Texas-Texas A&M. dead.
Mizzou-Kansas. dead.
Pitt-West Va. dead.
Florida-Miami. dead.
Pitt-Penn St. dead.
Utah-BYU. dead.
Nebraska-Oklahoma. dead.
As a Clemson fan, I want to play Georgia, Auburn & Tennessee but with a 14-team conference & a 9-game conference schedule (plus Sakerlina), there's no room. We've had to cancel a series w/ Ole Miss & Oklahoma St b/c of this. We almost cancelled our 1st game vs Georgia since 2004 before both schools agreed on a $3 million buyout to play it next year & 2014. This will be the last time the 2 schools every play in the regular season IMO. We've played 57 times & are 74 miles apart.
There's a bunch of other examples. Here's my solution:
With 12, 14 & 16 team conferences, everyone can't play everyone. 10 games against 'BCS' competition is the max teams can do to make sure they have 7 home games. I would have more fun as a fan watching my school play the same 10 teams us fans consider our biggest rivals. So I propose a move to simple 8-team conferences.
A team plays the other 7 teams in its conference. They also play their 3 biggest rivals OOC annually for 10 games. This puts more of an emphasis on regional rivalries. Play the teams us fans care about. Then they can schedule their 2 cupcakes at home to make $.
In basketball, teams play each team in their conference 2x & their OOC rivals 2x for 14 conference games & 20 annual games. Then add in up to 10 cupcakes, early season tournaments & ACC-B1G challenges.
*The Mississippi, Washington & BEast teams have to fill in some rivalry games from the Metro & Mtn West conferences.
**Notre Dame plays a full 12 team schedule instead of 10 w/ Stan, USC, Mich, Mich St & Navy OOC.
Here's the Google Map of the new conferences.
Let's take a look at the SEC 1st - bold = conf member, next row = annual OOC Rival, miles away from each other & times played:
SOUTHEASTERN | Rival 1 |
Rival 2 |
Rival 3 |
Florida | FSU - 151 mi, 56x | Miami - 336 mi, 54x | Sakerlina - 354 mi, 32x |
Georgia | Ga Tech - 70 mi, 101x | Sakerlina - 153 mi, 59x | Clemson - 74 mi, 57x |
Tennessee | Kentucky - 170 mi, 104x | Vandy - 180 mi, 101x | Clemson - 195 mi, 18x |
Auburn | Ga Tech - 110 mi, 86x | Clemson - 232 mi, 47x | FSU - 205 mi, 18x |
Alabama | Vandy - 238 mi, 83x | Arkansas - 544 mi, 22x | Sakerlina - 416 mi, 15x |
Mississippi | Memphis - 79 mi, 59x | TCU - 547 mi, 6x | Baylor - 564 mi, 1x |
Mississippi State | Memphis - 174 mi, 44x | Baylor - 569 mi, 4x | TCU - 555 mi, 1x |
Louisiana State | Arkansas - 563 mi, 56x | Texas - 431 mi, 15x | Baylor - 428 mi, 11x |
1932's Founding Fathers except for Vandy (private) & Kentucky (not in the south). Keeping it west of the Appalachians like they always intended. Allows Florida to play Miami, Georgia to play Clemson & Auburn to play Ga Tech & Clemson. Tenn still gets to play Kentucky & Vandy, plus Clemson, 74 miles away. The Mississippi's are in the heart of this SEC so not many regional rivals to choose from - they get Memphis & go out to Texas. Sakerlina still gets to play Florida, Georgia & now Bama. Arkansas keeps LSU & Bama.
Everybody else after the Jump.
ATLANTIC COAST | Rival 1 |
Rival 2 |
Rival 3 |
Florida State | Florida - 151 mi, 56x | Miami - 468 mi, 54x | Auburn - 205 mi, 18x |
Georgia Tech | Georgia - 70 mi, 101x | Auburn - 110 mi, 86x | Miami - 663 mi, 17x |
Clemson | Georgia - 74 mi, 57x | Auburn - 232 mi, 47x | Tenn - 195 mi, 18x |
South Carolina (SEC) |
Georgia - 153 mi, 59x | Florida - 354 mi, 32x | Bama - 416 mi, 15x |
North Carolina | Wake - 77 mi, 99x | Duke - 11 mi, 91x | Maryland - 282 mi, 69x |
North Carolina State | Wake - 107 mi, 104x | Duke - 25 mi, 81x | Maryland - 294 mi, 67x |
Virginia | Maryland - 128 mi, 76x | Duke - 167 mi, 60x | Penn St - 284 mi, 6x |
Virginia Tech | West Va - 250 mi, 51x | Wake - 103 mi, 36x | Pitt - 321 mi, 11x |
Sakerlina rejoins the ACC. ACC drops the dead weight (er, 5 private schools) & Pitt so it's focused on the south/mid-Atlantic. Now all 4 North Carolina schools get to play the other 3 annually. Clemson, FSU & Ga Tech can play other teams in the south. Virginia has a 4 hour drive to Happy Valley. Original member Maryland has to change conferences but keeps UNC, NCST & UVA on the annual schedule. Most importantly to Tobacco Road - all the basketball schools get to play each other 2x, including Duke-UNC.
BIG EAST | |||
Connecticut | Cuse - 270 mi, 8x | BC - 84 mi, 4x | USF - 1281 mi, 9x |
Rutgers | Cuse - 237 mi, 39x | BC - 223 mi, 26x | Cincy - 628 mi, 17x |
Maryland (ACC) |
Virginia - 128 mi, 76x | UNC - 282 mi, 69x | NCST - 294 mi, 67x |
Penn State (B1G) |
Cuse - 229 mi, 70x | BC - 438 mi, 23x | Virginia - 284 mi, 11x |
Pittsburgh (ACC) |
Va Tech - 321 mi, 11x | L'ville - 388 mi, 15x | Cincy - 289 mi, 11x |
West Virginia (XII) |
Va Tech - 250 mi, 51x | Cincy - 304 mi, 20x | L'ville - 398 mi, 13x |
Ohio State (B1G) |
Michigan - 191 mi, 108x | Purdue - 239 mi, 54x | Mich St - 251 mi, 39x |
Kentucky (SEC) |
Tenn - 170 mi, 104x | Vandy - 174 mi, 101x | Indiana - 169 mi, 35x |
Here's the Eastern Conference JoePa always wanted. Penn St comes home & everyone else follows suit. Except for UConn in New England these 8 schools are very close together. Ohio St does leave the B1G but keeps Michigan, Mich St & Purdue on schedule. I don't know how much Columbus, OH cares about going past Illinois to play Midwestern teams. This is a lot closer playing all its' 5 border states PA, WV, KY, MI & IN. Kentucky plays 3 OOC schools 2.5 hours away +L'ville. Old BEast members Cuse, BC, L'ville & Cincy factor heavily into other teams OOC schedules. + NC & VA ACC teams.
B1G | |||
Michigan | Ohio St - 191 mi, 108x | NWern - 242 mi, 70x | ND - 169 mi, 36x |
Michigan State | ND - 141 mi, 61x | NWern - 219 mi, 49x | Ohio St - 251 mi, 39x |
Indiana | Kentucky - 169 mi, 35x | Mizzou - 439 mi, 10x | Kansas - 506 mi, 2x |
Purdue | Ohio St - 239 mi, 54x | Kansas St - 606 mi, 3x | West Va - 443 mi, 2x |
Illinois | NWern - 138 mi, 105x | Mizzou - 270 mi, 24x | Kansas - 432 mi, 5x |
Wisconsin | Iowa St - 274 mi, 7x | Nebraska - 483 mi, 6x | Kansas St - 601 mi, 2x |
Minnesota | Nebraska - 412 mi, 52x | Iowa St - 216 mi, 26x | Kansas - 476 mi, 7x |
Iowa | Iowa St - 128 mi, 54x | Nebraska - 305 mi, 31x | Mizzou - 316 mi, 4x |
Like the SEC, the B1G sheds some teams away from its footprint & doesn't bring anyone new in. Ohio St & Northwestern each have 3 games w/ their original conferences. This emphasizes a B1G vs Big VIII Midwest rivalry. Except for Michigan (only B1G schools in EST) everyone else goes Midwest w/ their OOC schedules vs Mizzou, Kansas, K-St, Iowa St & Nebraska. They're all in central time zone & haven't played as much as you'd think. Indiana gets a piece of some strong basketball teams: Kentucky, Mizzou & Kansas.
BIG VIII | |||
Oklahoma | Texas - 372 mi, 96x | A&M - 357 mi, 29x | Tx Tech - 343 mi, 19x |
Oklahoma State | Tx Tech - 413 mi, 39x | A&M - 425 mi, 26x | Texas - 440 mi, 26x |
Arkansas (SEC) |
A&M - 472 mi, 67x | LSU - 563 mi, 56x | Bama - 544 mi, 22x |
Missouri (SEC) |
Illinois - 270 mi, 24x | Indiana - 439 mi, 10x | Iowa - 316 mi, 4x |
Kansas | Minn - 476 mi, 7x | Illinois - 432 mi, 5x | Indiana - 506 mi, 2x |
Kansas State |
Tx Tech - 594 mi, 12x | Purdue - 606 mi, 3x | Wisc - 601 mi, 2x |
Nebraska (B1G) | Minn - 412 mi, 52x | Iowa - 305 mi, 31x | Wisc - 483 mi, 6x |
Iowa State | Iowa - 128 mi, 54x | Minn - 216 mi, 26x | Wisc - 274 mi, 7x |
Big VIII is back & with 1 change - Arkansas instead of Colorado. Mizzou, Kansas, K-St, Nebraska & Iowa St have their OOC filled w/ B1G Illinoi, Indiana, Wisc, Minn & Iowa. The Oklahoma schools player their old Big XII South division rivals - the 3 public Texas schools. Arkansas plays it's biggest rival Texas A&M & keeps the big 2 SEC teams on its' schedule - Bama/LSU.
PRIVATE | |||
Boston College (ACC) |
Rutgers - 223 mi, 26x | Penn St - 438 mi, 23x | UConn - 84 mi, 4x |
Syracuse (ACC) | Penn St - 229 mi, 70x | Rutgers - 237 mi, 39x | UConn - 270 mi, 8x |
Notre Dame (Ind) |
Stanford/USC | Michigan/Mich St | Navy - 663 mi, 85x |
Northwestern (B1G) |
Illinois - 138 mi, 105x | Michigan - 242 mi, 70x | Mich St - 219 mi, 49x |
Vanderbilt (SEC) |
Kentucky - 174 mi, 101x | Tenn - 180 mi, 101x | Bama - 238 mi, 83x |
Wake Forest (ACC) |
NCST - 107 mi, 104x | UNC - 77 mi, 99x | Va Tech - 103 mi, 36x |
Duke (ACC) |
UNC - 11 mi, 91x | NCST - 25 mi, 81x | Virginia - 167 mi, 60x |
Miami (ACC) |
Florida - 336 mi, 54x | FSU - 468 mi, 54x | Ga Tech - 663 mi, 17x |
The 8 strongest private schools are here in a new conference. 5 from the ACC + the token private schools from SEC & B1G + ND. NWern keeps in state Illinois & the Michigan schools & Vandy keeps it's closest SEC rivals - Tenn, Kentucky & Bama. Cuse & BC have a northeastern focus w/ Rutgers, UConn & Penn St. Wake & Duke get to play UNC & NCST. Miami can play Florida again & the other big city in the south Ga Tech in Atlanta (Braves-Marlins, Hawks-Heat anyone?).
ND keeps a national footprint against elite academic, like-minded schools. Stanford & USC in Cali, regional games vs Mich, Mich-St &Northwestern in Chicago. Head south to Nashville. Annual game in NC. Northeast vs Cuse (in NYC?) & vs other Catholics, BC in Boston. Catholics vs Convicts in Miami. Keeps annual game vs Navy. Only traditional rival they lose is in-state Purdue.
SOUTHWEST | |||
Texas (XII) |
Oklahoma - 372 mi, 96x | Ok St - 440 mi, 26x | LSU - 431 mi, 15x |
Texas A&M (SEC) |
Arkansas - 472 mi, 67x | Oklahoma - 357 mi, 29x | Ok St - 425 mi, 26x |
Texas Tech (XII) |
Ok St - 413 mi, 39x | Oklahoma - 343 mi, 19x | Kansas St - 594 mi, 12x |
Colorado (PAC) |
Oregon - 1262 mi, 16x | UCLA - 1038 mi, 7x | Cal - 1245 mi, 6x |
Utah (PAC) |
Oregon - 773 mi, 26x | UCLA - 692 mi, 10x | Cal - 729 mi, 8x |
Brigham Young (Ind) |
Ore St - 824 mi, 10x | USC - 648 mi, 2x | Stanford - 778 mi, 2x |
Arizona (PAC) |
Oregon - 1268 mi, 37x | UCLA - 486 mi, 35x | Cal - 859 mi, 30x |
Arizona State (PAC) |
Ore St - 1220 mi, 38x | USC - 382 mi, 28x | Stanford - 738 mi, 27x |
The Southwest Conference is also back from the dead (RIP 1996). Texas gets to play the other 2 big state schools, both Oklahoma schools & goes west w/ Colorado, Utah & Arizona. BYU finally lands in a good conference. SWC & PAC have a lot of matchups here. I sent all the western schools to LA, Bay Area & PacNW. These opponents could rotate since there's a lot to choose from.
PACIFIC | |||
California | Arizona - 859 mi, 30x | Utah - 729 mi, 8x | Colorado - 1245 mi, 6x |
Stanford | Ariz St - 738 mi, 27x | ND - 2244 mi, 26x | BYU - 778 mi, 2x |
UCLA | Arizona - 486 mi, 35x | Utah - 692 mi, 10x | Colorado - 1038 mi, 7x |
USC | ND - 2095 mi, 83x | Ariz St - 382 mi, 28x | BYU - 648 mi, 2x |
Oregon | Arizona - 1268 mi, 37x | Utah - 773 mi, 26x | Colorado - 1262 mi, 16x |
Oregon State | Ariz St - 1220 mi, 38x | BYU - 824 mi, 10x | Boise St - 440 mi, 7x |
Washington | Air Force - 1393 mi, 8x | Hawaii - 4x | Boise St - 504 mi, 1x |
Washington State | UNLV - 950 mi, 5x | Hawaii - 5x | Boise St - 299 mi, 4x |
This is the original PAC 8. OOC is almost entirely vs Arizona, Ariz St, Utah, BYU & Colorado. Private Standford & USC play private ND & BYU. Boise St gets a stronger schedule w/ 3 PAC teams. There wasn't much left for Washington schools so they get an every other year trip to Hawaii & could play AF or UNLV. Wash St is pretty terrible, makes it easier for them in the middle of nowhere.
& the rest of the conferences...
METRO | |||
South Florida (BEast) | UConn - 1281 mi, 9x | ECU | Tulane |
Central Florida (BEast) | UAB | ECU | Tulane |
Cincinnati (BEast) | West Va - 304 mi, 20x | Rutgers - 628 mi, 17x | Pitt - 289 mi, 11x |
Louisville (BEast) | Kentucky - 76 mi, 18x | Pitt - 388 mi, 15x | West Va - 398 mi, 13x |
Memphis (BEast) | Ole Miss - 79 mi, 59x | Miss St - 174 mi, 44x | UAB |
Houston (BEast) | Rice - 38x | SMU - 27x | UTEP - 7x |
Baylor (XII) |
LSU - 428 mi, 11x | Miss St - 569 mi, 4x | Ole Miss - 564 mi, 1x |
Texas Christian (XII) |
Ole Miss - 547 mi, 6x | Miss St - 555 mi, 1x | SMU - 90x |
7/8 of these teams have been added to the BEast since 2005. Most of them came from the Metro (CUSA) before that. If a team not from the above 8 conferences is going to have a big season it'll either be Boise St or a team from the Metro. Most of these are commuter colleges in big cities not known for their academics. Except for Baylor & TCU which didn't fit in the SWC or Private conferences. Memphis, Baylor & TCU take on Ole Miss & Miss St annually. Cincy & L'ville play current BEast teams OOC.
CONFERENCE USA | |||
East Carolina | USF | UCF | Charlotte |
UAB | Memphis | UCF | Ga St |
Southern Miss | N Texas | Texas St | UTSA |
Tulane | USF | UCF | FIU |
Louisiana Tech | N Texas | Texas St | UTSA |
Rice | Houston - 38x | FAU | FIU |
SMU (BEast) | TCU - 90x | Houston - 27x | UTEP - 15x |
Tulsa | N Texas | Texas St | NMST |
These teams weren't good enough to get a BEast invite, except for SMU. They're a big loser here, along w/ Temple. They do get to play 4 games in Texas annually plus an occasional game against Texas/A&M/Tech. All of these teams are in the Central time zone except for ECU, which is a long way from Birmingham.
MOUNTAIN WEST | |||
UTEP (CUSA) |
SMU - 17x | Air Force - 15x | Houston - 7x |
New Mexico | NMST - 77x | Air Force - 29x | Utah St - 19x |
Colorado State | Utah St - 68x | Air Force - 50x | Fresno St - 11x |
Wyoming | Utah St - 62x | Air Force - 50x | Fresno St - 27x |
Boise State (BEast) |
Ore St - 440 mi, 7x | Wash St - 299 mi, 4x | Wash - 504 mi, 1x |
UNLV | Nevada - 20x | Air Force - 17x | Wash St - 5x |
San Diego State (BEast) | Air Force - 30x | Fresno St - 20x | SJST - 16x |
Hawaii | Air Force - 18x | Wash St - 5x | Wash - 4x |
MWC rejoices w/ Boise St & SDST staying put. UTEP comes back finally & gets to play in Houston or Dallas annually. Air Force goes Ind. but plays everyone OOC except for Boise St. Boise's OOC schedule is a lot stronger w/ Ore St, Wash & Wash St. Rest of the schools play a lot of WAC.
WESTERN ATHLETIC | |||
North Texas (CUSA) |
LA Tech | SoMiss | Tulsa |
Texas State (SUN) |
LA Tech | SoMiss | Tulsa |
UTSA (CUSA) | LA Tech | SoMiss | Tulsa |
New Mexico State |
NM - 77x | Idaho | |
Utah State (MWC) |
Colorado St - 68x | Wyoming - 62x | Idaho |
Nevada (MWC) | UNLV - 20x | Idaho | |
San Jose State (MWC) | SDST - 16x | Idaho | |
Fresno State (MWC) | SDST - 20x | Idaho |
This may be the only way the WAC stays alive & Idaho still doesn't get an invite! The only team here that hasn't been in the WAC is North Texas. SDST/SJST/Fresno St get to play each other for a JV State Championship.
SUN BELT | |||
Florida Int'l (CUSA) |
Rice | Temple | Tulane |
Florida Atlantic | Rice | Temple | Charlotte |
South Alabama | Charlotte | ||
Troy | Charlotte | ||
Georgia State | UAB | Charlotte | |
Middle Tennessee | Marshall | LAMO | LALA |
Western Kentucky | Marshall | LAMO | LALA |
Arkansas State | Rice | LAMO | LALA |
Sun Belt without the Louisiana schools. USA & Ga St jump up from FCS.
NORTHEAST | |||
Buffalo (MAC) | Army | UMass | EMU |
Akron (MAC) | Miami | Toledo | BG |
Kent State (MAC) | Miami | Toledo | BG |
Ohio (MAC) |
Miami | Toledo | BG |
Marshall (CUSA) |
W Kentucky | MTSU | Charlotte |
Temple (BEast) |
Old Dominion | CMU/WMU |
Villanova |
Delaware (FCS) | Old Dominion | CMU | WMU |
James Madison (FCS) |
Old Dominion | CMU | WMU |
ECU might be happier in this divisions. Temple's a big loser in this since they'll be in the BE in 2012.
MID-AMERICAN | |||
Miami | Akron | Kent St | Ohio |
Toledo | Akron | Kent St | Ohio |
Bowling Green | Akron | Kent St | Ohio |
Eastern Michigan | Army | Buffalo | UMass |
Central Michigan | JMU | Delaware | Temple |
Western Michigan | JMU | Delaware | Temple |
Ball State | Army | UMass |
|
Northern Illinois | Army | UMass |
The MAC minus the 3 eastern Ohio schools & Buffalo. All the Ohio schools play all the Ohio schools in the Buckeye JV State Championship.
INDEPENDENTS | ||||
Air Force (MWC) |
7 MWC | Navy/Army | Wash | |
Navy (BEast) |
ND/Army/Air Force |
SDST/Hawaii | Maryland | |
Army |
Navy/Air Force |
Buffalo | Ball St/N Illinois | |
|
EMU | Ball St | N Illinois | |
Old Dominion (CUSA) | JMU | Delaware | Temple | |
Charlotte (CUSA) | ECU | Marshall | GA St | |
LA-Lafayette (SUN) | Ark St | MTSU | W Kentucky | |
LA-Monroe (SUN) |
Ark St | MTSU | W Kentucky | |
Idaho (WAC) |
NMST/Utah St | Boise St/Nevada | SJST/Fresno St |
Leftover teams. UMass, OD & Charlotte are jumping up from FCS. Idaho is considering dropping down. LAMO & LALA are the 4th & 5th schools IN LA. Business as usual for Army.
Thoughts?