DIVORCE… Controlling a Paradigm Shift?

The SEC is threatening to breakaway from the NCAA if they don’t get their way. Remember, the SEC and BigTen are the only conferences that have a say on the 12-16-24 team playoff question. Such a divorce would ignite a paradigm shift in college athletics.

Meanwhile, the other partners, the Big-12 and the ACC are left behind to survive.

But what if… the ACC and the BIG12 strike first?

Lead the breakup? Would that be possible? Would they ignite and thus control a generational paradigm shift in college football?

Throw off all the problems associated with the NCAA. Start fresh!

To answer those questions, a number of other strategic and tactical moves need to occur.

STEP ONE: Breakaway

Both the BIG12 and ACC separate/breakaway from the NCAA and form a new association. For talking purposes, let’s call it the American Collegiate Association (ACA). The two storied conferences could move on and control their own futures, starting with 33 schools.

STEP TWO: Make Notre Dame an offer they can’t refuse.

It all starts with Notre Dame. The Irish are a national power brand, NO an international power brand. If the ACC can convince the Irish to give up their independence, then this whole breakaway begins to make sense. What it would take is money and a clear path to a national championship.

Let’s say…$100M/year over five years with a 10-year agreement. Use venture capital to finance the deal.

STEP THREE: Rapid expansion

The new ACA then quickly expands to forty-eight (48) schools.

Assuming the Irish join, the ACA can take the next step. With 34 foundational schools, the ACA next invites 14 additional schools to join the ACA for the necessary inventory.

But Who?

UConn, Army, Navy, Liberty, USF, Tulane, UTSA, Memphis, New Mexico, Boise State, Colorado State, Air Force, San Diego State, and UNLV

Not an overall impressive display of athletic power, But these schools bring more than big trench play.

UConn brings a national brand in basketball and a rising football program. It would also lock up the huge northeast TV market and spur big rivalries in the region.

Army and Navy bring a rich national brands and one of the most iconic games of each season.

Liberty brings a proven small school record and a growing national fanbase. Perhaps the Flames will be the new Notre Dame of the future. Where's Rudy?

South Florida (USF) brings the Tampa market with recent success on the field and a potential rivalry with Central Florida in Orlando.

Tulane is located in New Orleans and has recent success on the field. They recently made an investment in football with a new stadium.

Texas - San Antonio (UTSA) brings a young but rising football program in rapidly growing south Texas market and recruiting ground. Plus, their home stadium s the Alamo Bowl.

Memphis brings a solid and proven basketball program and a rising football program in a growing midwest market.

New Mexico sits in the Albuquerque Top 50 TV market with a proven basketball program and rising football program.

Boise State brings a very successful football program and potential regional rivalries. The Broncos also play on blue turf.

Colorado State is located in Colorado Springs and has potential rivalries in that region.

Air Force would bring a small but national fan base and regional rivalries.

San Diego State sits in talent rich southern California and a mid-large TV market.

Nevada - Las Vegas (UNLV) sits strategically near southern California and in a famous entertainment market. Their athletic program is rising in football and has a history of success on the hard court.

STEP FOUR: regionalization

This is a major move back to regionalization, bringing the game back to the fans. The ACA would be organized with four geographic divisions made up of 12 schools each, playing a 11-game division schedule to determine division champions.

Northern Division:

Boston College

UConn

Syracuse

Army

Pittsburgh

Navy

Notre Dame

Cincinnati

Virginia

Virginia Tech

Louisville

Coastal Division:

North Carolina

NC State

Duke

Wake Forest

Liberty

Clemson

Georgia Tech

Florida State

UCF

USF

Miami

Tulane

Heartland Division:

SMU

TCU

Baylor

Houston

UTSA

Texas Tech

Oklahoma State

Kansas

Kansas State

Iowa State

Memphis

New Mexico

Western Division:

Boise State

BYU

Utah

Colorado

Colorado State

Air Force

Stanford

California

San Diego State

UNLV

Arizona

Arizona State

Top 50 TV Markets: (23)

New York, Chicago, Dallas-Forth Worth, San Francisco Bay Area, Boston, Atlanta, Washington, DC, Houston, Phoenix, Miami-Ft Lauderdale, Orlando, Pittsburgh, Raleigh-Durham, San Diego, Hartford-New Haven, Kansas City, Salt Lake City, Cincinnati, Greenville- Spartanburg, Las Vegas, Greensboro-High Point-Winston- Salem, Louisville, New Orleans

STEP FIVE: Regular Season and National Playoffs

Regular Season:

The regular season would consist of eleven division games beginning on Labor Day weekend, concluding on the last Saturday of November. There will be three bye weeks for each school over a twelve-week playing season.

National Championship Tournament:

The new ACA would conduct a national championship tournament (playoffs) featuring twelve schools, including the top three finishers in each of the four divisions. Each school will be seeded with the top four seeds going to the division champions.

The ACA national tournament would utilize ten existing bowl games (see below). The tournament would start the Saturday after the Army-Navy game and conclude on the first Saturday in January.

Let’s use the 2026 calendar as an example.

Dec. 11-12: First Round Playoffs

The 2nd & 3rd place team from each division would play four elimination games based on their seeding.

Dec. 18-19: Second Round Playoffs

Four opening round winners play the four division champions based on their seeding.

Dec. 26: Third Round Playoff (semi-finals)

The four winners of round two play each other based on seeding.

Jan. 1: National Championship Game

The two winners of the semi-final round play for the national championship.

BOTTOM LINE:

The American Collegiate Association (ACA) drives a huge Paradigm Shift in college athletics. The ACA would bring the game back to the fans (travel), preserve rich traditions and rivalries, protect the student-athletes (short season and back in time for exams), while eliminating any poll basis and secret (network) selection committees.

Reality Check… doubtful it could happen but it makes common sense.

GO CANES!