If the Big 10 and SEC were to breakaway and effectively merge into one entity, we’d no longer be fighting about territory. They’d want to grab up the biggest remaining brands and try to be as national as possible.

The Big 10 has a 14 state footprint while the SEC’s is 12, so they collectively cover 26 of the lower 48 states.

Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, ND, SD, MT, & ID (8) are all small population states with no FBS teams.

Delaware, CT, NV, NM, and ID (5) only have G5 caliber teams.

That leaves:

MASS
NY
WV
VA
NC
KS
CO
UT
AZ

I’m also going to toss in Northern California as a “state”.

If they are working cooperatively and trying to claim markets and fill out across the map, I’d suggest the following additions to put both leagues at 24:

Big 10: ND, Colorado, Arizona, Arizona St, Cal, Stanford
SEC: FSU, Clemson, UNC, NC St, UVA, VT, Miami, +1 of: GT/L’ville/Kansas

This would only leave NY, Mass, Utah (30), WV (39), and potentially Kansas (34) out. In terms of media markets, that only leaves out a few major ones too:

Boston (8) and Hartford (32) but New England has historically been a weak college football region.

Salt Lake City (27)

Kansas City (34) is on the bubble—Missouri technically get them in but adding Kansas would add a much larger share.

Rutgers technically gets the NYC (1) market without actually being in the state.

I think with this new entity, you're going to reach a point where adding teams results in a reduction in money for the B1G/SEC teams. I could see 40-42 teams by adding 6-8 of ASU, Stanford, Colorado, Kansas, FSU, Clemson, UNC, UVA, VT, Miami, and ND.

(03-18-2024 05:58 PM)GoBuckeyes1047 Wrote:  I think with this new entity, you're going to reach a point where adding teams results in a reduction in money for the B1G/SEC teams. I could see 40-42 teams by adding 6-8 of ASU, Stanford, Colorado, Kansas, FSU, Clemson, UNC, UVA, VT, Miami, and ND.

I believe it could be between 48 to 56 schools and that the Big 10 and SEC will sell their rights as one unit, and I noted a few months back, but would remain two separate conferences within one League. Why? The Big Money is in making the rivalry palpable. Put us together and that selling point is wasted, and it gets boring. Pit us against each other and it sells and draws and maintains interest. I think 10 conference games and 2 OOC game a year against each other keeps rivalries intact (Nebraska / Oklahoma) (Miami / Florida State / FSU), and makes the playoffs all the more interesting.

A thought. They merge and form three 14 to 16 team leagues.
With 14
Big 10 iowa, Minnesota, Wisconsin, NW, Illinois, Indiana, Purdue, Michigan, Michigan St., Ohio St., Penn St., Rutgers, Maryland, new-Miami
SEC LSU, Ole Miss, Miss. St., Alabama, Auburn, Vandy, Tennessee, Kentucky, Georgia, Florida, South Carolina, new-FSU, Clemson, UNC
Power West USC, UCLA, Washington, Oregon, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas, Texas A&M, Missouri, Arkansas, new-Stanford, Cal, Colorado, Kansas

Notre Dame might still hold out. If not, Miami probably gets stranded.

With 16 they would need Notre Dame
Big 10-14 above plus Notre Dame and Virginia
SEC-14 above plus Louisville and NCSU
Power West 14 above plus Arizona and Arizona St.

That would leave:
ACC BC, Syracuse, Pitt, Duke, Wake Forest, Virginia Tech, Georgia Tech, SMU
Big 12 Cincinnati, WVU, UCF, Iowa St., Kansas St., Oklahoma St., TCU, Baylor, Texas Tech, Houston, Utah, BYU

FOX sports predicted only 24

https://www.foxsports.com/stories/colleg...ke-in-2026

If there is a breakaway, 24 seems to be a good number, with 16 teams making the playoffs.

That number still leaves a solid field in the left behinds which will lessen the threat of lawsuits or Government intervention.

(03-19-2024 04:45 AM)XLance Wrote:  FOX sports predicted only 24

https://www.foxsports.com/stories/colleg...ke-in-2026

If there is a breakaway, 24 seems to be a good number, with 16 teams making the playoffs.

That number still leaves a solid field in the left behinds which will lessen the threat of lawsuits or Government intervention.

1. 24 total doesn't provide enough inventory for an entity shared by 2 networks let alone 4.

2. 24 would be a blended identity killing the natural rivalry between the two.

3. 24 doesn't carry enough markets to drive a national audience to the numbers the networks are seeking.

4. 24 isn't enough to supply 32 NFL Franchises with enough fresh blood.

5. I still believe the upper tier will likely involve between 48 to 56 programs if it is only 2 conferences in the League. If 3 then 60 to 72 is more likely.

(03-19-2024 04:45 AM)XLance Wrote:  FOX sports predicted only 24

https://www.foxsports.com/stories/colleg...ke-in-2026

If there is a breakaway, 24 seems to be a good number, with 16 teams making the playoffs.

That number still leaves a solid field in the left behinds which will lessen the threat of lawsuits or Government intervention.

Pretty prescient for a 2016 article. Hit everything except for his 24 team superleague breakaway.

(03-18-2024 03:34 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  If the Big 10 and SEC were to breakaway and effectively merge into one entity, we’d no longer be fighting about territory. They’d want to grab up the biggest remaining brands and try to be as national as possible.

The Big 10 has a 14 state footprint while the SEC’s is 12, so they collectively cover 26 of the lower 48 states.

Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, ND, SD, MT, & ID (8) are all small population states with no FBS teams.

Delaware, CT, NV, NM, and ID (5) only have G5 caliber teams.

That leaves:

MASS
NY
WV
VA
NC
KS
CO
UT
AZ

I’m also going to toss in Northern California as a “state”.

If they are working cooperatively and trying to claim markets and fill out across the map, I’d suggest the following additions to put both leagues at 24:

Big 10: ND, Colorado, Arizona, Arizona St, Cal, Stanford
SEC: FSU, Clemson, UNC, NC St, UVA, VT, Miami, +1 of: GT/L’ville/Kansas

This would only leave NY, Mass, Utah (30), WV (39), and potentially Kansas (34) out. In terms of media markets, that only leaves out a few major ones too:

Boston (8) and Hartford (32) but New England has historically been a weak college football region.

Salt Lake City (27)

Kansas City (34) is on the bubble—Missouri technically get them in but adding Kansas would add a much larger share.

Rutgers technically gets the NYC (1) market without actually being in the state.

Would be extremely interesting from an academic point of view also. Does the Big Ten Academic Alliance and the SECU merge or do they stay separate? I'm kind of hoping that they merge.

(03-19-2024 10:07 AM)bullet Wrote:  

(03-19-2024 04:45 AM)XLance Wrote:  FOX sports predicted only 24

https://www.foxsports.com/stories/colleg...ke-in-2026

If there is a breakaway, 24 seems to be a good number, with 16 teams making the playoffs.

That number still leaves a solid field in the left behinds which will lessen the threat of lawsuits or Government intervention.

Pretty prescient for a 2016 article. Hit everything except for his 24 team superleague breakaway.

Right now there are 34 teams combined in the SEC and the B1G. Is 32 the right number? At some point as the dollars continue to rise, there will be some relegation of less desirable members that can't pull their weight.

These are some of the schools that may eventually be placed on the chopping block:
Vanderbilt
Missouri
Purdue
Rutgers
Northwestern

(03-19-2024 08:30 PM)XLance Wrote:  

(03-19-2024 10:07 AM)bullet Wrote:  

(03-19-2024 04:45 AM)XLance Wrote:  FOX sports predicted only 24

https://www.foxsports.com/stories/colleg...ke-in-2026

If there is a breakaway, 24 seems to be a good number, with 16 teams making the playoffs.

That number still leaves a solid field in the left behinds which will lessen the threat of lawsuits or Government intervention.

Pretty prescient for a 2016 article. Hit everything except for his 24 team superleague breakaway.

Right now there are 34 teams combined in the SEC and the B1G. Is 32 the right number? At some point as the dollars continue to rise, there will be some relegation of less desirable members that can't pull their weight.

These are some of the schools that may eventually be placed on the chopping block:
Vanderbilt
Missouri
Purdue
Rutgers
Northwestern

If 32 is the number, then Rutgers and Vanderbilt are out. You’d have to shift 1 B1G to the SEC. Given the geography and current AAU status, Nebraska probably makes the move.

NFL STYLE DIVISIONS

B1G
Central: Illinois, Indiana, Northwestern, Purdue
East: Maryland, Michigan, Ohio St, Penn St
North: Iowa, Michigan St, Minnesota, Wisconsin
West: Oregon, UCLA, USC, Washington

SEC
Central: Arkansas, LSU, Mississippi, Texas A&M
East: Florida, Georgia, Kentucky, South Carolina
South: Alabama, Auburn, Mississippi St, Tennessee
West: Missouri, Nebraska, Oklahoma, Texas

(03-18-2024 03:34 PM)Fighting Muskie Wrote:  If the Big 10 and SEC were to breakaway and effectively merge into one entity, we’d no longer be fighting about territory. They’d want to grab up the biggest remaining brands and try to be as national as possible.

The Big 10 has a 14 state footprint while the SEC’s is 12, so they collectively cover 26 of the lower 48 states.

Maine, New Hampshire, Vermont, Rhode Island, ND, SD, MT, & ID (8) are all small population states with no FBS teams.

Delaware, CT, NV, NM, and ID (5) only have G5 caliber teams.

That leaves:

MASS
NY
WV
VA
NC
KS
CO
UT
AZ

I’m also going to toss in Northern California as a “state”.

If they are working cooperatively and trying to claim markets and fill out across the map, I’d suggest the following additions to put both leagues at 24:

Big 10: ND, Colorado, Arizona, Arizona St, Cal, Stanford
SEC: FSU, Clemson, UNC, NC St, UVA, VT, Miami, +1 of: GT/L’ville/Kansas

This would only leave NY, Mass, Utah (30), WV (39), and potentially Kansas (34) out. In terms of media markets, that only leaves out a few major ones too:

Boston (8) and Hartford (32) but New England has historically been a weak college football region.

Salt Lake City (27)

Kansas City (34) is on the bubble—Missouri technically get them in but adding Kansas would add a much larger share.

Rutgers technically gets the NYC (1) market without actually being in the state.

I'd go with Kansas to get the SEC to 24. Louisville isn't a strong add academically, and while their football program is on the rise, their basketball program is in shambles. It would be ideal to reunite the SEC with Georgia Tech, but they left 60 years ago, and I don't know if they'd want to rejoin. Adding Kansas would give the SEC a strong academic add (Kansas is AAU), a blue blood basketball program, and a much larger media share with Missouri included.