BCS leagues expanding - yeah?

Might I suggest some light reading from SI.com: "Mountain West may deserve BCS bid more than ACC, Big East"

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/writers/andy_staples/05/24/bcs-congress/index.html

Better teams, filled stadiums, monster TV numbers. ACC and Big East can't say that.

 

What you're not getting is there eventually won't be the same "BCS" conference system after this realignment plays itself out.

The current BCS system was concieved in the late 90s based upon the college football model that existed then--where there were six major conferences that stood above all others--so they got a special designation. But that reality no longer applies, and it's not set in stone that there will always be six conferences with special status. Just because the Big 12 loses that status doesn't automatically mean someone else gets elevated to it. Instead they can just re-write the system again.

I think we're headed toward a realignment where only about four mega-conferences have that ruling status. And the Mountain West will not become one of those four. The ACC might not be winning on the field, but they still have money, resources, fan bases, TV markets and tradition that trump the Mountain West by a substantial margin. That stuff is gonna weigh far more heavily than recent bowl records.

 

This has probably never been brought up. Especially on this board, but they might be able to have an actual college football playoff.

 

I thought A&M was the side dish that conferences had no choice but to take if they wanted Texas?

 

Armchair, I have yet to read the Cyclone fan board, but I might do it now after this letter went was sent out by Geoffroy and Pollard today:

http://blogs.desmoinesregister.com/dmr/index.php/category/sports/seankeeler/

 

So more or less they're praying like mad the Big 12 doesn't fold because they know otherwise they're screwed. Good thing they got that in writing.

 

Again, you might want to read that link I posted. The ACC and Big East teams have not held up their end of the bargain when it comes to championship-caliber teams, selling out BCS bowl games or attracting good TV numbers. The Mountain West has excelled at all three.

The Mountain West might not be assured a spot at the table, but if there are changes to the BCS after realignment, the ACC and Big East will join them in wondering whether they're an automatic qualifier seeing as to how they've consistently been outperformed by the MWC year-in, year-out.

The money, resources, fan bases, TV markets and tradition you talk about with the ACC, that doesn't show up on the BCS bottom line. It's non-existent.

 

Sounds like a man who's been hearing from a lot of scared shitless people.

As someone else mentioned, Iowa State is especially screwed by this. At least Baylor can join a conference with a bunch of its traditional rivals from the Southwest Conference days, Kansas and Kansas State can put together a decent rivalry package to upgrade the Mountain West. But I'm not sure even the MWC would want isolated ISU. They really don't have much to sell. Their Big 12 status was all they had.

Not sure what other options they have. One, go begging on hand and knee to the Big 10 to please please please show some mercy on them. Two, join the MAC. Three....?

 

Is there a Bowl Game with the Big 14 10th place team playing the PAC-16's 9th place team?

 

Or it sounds like two guys who know their school is fucked and their fan base are in denial that the Big 12 is going to be gonzo.

Stoney, the Big 10 will never take ISU in. That's a near certainty.

Missouri better stop messing around and take the Big 10 offer, or Nebraska will take their spot and Missouri will be left in the cold.

 

I have no sympathy for Iowa State. It was always the worst academically of the schools in the Big 12. I'm guessing K-State and Texas Tech aren't too far behind, but the other schools, for the most part are pretty good. I know some of the Juco transfers they've had would not have qualified at any other Big 12 school and that's saying something.

I remember back in the days of the Big 8, some columnist wrote that Iowa State's slogan should be: Everyone's homecoming game.

Iowa State will be a good fit in the MWC or the WAC where no one will care about them either.