BCS" teams to get into the playoffs. If a team goes undefeated and has some decent wins, I can see the committee letting a team in. Not saying it's likely, but if non"BCS" teams like Boise and TCU could get into BCS bowl games, theres a chance a team like that could get put in the 4 team playoff.

 

[ralph1950]

I think its possible for non"BCS" teams to get into the playoffs. If a team goes undefeated and has some decent wins, I can see the committee letting a team in. Not saying it's likely, but if non"BCS" teams like Boise and TCU could get into BCS bowl games, theres a chance a team like that could get put in the 4 team playoff.

Going undefeated is an absolute must. It will be hard for the playoff committee to not choose an undefeated Gang of 5 team, especially if there are no undefeated Power 5 teams. Boise, TCU, and UC all have finished in the Top 4 of the BCS standings.

 

[JasonS]

Going undefeated is an absolute must. It will be hard for the playoff committee to not choose an undefeated Gang of 5 team, especially if there are no undefeated Power 5 teams. Boise, TCU, and UC all have finished in the Top 4 of the BCS standings.

You are being naive if you think a 1 loss Florida, Alabama, or LSU wouldn't get picked over an undefeated UC or Boise State.

 

[ralph1950]

You are being naive if you think a 1 loss Florida, Alabama, or LSU wouldn't get picked over an undefeated UC or Boise State.

There would be pressure from the media and more importantly pressure from the Senators and Congressman threating to investigate the playoff system if one loss Power 5's got picked over an undefeated Gang of 5.

However, Kirk Herbstreet would be solidily in the Power 5 corner and insist that the undefeated Gang of 5 team not be allowed in the 4 team playoff.

 

[Red_N_Black_Attack]

There would be pressure from the media and more importantly pressure from the Senators and Congressman threating to investigate the playoff system if one loss Power 5's got picked over an undefeated Gang of 5.

However, Kirk Herbstreet would be solidily in the Power 5 corner and insist that the undefeated Gang of 5 team not be allowed in the 4 team playoff.

It would be a tough pill to swallow if we were undefeated and not selected in the playoff. It would be even tougher if Boise is also undefeated at end of season, selected ahead of us to represent the smaller conferences (as either playoff or one of the premiere bowl spots) and we get left out completely. As I understand the new system, only one spot in the entire premiere bowls is reserved for the best small conference school and there is not a guarantee for the playoff. The playoff is supposed to get top four most deserving teams; however, they also get to define the word deserving.

We cannot expect to be the best small conference school selected to a big bowl (possibly the playoff) every year. The Bowl tie-in drop-off from winning the AAC, would be equivalent 5th or 6th place in one of the other conferences. Big time programs lose money going to a big pay-out bowl game. In the end, all smaller conference schools will fail to make enough money to compete and whither on the vine to die. WE NEED TO GET INTO A POWER 5 CONFERENCE!!

 

[ralph1950]

It would be a tough pill to swallow if we were undefeated and not selected in the playoff. It would be even tougher if Boise is also undefeated at end of season, selected ahead of us to represent the smaller conferences (as either playoff or one of the premiere bowl spots) and we get left out completely. As I understand the new system, only one spot in the entire premiere bowls is reserved for the best small conference school and there is not a guarantee for the playoff. The playoff is supposed to get top four most deserving teams; however, they also get to define the word deserving.

We cannot expect to be the best small conference school selected to a big bowl (possibly the playoff) every year. The Bowl tie-in drop-off from winning the AAC, would be equivalent 5th or 6th place in one of the other conferences. Big time programs lose money going to a big pay-out bowl game. In the end, all smaller conference schools will fail to make enough money to compete and whither on the vine to die. WE NEED TO GET INTO A POWER 5 CONFERENCE!!

I agree UC needs to get into a Power 5. Unfortunately, there are no openings.

 

[Bearcat_NTS]

Cincinnati basically has to become the Boise State of the east. This starts off with winning big OOC games. I think beating Ohio State in '14 would be a good start, unfortunately beating Purdue and Illinois next year won't do much. It would also help to win a BCS bowl game just for the hype the following season.

 

[Cataclysmo]

You are being naive if you think a 1 loss Florida, Alabama, or LSU wouldn't get picked over an undefeated UC or Boise State.

It's just as naive to think those wouldn't be one of the top 3 teams in the nation. Who were the top 4 this year? ND, Alabama, Florida, Oregon. Solid 4. I don't think it's far-fetched an undefeated UC beats out a 1 loss Oregon.

 

[Patrick Bateman]

Under the new 4 team playoff even as bleak as people make it out to be UC has a better shot to get into one of these games than:
Northwestern
Indiana
Kentucky
Vanderbilt
Rutgers
Illinois
Purdue
Minnesota
Iowa
Kansas
Iowa St.

and so on..

The teams above have nearly no chance to win their league let alone a ccg.

 

[cincycpaw]

As far as recruits go, there is 1 thing more important than a national championship.... The NFL. And a kid that played in the MAC just went #1 overall. So you play up playing time, play up your coaching staff, and get some kids to the NFL.

 

[JasonS]

It's just as naive to think those wouldn't be one of the top 3 teams in the nation. Who were the top 4 this year? ND, Alabama, Florida, Oregon. Solid 4. I don't think it's far-fetched an undefeated UC beats out a 1 loss Oregon.

Depending on how they select teams, ND might not have been picked. I wouldn't have put them top 4 last year. They benefited from the system.

 

[Patrick Bateman]

The #1 draft pick is from Central Michigan, did Butch recruit him? Just curious

 

[JasonS]

The #1 draft pick is from Central Michigan, did Butch recruit him? Just curious

Yes

 

[UCBearcats]

I think its possible for non"BCS" teams to get into the playoffs. If a team goes undefeated and has some decent wins, I can see the committee letting a team in. Not saying it's likely, but if non"BCS" teams like Boise and TCU could get into BCS bowl games, theres a chance a team like that could get put in the 4 team playoff.

Anything is possible but I feel like the playoff at 4 teams is going to be a "members only" club. Hopefully, once the powers that be see how much interest there is in a playoff system and the TV ratings soar through the roof, they will decide to expand to 8 teams. I think this will happen and probably sooner than most people think. I wouldn't be surprised if after 2 years of the 4 team format they decide to expand to 8.

Personally I'd like to see a 16 team playoff just to add that element of getting a couple of Cinderella teams involved and I also think this is ultimately where the playoff will wind up at some point in the future. TV ratings for this playoff will the thru the roof and the money is going to be like they've never seen before.

UC might not have a chance at being included in a 4 team playoff but we just need to stay at the top of our conference and in the top 25. Our time will come eventually.

 

[joshuag12000]

Anything is possible but I feel like the playoff at 4 teams is going to be a "members only" club. Hopefully, once the powers that be see how much interest there is in a playoff system and the TV ratings soar through the roof, they will decide to expand to 8 teams. I think this will happen and probably sooner than most people think. I wouldn't be surprised if after 2 years of the 4 team format they decide to expand to 8.

Personally I'd like to see a 16 team playoff just to add that element of getting a couple of Cinderella teams involved and I also think this is ultimately where the playoff will wind up at some point in the future. TV ratings for this playoff will the thru the roof and the money is going to be like they've never seen before.

UC might not have a chance at being included in a 4 team playoff but we just need to stay at the top of our conference and in the top 25. Our time will come eventually.

I see the whole setup now as a members only club. Even the elite bowls where the Big 12 and SEC have gone out and grabbed multiple auto bids for their conference. Meanwhile if your not in the club they try to keep you satisfied by offering one spot to fight for. There will be around 75 teams not in a Power 5 conference after all the current realignment movements have taken place out of 125 total FBS schools. That's 60% of all FBS teams fighting for one spot while the Power five enjoy their multiple auto bids.

I agree that the playoffs will probably expand eventually. All it will take is several high profile teams being left out and the Power 5 will want it expanded. The problem is that for an expanded playoff they would need to get away completely from the bowl system. College presidents don't want to abandon that system though because it enables 70 some odd teams a chance to play a post season game where the tournament at most could probably be done with 16.

Even if they did go to a 16 team tournament it would probably be an exclusive club. I think it would be interesting for each conference champion to have an auto bid with a couple deserving at large teams that didn't win their league. This would put great importance on winning your league and give all the teams in the weaker conferences something to play for even if it is a first round trouncing by the SEC champs. But of course the Power 5 conferences will want to put 4 or 5 each of their own teams in the tournament before they allow a WAC or Sun Belt team in so it will never happen. It would create excitement for those teams as it does a 16 seed in basketball and who knows could even lead to some upsets. At least then the national champion will legitamately earn the championship through both their accomplishments in the regular season and surviving the guantlet of a tournament of each league's best.

 

[bearcatfan1211]

This guy has been atleast 3% right which is better than the Dude, etc.

Tuxedo Yoda ‏@TuxedoYoda

Big News: B12 just told that the conference championship game with 10 team league will not happen. Gotta think 2 more teams are added soon.

Will be interesting to see if this actually turns out to be true since it isn't really him making a prediction.

 

[Cataclysmo]

This guy has been atleast 3% right which is better than the Dude, etc.

Tuxedo Yoda ‏@TuxedoYoda

Big News: B12 just told that the conference championship game with 10 team league will not happen. Gotta think 2 more teams are added soon.

Will be interesting to see if this actually turns out to be true since it isn't really him making a prediction.

-__-

 

[ralph1950]

This guy has been atleast 3% right which is better than the Dude, etc.

Tuxedo Yoda ‏@TuxedoYoda

Big News: B12 just told that the conference championship game with 10 team league will not happen. Gotta think 2 more teams are added soon.

Will be interesting to see if this actually turns out to be true since it isn't really him making a prediction.

Big 12 never had a chance as the NCAA had previously rejected the ACC and PAC 10 on same issue. The Big 12 is not going to add any schools unless they add $25 million to the value of the Big 12 TV contract. The current 10 schools are not going to sacrifice revenue to admit more schools. The Big 12 has been adamant about this.

 

[JumpinJack5]

Big 12 never had a chance as the NCAA had previously rejected the ACC and PAC 10 on same issue. The Big 12 is not going to add any schools unless they add $25 million to the value of the Big 12 TV contract. The current 10 schools are not going to sacrifice revenue to admit more schools. The Big 12 has been adamant about this.

Please stop it, you have no clue what will happen. Congrats, you were right about the ACC, but even a broken clock is right twice a day. In reality, realignment is a crapshoot and nobody on any forum knows exactly what will happen. Heck, Whit might not even know exactly what will happen. B12 might add people, it would make sense. They might wait a few years and add people. They might never add on again, you never know.