Comments on: With Massive Playoff Revenue Going To The Big Conferences, We’re One Step Closer To A New NCAA Super-Division

By: UGA Prez Adams: Big-Money Schools Will Eventually Separate From Small-Money Schools

Wed, 08 May 2013 15:47:38 +0000

[...] break away from the NCAA. Readers of this site know that we’ve tackled that topic — here, here, here, here and here since December alone — and suggested that instead of a full split, [...]

By: John at MrSEC

John at MrSEC — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 14:25:08 +0000

@AndrewMartin

Not sure where I wrote “consolidate their products,” but no. I don’t see leagues shedding teams anytime soon. The Big East did that with Temple a few years ago, but you don’t see schools get the boot.

Perhaps you’re wondering about what I wrote regarding the ACC.

1. There are five big leagues now, but there were six.
2. The four big leagues not named “ACC” might look at that conference and realize they can take it down.
3. If the SEC, Big XII and Big Ten all took two ACC teams, for example, the ACC could be up-ended like the Big East.
4. Then the majority of the playoff revenue would be split among four leagues and not five.

Thanks for reading,John

By: AndrewMartin

AndrewMartin — Thu, 13 Dec 2012 12:56:51 +0000

John, what do you mean by “consolidate” their products? Do you mean they should shed duplicate or underperforming schools?

By: ChaseTheTrainWarren

ChaseTheTrainWarren — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 19:38:20 +0000

Again i just want to know WHY would the AD’s or heads of the ACC, Big East, Mountain West, Mid-American, Conference USA and Sun Belt ever sign this? Who could not see this kind of split up in revenues coming?

I’m not beating the eight team play off because i think it would be “cool” or “fair,” I just don’t understand how those six conferences look at the situation and do not hold out for an eight team playoff even if it is just to keep your foot in the door.

it was letting the wolf in the hen house, then welding the door shut!

and how long before all of the small football school all grouping in to one conference ala WAC?

By: JRsec

JRsec — Wed, 12 Dec 2012 17:48:40 +0000

In order to stay ahead of the curve conferences need to look at both expansion, and consolidation of brands within their footprint. The market grab for money will soon have passed peak, then all future revenue will be derived from content. The SEC has marvelous content but it is all accounted for in present contracts and is being calculated for future contracts. IMO Florida State is too valuable to just let go elsewhere. They add content value, and without them and Clemson the powers of the Big 12 will eventually desire to be in one of the remaining three conferences because of revenue gaps created by Networks as opposed to 3rd Tier revenue alone.

Three large regional conferences of between 20 to 24 schools will allow a much more cohesive clustering of large profitable schools, in a market footprint large enough to maximize network revenue. If the best brands are contained within those three regions then it will also provide a hedge against a future shift to a la carte payment models.

That’s why the PAC, B1G, and SEC need to expand their perimeters, but consolidate their products at the same time. Which, by the way is what I said last year, when some laughed at the notion.