What they took away from Disney was the right to self governance. It’s different.Lawmakers can do what they please. The Florida government has (at least for now) taken away the Disney deal, and I would bet that Disney brings in a lot more money to Florida than ESPN brings to CT. It would be interesting to know how many and which CT lawmakers receive generous donations from ESPN to keep UConn out of the P5. Is that public information to see to whom ESPN donates money to keep their gig going?
Great read. Thanks for posting.Notre Dame AD Jack Swarbrick says total Division I realignment is ‘inevitable’ - Sports Illustrated
Wholesale change is unavoidable in college athletics. The Fighting Irish athletic director thinks a total realignment of Division I is coming with it.www.si.com
Great read. Thanks for posting.
Agreed, I believe he is just laying the ground work for major changes that are going to be out of our control.I think it signals that Notre Dame will eventually join a conference. I think they do prior to the date that Swarbrick posted.
The SEC threw a wrench into the college plus one system by adding Oklahoma and Texas.
Now if you expand the playoffs to 8, it's just more SEC teams, so the point becomes moot if your goal is to give other conferences, independents or non power conferences access to the playoffs.
That is based on the assumption that the break offs will continue with the conference approach. Why not create a league of X number of teams, like pros, and then just create divisions? What’s value of lifting and loading conferences into brave new world?I think it signals that Notre Dame will eventually join a conference. I think they do prior to the date that Swarbrick posted.
The SEC threw a wrench into the college plus one system by adding Oklahoma and Texas.
Now if you expand the playoffs to 8, it's just more SEC teams, so the point becomes moot if your goal is to give other cobferences, independents or non power conferences access to the playoffs.
Established branding.That is based on the assumption that the break offs will continue with the conference approach. Why not create a league of X number of teams, like pros, and then just create divisions? What’s value of lifting and loading conferences into brave new world?
That is based on the assumption that the break offs will continue with the conference approach. Why not create a league of X number of teams, like pros, and then just create divisions? What’s value of lifting and loading conferences into brave new world?
Agree. That branding matters a lot.Established branding.
Can conferences mean as much with the super differences in talent coming with NIL?
With NIL, nothing has really changed with the competitive environment except players are going to be paid which creates new problems for schools. Yes, there will be one offs like Pitt's star WR potentially transferring to USC or Alabama, but there hasn't been widespread movement of top players from one school to another. Also, a school like BC has never competed for recruits with Alabama, Florida, USC, Texas, LSU,..., so that hasn't changed. Plus, in the last 20 years, 10 schools have finished the year ranked #1 and all of them will be high NIL programs in the current environment: Alabama. Auburn, Clemson, Florida, Florida St., Georgia, LSU, Ohio St., Texas, USC. And, there are plenty of football players to go around. For example, only 1 QB can start on a team, so top rated QBs will be always be available like they always have been, although the portal has made transferring easier. In the last 7 NFL drafts these 3 schools have had the most QBs drafted with 3: North Dakota St., Oklahoma, Western Kentucky.Can conferences mean as much with the super differences in talent coming with NIL?
Not really good examples. Williams followed his head coach and offensive guru, Lincoln Riley, to USC. Dye’s head coach bolted to Miami and it is not a done deal that Addison goes to USC. And, USC lost 2 top QBs to the portal due to the coaching change.Take a look at USC....
They took Caleb William's, Oklahoma's starting QB, they took Addison, Pitt's Bilitnikoff awarded WR, they took Travis Dye who rushed for 1271 yards at Oregon...playmakers...and they loaded up on defenders.
I sense that some folks are hoping that NIL and the change in transfer rules will not have a dramatic impact on college athletics as we know it (or knew it). I just don't see how that can be the case. NIL will provide certain programs with the tool it needs to use money as the lever to attract the best talent either through recruiting or the transfer portal. It will be as simple as that. Free agency......
.......and I know that is not the intent of NIL, but it has opened the door for programs to funnel money to recruits and transfers in a way that has heretofore not existed.
The top programs are already attracting the best talent. For example, the top BC football recruit in 2022 would have been the 3rd worst recruit at Alabama. The top Syracuse football recruit would be the lowest rated recruit at Alabama. How does NIL change that?I sense that some folks are hoping that NIL and the change in transfer rules will not have a dramatic impact on college athletics as we know it (or knew it). I just don't see how that can be the case. NIL will provide certain programs with the tool it needs to use money as the lever to attract the best talent either through recruiting or the transfer portal. It will be as simple as that. Free agency......
.......and I know that is not the intent of NIL, but it has opened the door for programs to funnel money to recruits and transfers in a way that has heretofore not existed.
The top programs are already attracting the best talent. For example, the top BC football recruit in 2022 would have been the 3rd worst recruit at Alabama. The top Syracuse football recruit would be the lowest rated recruit at Alabama. How does NIL change that?
And, look at the portal. There isn't enough playing time at the top schools that are loaded with talent so the top P5 teams are the ones SUPPLYING the talent, not taking it. Look at these numbers:
Alabama has taken 5 transfers and lost 20 transfers.
Clemson has taken 1 transfer and lost 11 transfers.
Georgia has taken 0 transfers and lost 12 transfers.
Texas A&M has taken 2 transfers and lost 11 transfers.
Ohio St. has taken 3 transfers and lost 19 transfers.
Michigan has taken 2 transfers and lost 12 transfers.
Texas has taken 5 transfers and lost 20 transfers.
Baylor has taken 2 transfers and lost 6 transfers.
Oklahoma State has taken 3 transfers and lost 16 transfers.
Florida State has taken 6 transfers and lost 19 transfers.
Maryland has taken 3 transfers and lost 22 transfers.
Penn State has taken 3 transfers and lost 14 transfers.
Notre Dame has taken 3 transfers and lost 13 transfers.
The above 12 have taken in 38 transfers and lost 195 transfers.
Where we have seen top P5 schools taking in transfers is at schools that have had a coaching change:
Florida has taken 6 transfers and lost 10 transfers.
LSU has taken 15 transfers and lost 10 transfers.
Oklahoma has taken 10 transfers and lost 12 transfers.
USC has taken 13 transfers and lost 12 transfers.
Oregon has taken in 7 transfers and lost 15 transfers.
Miami has taken 11 transfers and lost 14 transfers.
There are tons of examples of transfers who left top programs and went on to star at other programs. This past year, Cincy’s top RB, Jerome Ford, was a transfer from Alabama and drafted in the 5th round. And, what about Justin Fields (Georgia to Ohio St.) 1st round pick, Jalen Hurts (Alabama to Oklahoma) 2nd round pick, Wandale Robinson (Nebraska to Kentucky) 2nd round pick, Malik Willis (Auburn to Liberty) 3rd round, Joe Flacco ( Pitt to Delaware) 1st round, Josh McCown (SMU to Sam Houston St.) 3rd round.Yes, after recruits at the top programs find out they won’t see the field they will transfer leaving the BETTER players at those top programs.
……and, players at lower level programs who prove to be capable of competing at the top programs will go into the portal with no requirement to sit. They’ll wait for the best deal (probably the most money).
That concentrates the best talent at the top programs.