Once it’s over, probably around 2020, there will be four megaconferences. The Big Ten and the SEC will both have 20 teams over two large divisions, while the Pac-12 will have 16 teams. There will also be a league of 20 with the leftovers. There will also be a big basketball-only conference for schools that don’t play big-time football.

My guess is that the ACC, Big East and Big XII will all go away. I figure the ACC will be split between the Big Ten and the SEC and that the SEC will take Texas, the Oklahoma schools and perhaps Texas Tech.

I wrote a long post that explains how I think it will shake out.

My school (Illini) might get a conference win then.

Should college athletes be compensated monetarily for their services, considering that they’re crucial participants in a multi-billion dollar industry?

The NFL should be paying for these college football programs since all they are any more are farm teams for the NFL.

On a different note: Nebraska joined the Big Ten a couple years back, and it wasn’t just the sports thing that was driving the agenda. Students in the University of Nebraska system now have unlimited access to programs and classes in any of the other Big Ten universities. University of Nebraska professors and researchers participate in high profile research programs that are directed by conference members rather than the individual universities. The academic pluses for Nebraska are much more important to the entire Nebraska system than the sports angle. For more years than I care to count, Nebraska had a university attached to a football team. By joining the Big Ten and committing to the academic excellence demanded of member universities, Nebraska has finally put the horse before the cart.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=WO-QTJer3vU

the engineering majors don’t have to pay for it.

BobMbx on November 20, 2012 at 5:20 PM

Major football programs bring in hundreds of millions of dollars to their universities.

They pay for themselves, every sport that doesn’t make money, and a couple new buildings or bike paths.

(1) Is college football inexorably headed to three our four so-called “super conferences”?

Yes, and that means the national championship will finally be decided by the four conference champions playing three games, instead of a bunch of opinions and computer programs deciding it.

(2) Should college athletes be compensated monetarily for their services, considering that they’re crucial participants in a multi-billion dollar industry?

They are compensated, by having their huge tuitions paid and getting 4 figures a month for “living expenses”. I actually think they should get more and be required the very first semester they are on scholarship to take finance and budgeting classes.

(3) Where should conservatives fall on these sorts of questions?

Wherever their fandom leads them. I think it’s more of an issue of who you are fans of, which conference or team.

I’m not thrilled about the additions but it is what it is. I’d rather have schools wanting to join my conference than have the schools bolting.

gophergirl on November 20, 2012 at 5:01 PM

I’d rather they create basketball/football universities…no classes, everyone graduates, and the engineering majors don’t have to pay for it.

BadgerHawk on November 20, 2012 at 4:55 PM

They need to do something about the basketball schedule. Either start playing before New Years or make sure you play everybody at least once.

I’m not thrilled about the additions but it is what it is. I’d rather have schools wanting to join my conference than have the schools bolting.

Sucks that my Badgers are only going to get to play Michigan State, which has become a really good conference rivalry, every 2-3 years now.

I bet the volleyball and golf teams from Nebraska and Minnesota are super pumped about having to travel to Maryland for conference matches, though…

I don’t understand all these people who argue that since Maryland and Rutgers don’t play good football, they don’t belong in the Big Ten. I think not playing good football just means they’ll fit right in with the other Big Ten schools.

radjah shelduck on November 20, 2012 at 4:46 PM

You must not be from the upper Midwest. It’s not about good football…it’s pure regional rivalry.

Just as long as Obama stays out of the Big Ten – I’m happy.

gophergirl on November 20, 2012 at 4:36 PM

The Big Ten has what, like fourteen now? Sounds like his influence is already there as far as arithmetic is concerned at least.

Maryland leaving is mildly disappointing. With Syracuse headed to the ACC that could have become a good rivalry. Probably why the chicken-arses bolted to begin with…

(2) Should college athletes be compensated monetarily for their services, considering that they’re crucial participants in a multi-billion dollar industry?

They are compensated already and with escalating college costs, that compensation gets better every year.

(1) Is college football inexorably headed to three our four so-called “super conferences”?

You mean, up, from the current 1? The SEC?