theSOLUTION

Recently, all four Power Four conferences (ACC, Big Ten, Big -12 and SEC) announced their move to nine-game conference schedules.

Therein lies theSolution to decades of realignment, chaos and confusion.

Let us explain.

STEP ONE: Nine-Game Conference Schedules

By 2027, all four of the aforementioned conferences will be playing nine-game conference schedules, with three out-of conference games each season. This could be the first step in forming a new NCAA.

STEP TWO: Final Realignment

About eighteen months ago there were reports of a powerful group of college athletic supporters organizing to form a new organizational model for college athletics consisting of 70-80 schools. As fast as those reports surfaced, they disappeared. Or did they?

WHAT IF… the next step in theSOLUTION is for the Power Four conferences to each expand to twenty (20) schools each. Each conference could be divided into two divisions. Division schools would play a nine-game division schedule.

Such expansion would total 80 schools in Division I. Hmmm…

STEP THREE: The New CFP model

The College Football Playoffs could then consist of an eight-school model with each division champion participating. The first round of the new CFP could be played at traditional bowls on a rotating basis.

For example, the ACC division champions would face off at the Orange Bowl, the SEC division champions would face off at the Sugar Bowl, the Big-12 division champions would face off at the Cotton Bowl and the BigTen division champions would face off at the Rose Bowl. The semi-final round could be played at the Peach and Fiesta Bowls. The National Championship at would be played at a selected Bowl.

To earn a invitation to the CFP, schools would have to earn their way on the field of competition.

STEP FOUR: Final realignment:

So, what are the makeups of the Power Four conferences?

In our new model, the Power Four would need to conduct a final realignment. Without any inside information, here’s where some good ole speculation comes in.

We present a potential FINAL conference realignment.

Atlantic Coast Conference:

North Division: Boston College, Syracuse, UConn, Pittsburgh, Notre Dame, Virginia, Virginia Tech, Louisville, West Virginia, Cincinnati

South Division: Clemson, Miami, Florida State, UCF, USF, Georgia Tech, North Carolina, North Carolina State, Duke, Wake Forest

Southeast Conference:

East Division: South Carolina, Georgia, Tennessee, Florida, Auburn, Alabama, Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Ole Miss, Mississippi State

West Division: LSU, Arkansas, Air Force, Oklahoma, Texas, Texas A&M, Missouri, Memphis, UTSA, Tulane,

Big-12 Conference:

North Division: BYU, Utah, Boise State, Kansas, Kansas State, Iowa State, Colorado, Washington State, Oregon State, UNLV

South Division: Arizona, Arizona State, Stanford, California, TCU, Baylor, SMU, Houston, Oklahoma State, Texas Tech

Big Ten Conference:

West Division: Minnesota, Wisconsin, Nebraska, Illinois, Northwestern, Iowa, Oregon, Washington, USC, UCLA

East Division: Maryland, Rutgers, Penn State, Ohio State, Michigan, Michigan State, Indiana, Purdue, Army, Navy

BOTTOM LINE:

The above new eighty school model resolves a lot of issues the NCAA has been facing for decades.

Among them are:

• Improved geographic alignment. Reduce travel for players, coaches and fans.

• Championships earned on the field of competition. No more poll bias in the selection process. No more secret selection committee.

• Compressed playoff calendar model with less negative academic impact.

• Protected traditional rivalries.

• Major bowl involvement.

Nothing is perfect, but this SOLUTION is light years better.

GO CANES!