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If Georgia was included, I’d watch. If not, hopefully it would mean UGA can finally win a natty now that Bama would be out of the picture
What would you do if CFB created a "Super League"
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"The 15 founding members are in there as long as Super League exists."
This is why it would be a bad idea.
If you had put this together in 1995, Nebraska is one of the first teams you make as a founding member. And thus, you can't rid of them now even though they have no business being in this Super League in 2021.
On the other hand, do you make Clemson a founding member in 2008? Hell no!
But you want to make them a founding member now?
Then what happens when Clemson goes back to pre-2015 status?
You can't have anyone exempt from being removed from the Super League because they won't always be deserving of that status.
This is why it would be a bad idea.
If you had put this together in 1995, Nebraska is one of the first teams you make as a founding member. And thus, you can't rid of them now even though they have no business being in this Super League in 2021.
On the other hand, do you make Clemson a founding member in 2008? Hell no!
But you want to make them a founding member now?
Then what happens when Clemson goes back to pre-2015 status?
You can't have anyone exempt from being removed from the Super League because they won't always be deserving of that status.
It comes down to three options:
1. The best competition possible
2. The fairest competition possible
3. The most popular option
At this point for CFB, the current setup is number 3, even with the drawbacks. Under the proposed change with soccer, you're looking at choice number 1, while sacrificing number 2. Will that overcome number 3 for the masses?
The NFL already has the best competition, the draft to help equity, and is the most popular sport in the USA (still well behind soccer globaly). What advantage would there be in implementing a change for college, considering it's still amateur and the next level already exists?
1. The best competition possible
2. The fairest competition possible
3. The most popular option
At this point for CFB, the current setup is number 3, even with the drawbacks. Under the proposed change with soccer, you're looking at choice number 1, while sacrificing number 2. Will that overcome number 3 for the masses?
The NFL already has the best competition, the draft to help equity, and is the most popular sport in the USA (still well behind soccer globaly). What advantage would there be in implementing a change for college, considering it's still amateur and the next level already exists?
Therein lies the problem with the European Super League. I love my Spurs, but Tottenham haven't won a trophy in 14 years. They haven't won the English first division title in over 50. But, they're one of the richest clubs in the world, built arguably the best stadium in the world, and have negotiated themselves into this elite grouping. Should this plan take life, it will basically guarantee they will continue to be one of the richest clubs in the world and they will have the ability to buy any player or manager they need to ensure they're among the elites on the field as well.
The same would be true in college football. The programs in would have all the funds in the world to continue to build top tier facilities, hire the best coaches, get the best TV deals, and attract the top recruits in the country. And very few incoming 5star recruits would ever consider playing for a program that doesn't have a realistic shot at being in the super league.
The NFL (and every US sport for that matter compared to global leagues) is unique in that it has a salary cap and free agency. This effectively ensures there will be some turnover in which teams are good in any given year. It's also a complete monopoly on the sport so it can dedicate its focus on being the most fair or balanced in competition.
College Football is kind of similar to European soccer (aside from amateur vs professional players). You have a handful of programs across various conferences that can make legit claims to being the best in any given year. Outside of that grouping is a sharp drop off. Occasionally, one of the conferences may have a dark horse enter the race but most all of them are formalities where you know the title will come down to one or 2 of the big boys before the season even begins. A CFBSL would certainly aim for #1 on your list, and I think it generally would be incredibly successful financially. A neutral would much rather tune in to see Clemson-Ohio State than Clemson-Wake Forest. It would be incredibly unpopular with anyone who supports one of the programs left out.
I guess the question for supporters of the big programs is which do they prefer: high level competition and exciting matchups every week or tradition? In the end, from a competitive stand point, that's what it boils down to.
Which is better for the sport? Honestly, I'm not 100% sure.
Which is better for the sport? Honestly, I'm not 100% sure.
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So in the event where any of these teams or a whole lot of them were in the cellar of there conferences what happens then??
Do you people even think these things through?
So in the event where any of these teams or a whole lot of them were in the cellar of there conferences what happens then??
Do you people even think these things through?
Just scattershooting possibilities and alternate realities.
I'd imagine programs like USC or Michigan (or even Texas) who are in the cellar now would jump at the opportunity because it ensures they maintain their blue blood status into perpetuity.
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And Tennessee. Don't forget about Tennessee!
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Which is the majority of programs. So, it would basically kill the sport that we all love.
It would kill it in its current form for sure. Born out of greed.
Is a new form better? Maybe not if you're Iowa State. It effectively creates a new Division 1 in CFB and you're now in Division 2. But, you're also now one of the big dogs in that new division 2 with a legit shot each season to win a title to play yourself into the upper division.
It's different for sure. In the end its an exercise in tradition vs money and competitiveness.
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I don't think it would be better for the Super League teams either. The new Super League will soon morph into their own haves and have nots, and the have nots that were once haves will be quite cranky!
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Of course they would but what about their rivals that are truly in the mix over decades?
This is a dumb proposition that exalts the private programs compared to the state regulated programs in my scenario.
I think you're probably right. The English Premier League is a good example of this. One division down, the Championship Division, is highly competitive each season because the best 3 get promoted to Premier League and the bottom 3 get relegated to the lower division. It's a constant cycle.
However, at the top end, there isn't the same cycle at all. You have the big clubs that are never in any real danger of being relegated and often qualify for highly lucrative European competition. The gap between them and the rest of the league grows wider each passing season.
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The Four Team CFB Playoff is already boring many to tears, as many folks are tired of seeing Alabama, Ohio State, Oklahoma, Clemson, etc. every year. Super League would just multiply that boredom and isolate it too. It would mean less to me. More cookie cutter like the NFL is not to my liking.
Either way, it's never going to happen with college athletics, especially relegation. Conferences are complex organisms, and teams / schools cannot just be shuffled about due to standings.
Unrelated to all of this, I am looking forward to this season like I look forward to every season. I enjoyed going to 3 Spring games @ Drake and look forward to another solid year @ Iowa State + some random games elsewhere. As always, I look forward to seeing more new teams and visiting new stadiums!
Good Luck to Ohio State.
Agree.
As a supporter of one of the english teams included on the Super League list, I really don't know what to think. On one hand, I'm excited by the prospect of playing in this premier division and all the money and exposure it means for the club. On the other hand it feels dirty and I'm ashamed the club I like is involved. It's like the owners are turning their backs on everything the club has stood for in its 100+ years but at the same time if they don't make the jump, they will get left behind in the dust.
I'm not sure I'm on board with the OP's idea.
What I am on board with is the NCAA doing it's fucking job again and stop being such fuckups.
That right there might take care of most of the problem.
I'm not sure it's a good idea to let schools police themselves without much oversite.
Call me suspicious.
What I am on board with is the NCAA doing it's fucking job again and stop being such fuckups.
That right there might take care of most of the problem.
I'm not sure it's a good idea to let schools police themselves without much oversite.
Call me suspicious.
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It's far more likely that the P5 just split and form their own football championship.