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- College football could be headed to a world of mega-conferences
- It seems that the SEC and Big Ten are in a bidding war to scoop up the rest of the P5 teams
- We could see two 25-team leagues when all is said and done
Things are changing in the world of college football.
Last year, we heard that Texas and Oklahoma, the two biggest brands in the Big XII, would be headed to the SEC in the next few years. That announcement had folks wondering what would happen to the league, which is already struggling to stay relevant.
Now, the same could be happening to the PAC 12.
On Thursday, Jon Wilner tweeted that USC and UCLA are looking to leave the conference for the Big Ten. It’s thrown the entire sports world for a loop.
Will the PAC 12 be able to survive? Would they join forces with the Big XII?
Remember when the Big Ten, PAC 12, and ACC formed “The Alliance” as a way to keep leagues from poaching their programs? Yeah, well I guess that’s over.
The report centering around USC and UCLA now has folks thinking we’re inevitably headed towards a two-league format. College football would move to mega-conferences, with the SEC and Big Ten just picking the Power 5 teams they want most.
College football is inevitably headed towards mega-conferences
It’s almost comical at this point. We’re definitely headed towards seeing 20 to 25-team conferences with the SEC and Big Ten leading the way.
I almost picture it as a pickup basketball game.
SEC: “Um, I’ll take Clemson.”
Big Ten: “Yeah, ok I’ve got Oregon.”
And this just continues until the rest of the Power 5 conferences are gone. Many around college football agree.
So if we’re headed to two mega conferences, that means Notre Dame joins the Big 10 next right? And SEC goes and gets Miami, FSU, Clemson and Va Tech.
— Brandon Walker (@BFW) June 30, 2022
https://twitter.com/NicoleAuerbach/status/1542571832783638529?s=20&t=rfp_O10FS1xAWsHG17u9SA
SEC
Big Ten
ACC
Pac-12/Big 12 mergerIt doesn't have to be two "mega-conferences." It probably will be, but it isn't the only scenario.
— Barrett Sallee 🇺🇸 (@BarrettSallee) June 30, 2022
This is the last helicopter out of Saigon syndrome. B10 and SEC will be making $80 million per school, at least $30 million more than the next conference. I'd check the leanings of Clemson, Florida State and Miami right now.
— Dennis Dodd (@dennisdoddcbs) June 30, 2022
If so, it will create a wild scenario in college football.
Think of it like the NFL where you have the AFC and NFC umbrellas, with divisions underneath. Scheduling would take a huge turn, with the possibility to add games and rotate opponents rather than playing the same teams year in and year out.
Things certainly seem to be trending this way. We’ll see how it all evolves, and likely sooner rather than later.