Expansion Rumors…

[GT98]

The complicating factor, I think, is that it isn't sustainable if there is some sort of premier league of just that small handful of schools either. I don' think CFB will have enough appeal anymore if it's just made up of the 15-20 schools who can currently pour nearly unlimited funds into it. The lucrative TV money won't be there if it's just an Ohio State and Alabama league.

It's basically an OSU/Alabama/Ugag league now.

It would likely be sustainable for a made for TV superleague/division/whatever made up of the 20 or so "schools" that have the booster support to pour tons of money into it each year. The money would be huge from TV for such a league as they wouldn't have to show the Kentucky/Vandy or Dook/NC State game anymore. They would just get the marquee matchups they want. Now, the continuous upward trajectory of TV deals would likely slow or decrease over time.

The question would be if fan interest and viewership would drop off.

 

[txsting]

The complicating factor, I think, is that it isn't sustainable if there is some sort of premier league of just that small handful of schools either. I don' think CFB will have enough appeal anymore if it's just made up of the 15-20 schools who can currently pour nearly unlimited funds into it. The lucrative TV money won't be there if it's just an Ohio State and Alabama league.

I wouldn't at all mind if a super league broke away and we were not in that. It would probably be sized like a pro league (~30 teams) and I'm sure it would do good business. But the second tier would be a Huge number of schools (~100) that we could be competitive with. The sheer size would keep the relevancy, and if it were designed properly to keep competitveness over time (salary caps, revenue distribution models), it could be sustainable. This tier could keep a lot of the traditional structure of CFB as we know it.

 

[THWG247]

I wouldn't at all mind if a super league broke away and we were not in that. It would probably be sized like a pro league (~30 teams) and I'm sure it would do good business. But the second tier would be a Huge number of schools (~100) that we could be competitive with. The sheer size would keep the relevancy, and if it were designed properly to keep competitveness over time (salary caps, revenue distribution models), it could be sustainable. This tier could keep a lot of the traditional structure of CFB as we know it.

Thats the most reasonable thing i’ve read on this subject in quite a while. Money Caps on everything involved and a governing body with teeth are important here, otherwise it just turns into the same thing with the largest population schools being able to outspend everyone else for the talent thats left over from the elite-division

 

[WracerX]

I wouldn't at all mind if a super league broke away and we were not in that. It would probably be sized like a pro league (~30 teams) and I'm sure it would do good business. But the second tier would be a Huge number of schools (~100) that we could be competitive with. The sheer size would keep the relevancy, and if it were designed properly to keep competitveness over time (salary caps, revenue distribution models), it could be sustainable. This tier could keep a lot of the traditional structure of CFB as we know it.

I’m not sure how successful the minor league model would be. A big portion of the viewership of the CFB championship is that there are a lot of fans of other teams watching because their team is also part of the ‘league’. Lose that, and those fans watch the nfl and their local college team.

I’m not sure where the cliff occurs, but 30 teams is probably too small.

 

[LaFlavor]

The question would be if fan interest and viewership would drop off.

I, personally, think it would. Sure, every school has sidewalk fans, but the really driver behind CFB, IMNSHO, is the connection that students and alumni have to the school. I don't think that demographic would be big enough to sustain a 30 team league at anywhere near current levels. It would, at best, be competing with the likes of the XFL, which hasn't historically been a huge moneymaker. And, as TV and overall interest faded, the booster interest would fade as well.

 

[ClydeBrick]

I wouldn't at all mind if a super league broke away and we were not in that. It would probably be sized like a pro league (~30 teams) and I'm sure it would do good business. But the second tier would be a Huge number of schools (~100) that we could be competitive with. The sheer size would keep the relevancy, and if it were designed properly to keep competitveness over time (salary caps, revenue distribution models), it could be sustainable. This tier could keep a lot of the traditional structure of CFB as we know it.

Still gonna suck when a breakout player in the lower league gets noticed and decides to stop playing in the middle of a season because he is getting called up to the show.

 

[stinger78]

I wouldn't at all mind if a super league broke away and we were not in that. It would probably be sized like a pro league (~30 teams) and I'm sure it would do good business. But the second tier would be a Huge number of schools (~100) that we could be competitive with. The sheer size would keep the relevancy, and if it were designed properly to keep competitveness over time (salary caps, revenue distribution models), it could be sustainable. This tier could keep a lot of the traditional structure of CFB as we know it.

This is my take, too. Just be forewarned, the doomsday crowd will tell you you’re aiming for a Sunbelt-type existence with that. I think they’re demonstrably wrong, as you shared, but it doesn’t stop them.

 

[GT98]

I, personally, think it would. Sure, every school has sidewalk fans, but the really driver behind CFB, IMNSHO, is the connection that students and alumni have to the school. I don't think that demographic would be big enough to sustain a 30 team league at anywhere near current levels. It would, at best, be competing with the likes of the XFL, which hasn't historically been a huge moneymaker. And, as TV and overall interest faded, the booster interest would fade as well.

Those big state schools have huge fanbases with either an alumni or sidewalk alum connection to the school. I don't think that Michigan fans are going to not watch their team play in the new superleague. In fact, I'd wager that the biggest 20 or so programs have followings that are larger than the rest of Div. 1 combined. Even casual fans might be more interested in college football if they thought there was a more level playing field.
A big part of the casual fans (not necessarily affiliated with a team playing) not watching/attending games as much is the ridiculously large competitive imbalance between teams.

Record-low for UGA's 58-point title-game wipeout of TCU

As one would reasonably expect, Georgia's 65-7 obliteration of TCU was the least-watched college football national championship on record.

www.sportsmediawatch.com

Is a Lack of College Football Parity Hurting Television Ratings?

Did the College Football Playoff ratings suffer from fan frustration over a lack of parity in college football?

businessofcollegesports.com

I think that part of the new superleague/super conference ideas will be that the games are all marquee, not blowouts that many aren't watching anymore.

 

[GT98]

This is my take, too. Just be forewarned, the doomsday crowd will tell you you’re aiming for a Sunbelt-type existence with that. I think they’re demonstrably wrong, as you shared, but it doesn’t stop them.

Well, it would be a Sunbelt-type existence compared to the new super league teams. The "new Div. 1aa" (if you will) would have a much lower TV contract, revenue, etc.

I do think that GT would compete better in such a division. My preference would be for GT to commit to do what it takes to be a part of the new superleague, but that would require a sea change in the admin and the notoriously cheap fanbase.

 

[greenmachine]

I’m not sure how successful the minor league model would be. A big portion of the viewership of the CFB championship is that there are a lot of fans of other teams watching because their team is also part of the ‘league’. Lose that, and those fans watch the nfl and their local college team.

I’m not sure where the cliff occurs, but 30 teams is probably too small.

Even better. let the top 30 break off into a minor league that implodes, while the rest keep trucking with a sustainable model.

 

[stinger78]

Well, it would be a Sunbelt-type existence compared to the new super league teams. The "new Div. 1aa" (if you will) would have a much lower TV contract, revenue, etc.

I do think that GT would compete better in such a division. My preference would be for GT to commit to do what it takes to be a part of the new superleague, but that would require a sea change in the admin and the notoriously cheap fanbase.

There’s where we mostly differ. First, those cheap Tech alumni just pledged almost $200M to Stan’s 2020 campaign, and just blew Batt’s Initiative campaign way beyond it’s original goal. Tech alumni aren’t cheap, but we are practical.
Second, I think GA Tech’s structural limitations (limited and highly technical curriculum) greatly inhibit success in football at that peak level.
Third, it would not be a Sunbelt-type existence, as we rarely play those top teams already. We would continue playing largely who we’ve been playing, since there wouldn’t be more than 20-30 teams in that elite division.
Finally, I agree that admin has been a holdup my entire lifetime. Let’s see if Cabrera can change that. We can always hope.

 

[GT98]

There’s where we mostly differ. First, those cheap Tech alumni just pledged almost $200M to Stan’s 2020 campaign, and kist blew Batt’s Initiative campaign way beyond it’s original goal. Tech alumni aren’t cheap, but we are practical.

Not quite that much.

Georgia Tech Athletics Officially Wraps Up AI 2020

Tech raises $175.39 million in gifts and commitments, exceeding $125 million goal by more than 40%

ramblinwreck.com

Looks like over a third of it is for the Edge re-do. When will that construction take place?

The initiative under Batt and supported by Cabrera is a start. It is also a fraction of what the big state schools in a 7 hour radius around us do.

Ticket sales and interest in the program are at lows since the Bill Lewis era. While things can change quickly, the Goof Collins era is still a millstone around GT and the GTAA has again a fractional budget compared to many of the teams on the schedule.

Third, it would not be a Sunbelt-type existence, as we rarely play those teams already. We would continue playing largely who we’ve been playing, since there wouldn’t be more than 20-30 teams in that elite division

It would be a Sunbelt type existence in the sense that the new superleague would command most of the TV money, viewership, ticket sales and fan interest. The remaining schools would be seen as a lower tier athletic competition and would have less as a result overall.

You really think that numbers--be it money, fans, etc. would not be substantially different between the new superleague and the remaining schools? Probably similar to how the Sunbelt compares to the SEC/Big 10 today.

 

[stinger78]

Not quite that much.

Georgia Tech Athletics Officially Wraps Up AI 2020

Tech raises $175.39 million in gifts and commitments, exceeding $125 million goal by more than 40%

ramblinwreck.com

Looks like over a third of it is for the Edge re-do. When will that construction take place?

The initiative under Batt and supported by Cabrera is a start. It is also a fraction of what the big state schools in a 7 hour radius around us do.

Ticket sales and interest in the program are at lows since the Bill Lewis era. While things can change quickly, the Goof Collins era is still a millstone around GT and the GTAA has again a fractional budget compared to many of the teams on the schedule.



It would be a Sunbelt type existence in the sense that the new superleague would command most of the TV money, viewership, ticket sales and fan interest. The remaining schools would be seen as a lower tier athletic competition and would have less as a result overall.

You really think that numbers--be it money, fans, etc. would not be substantially different between the new superleague and the remaining schools? Probably similar to how the Sunbelt compares to the SEC/Big 10 today.

Sure they would be different, but they’re that way now. No change. No, we wouldn’t be like the Sunbelt. We’d be like the ACC. Business as usual, except we’re rid of the prima donnas.

if you’re not trying to keep up with the Jones’s then you don’t need the Jones’s money.

You’d have Tech playing everyone on their schedule next year except Clem and UGAg. It would be glorious to be done with that crowd.

I’m amazed that Tech folks want Tech football to be like those programs. We’ve never been that, even when we have been at/near the top.

 

[GT98]

Sure they would be different, but they’re that way now. No change. No, we wouldn’t be like the Sunbelt. We’d be like the ACC. Business as usual, except we’re rid of the prima donnas.

if you’re not trying to keep up with the Jones’s then you don’t need the Jones’s money.

Today:

SEC/Big 10 :: Sunbelt

Tomorrow:

Superleague :: ACC

So, the ACC would become the Sunbelt in that scenario. The point is that today's ACC sans Clemson/FSU and likely Miami would be viewed as a Sunbelt conference. I'm not sure why you can't see that the ACC would de facto be a Sunbelt type conference without those teams as most certainly, the TV money would be getting revised downward.

 

[stinger78]

Today:

SEC/Big 10 :: Sunbelt

Tomorrow:

Superleague :: ACC

So, the ACC would become the Sunbelt in that scenario. The point is that today's ACC sans Clemson/FSU and likely Miami would be viewed as a Sunbelt conference. I'm not sure why you can't see that the ACC would de facto be a Sunbelt type conference without those teams as most certainly, the TV money would be getting revised downward.

Check your logic.
Today: 3 > a
Tomorrow 3 + 1 > b

a and b have to be neither equal nor equivalent.

 

[GT98]

Check your logic.
Today: 3 > a
Tomorrow 3 + 1 > b

a and b have to be neither equal nor equivalent.

How so?

Let's try this another way.

The gap today that exists between the SEC/Big 10 and the Sunbelt will be equal to the gap of the ACC to a Superleague.

Do you not think that GT in a picked apart conference will not be receiving significantly each year in revenue than it does today?

 

[BigDanT]

Sure they would be different, but they’re that way now. No change. No, we wouldn’t be like the Sunbelt. We’d be like the ACC. Business as usual, except we’re rid of the prima donnas.

if you’re not trying to keep up with the Jones’s then you don’t need the Jones’s money.

You’d have Tech playing everyone on their schedule next year except Clem and UGAg. It would be glorious to be done with that crowd.

I’m amazed that Tech folks want Tech football to be like those programs. We’ve never been that, even when we have been at/near the top.

Wow öööö off. You want Tech football to die? To stop trying to be relevant? You’re a little bitch.

 

[stinger78]

How so?

Let's try this another way.

The gap today that exists between the SEC/Big 10 and the Sunbelt will be equal to the gap of the ACC to a Superleague.

Do you not think that GT in a picked apart conference will not be receiving significantly each year in revenue than it does today?

I just showed you.

The gap between today’s SECheat/B1G and Sunbelt may be the same as tomorrow’s Elite and ACC (and that is highly debatable), but that doesn’t mean tomorrow’s ACC plays at the level of today’s Sunbelt because tomorrow’s Elite will be better than today’s SECheat/B1G.
It will be the same players for each unless the elite league suddenly expands rosters to hold more players.

 

[stinger78]

Wow öööö off. You want Tech football to die? To stop trying to be relevant? You’re a little bitch.

And I would have to conclude you are a spoiled preteen unable to carry on an adult conversation.

 

[BigDanT]

And I would have to conclude you are a spoiled preteen unable to carry on an adult conversation.

At least I ain’t a bitch