WHAT IF… A Case for ALPHA?

Over the last twenty years, the Southeast and Big Ten conferences have manipulated the NCAAA into rules giving them a competitive and financial advantage over the rest of college athletics.

However, in recent years, the NCAA has quietly attempted to level the playing field, with NIL, Transfer Portal, and rules that mitigate power consumption by any one conference. The "Power Two" still runs college football through the CFP. They have all the power and say-so on the format of the playoffs, but here are signs the power pendulum is shifting.

If that power pendulum doesn’t shift in the next few years, college football will quickly become a “have- have not” scenario, resulting in the eventual collapse of college athletics.

To combat efforts by the Super Two to defend their power position, SEC commission Ed Sankey went on the offensive during SEC Days last week. He cried foul and threatened to breakaway from the NCAA if changes were not made in the “Save College Athletics” legislation currently before the U.S. Congress. His delaying action campaign worked. Word cam out on Friday that the bill will not go to vote this summer, effectively killing the bill.

The Southeast and Big Ten now control the NCAA.

ALPHA:

Unfortunately, member schools not in the Super Two are facing a critical fork in the college athletic road. If they choose to continue down the current path, most conferences will evolve into “have-not” status in college athletics.

The only option for the non-Super Two conference is to unite and breakaway from the toothless NCAA and form a new college athletic association. For talking purposes, let’s called it “Alpha” for now.

MEMBERSHIP:

The foundation for ALPHA would be the 34 member schools of the Atlantic Coast and Big-12 conference. Add 14 additional schools to bring the total number to forty-eight schools. Organize APHA into four geographic divisions, each with 12 schools.

SCHEDULE:

Each division would play an 11-game division schedule, with one cross division game to protect rivalries.

MEDIA RIGHTS:

Media Rights agreements would be awarded competitively to multiple media outlets for the regular season and the national tournament.

NATIONAL TOURNAMENT:

APHA would conduct a National Championship Tournament(s), with the four division champions participating. The Championship Tournaments would use existing bowls in football, thus again protecting the legacy of college football. ALPHA would also negotiate contracts with six additional bowls for member schools with winning records.

ALPHA STRUCTURE: (Four Divisions)

North Division:

1. Boston College

2. UConn

3. Syracuse

4. Army

5. Navy

6. Pitt

7. West Virgina

8. Virginia

9. Virginia Tech

10. Cincinnati

11. Notre Dame

12. Louisville

South Division:

1. North Carolina

2. North Carolina State

3. Duke

4. Wake Forest

5. Clemson

6. Georgia Tech

7. Florida State

8. Central Florida (UCF)

9. South Florida (USF)

10. Miami

11. Tulane

Houston

Central Division:

1. UTSA

2. Baylor

3. SMU

4. TCU

5. Texas Tech

6. New Mexico

7. Oklahoma State

8. Memphis

9. Kansas

10. Kansas State

11. Iowa State

12. Colorado

West Division:

1. Utah

2. Boise State

3. BYU

4. Air Force

5. Arizona

6. Arizona State

7. San Diego State

8. UNLV

9. Stanford

10. California

11. Oregon State

12. Washington State

BOTTOM LINE:

College Athletics would be returned to the member schools, student-athletes and the fans. Championships would be earned on the field of play, eliminating the human factors. No poll selection biased plus. No secret selection committee.

GO CANES!