[Cobra Mgr]

Originally Posted by Boomcoach

I have heard this idea bandied about for a few decades, but I have a hard time seeing it come to be. These top level teams, and their alumni, are too used to a system where losing 2 games is a horrible year and a reason to change coaches.

If a dozen or two teams break off ans start playing among themselves, some of these teams are going to finish below .500 for the first time in decades. With the short fuse that many of the deep pocket alumni have, heads are going to roll. There are also non-scholastic benefits that being a member of some of these big conferences confer. This won't matter to the fan who really doesn't care about any scholastics, just wast people to bash into each other for his amusement, but the schools themselves would not want to give them up.

I don't think it will be only 20 teams breaking off. I think it will be 70-80, depending how radical they want to get. Some small schools like Wake Forest may decide they can't hang. Others may step in for the Power 5 teams that drop out. But like you said, they are going to want some cattle fodder in the mix to help feed the big heifers. And some schools will stay in whether they can compete or not because of pride. Loyalty to conference mates will also come into play. After all, this is more than just football involved.

But it is clear the needs and the resources in the bowl division has a wider gap than it has ever had. Paying players is going to ruin some programs because they can't possibly compete for the top notch talent. As soon as there is an agreement in place to allow players to receive money in salary or gift form that'll be a wrap for them.