Proposed New NCAA FBS Conferences/Playoffs beginning ASAP
Let teams prove their merits on the field rather than in a committee board room!
➢ The conferences will naturally determine the best placement of the teams into divisions of eight.
Pacific Conference
Arizona * Arizona State * UNLV * Nevada * San Diego State * UCLA * USC * Fresno State
San Jose State * California * Stanford * Oregon * Oregon State * Washington * Washington State * Hawaii
Western Conference
Idaho * Boise State * Utah * Utah State * BYU * Colorado * Colorado State * Air Force
Wyoming * New Mexico * New Mexico State * Nebraska * Kansas * Kansas State * Arkansas * Arkansas State
Midwest Conference
Minnesota * Iowa * Iowa State * Wisconsin * Northern Illinois * Northwestern * Illinois * Purdue
Notre Dame * Indiana * Ball State * Michigan * Michigan State * Western Michigan * Central Michigan * Eastern Michigan
Southwest Conference
Missouri * Oklahoma * Oklahoma State * Tulsa * Baylor * Rice * Texas * Texas State
Texas Tech * Texas A & M * Houston * TCU * UTEP * UTSA * SMU * North Texas
Southeast Conference
LSU * Tulane * Louisiana Tech * Louisiana-Monroe * Louisiana-Lafayette * Ole Miss * Miss. State * So. Miss.
Georgia * Georgia State * Georgia Tech * Georgia Southern * Alabama * So. Alabama * Auburn * Troy
SouthCoast Conference
Florida * Florida State * UCF * Florida Atlantic * FIU * Miami (FL) * South Florida * So. Carolina
Clemson * E. Carolina * N. Carolina * N.C. State * Duke * Wake Forest * Appalachian State * Charlotte
Mideast Conference
Tennessee * Mid. Tenn. * Memphis * Vanderbilt * Louisville * Kentucky * W. Kentucky * Kent State
Bowling Green * Akron * Cincinnati * Ohio * Ohio State * Miami (OH) * Toledo * Maryland
Atlantic Conference
Temple * Pittsburgh * Penn State * Virginia * Virginia Tech * Old Dominion * West Virginia * Marshall
Army * Navy * Rutgers * Massachusetts * Boston College * Connecticut * Syracuse * Buffalo
In 2011, when the BCS format was loudly challenged by fans nationwide as inequitable, I sent emails to several BCS Board Members and the ESPN President with this idea for an 8 team FBS playoff format. Why have I taken the time and all this effort to share this? Simple, the new 4 team playoff should at least be improved to 8 teams, which doesn’t even come close to:
FCS & Division II football have 24 team playoff formats & Division III has a 32 team playoff format
Football fans would undoubtedly love to have a playoff format that is equitable AND exciting – meaning all teams have an equal chance at participating, not the “more than likely” teams from the “power conferences” that selection committees ultimately favor because of revenues. Think of the excitement surrounding underdogs who advance in NCAA Basketball Tournaments.
Why the brand new conferences? Geographically aligned for ease of travel, exciting In-State & Regional Rivalries, plus a new playoff format that will allow ALL conference champs to advance. Currently, 68 of 128 teams are in the 5 "super conferences" + Indies, leaving 60 teams outside looking in, with little or no chance at participating in the 4 team college football playoff format.
8 Conference Championship games, followed by 4 Quarterfinals – Rose, Orange, Sugar & Fiesta.
2 Semifinals, concluding with the National Championship game (These sites will rotate yearly)
Conference Commissioners and Staff – The main emphasis was to make the conferences as geographically equitable as possible when reducing them from 10 + Independents down to 8. Putting egos, pride and tradition aside for the betterment of the sport – involves name changes and certainly the opportunity for even more team/conference revenue. Surely all have done a fabulous job with their conferences – staff integration/mergers shouldn’t be that difficult.
PROPOSED TEAM SCHEDULES – 12 games – 7 divisional games with 4 other divisional in- conference games rotated yearly plus 1 non-conference game. Best record in each division plays in the Conference Championship game with winner qualifying for one of 8 playoffs spots.
Ultimately, the teams that advance to National Championship Game would play 16 games. FYI: Division III Championship Game teams play 15 games in the season.
Why should the 5 “super conferences” agree to this new re-alignment? – The real question, is the NCAA about student athlete competition and the fan experience or more about money?!
This new conference alignment and playoff format will surely provide the following:
1. Fan and sponsor excitement –– increased TV revenues.
2. Fans traveling to new stadiums within conference.
3. Fans, players, and coaches will appreciate the conference equity and new rivalries.
4. Ask fans to name the new divisions? – with sponsor participation (but not named after a sponsor).
5. New Branding for the next decade and beyond. OUT with Old, IN with the New.
Tradition is one thing, exciting & dynamic change is another! New Decade ▪ New Beginning
Note: I’ve obviously put considerable time into this, so I trust it will be carefully reviewed and considered.
Disclaimer: I’m not affiliated with any conference, university or media company. FYI: My favorite football team is the Univ. of Wisconsin-Whitewater Warhawks! (Division 3)
Best, Steven Z. ▪ newFBS@outlook.com ▪ Twitter @newFBS ▪ http://justpaste.it/newFBS ▪ Leave it all on the field !
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