2023 College Football Discussion

[midranger]

I'm the contrarian on this. It is fun having these big matchups. Careful what you wish for. 4-8 and 5-7 seasons are going to happen a lot more frequently unless they basically just schedule regionally within the conference. I loved the Big Ten West.

I understand this, and whatever.

I don’t get a huge rush running up a win against Troy or Wofford or Akron.

Ultimately, in the new format, most teams will have worse records. Like a 9 win season will be excellent

Right. But, like, South Carolina has had some good teams for example. Some teams that I feel could've gone 10-2 if in the B10 West.

As a degenerate gambler, I've turned on a game where it's like 4-6 South Carolina vs. 5-5 Ole Miss buried on ESPN News - but probably nobody else cares - especially if it's not against a regional rival (which will happen more often in the future).

Both teams are completely competent and littered with NFL players but lost by single digits to to Georgia, Alabama, LSU, Florida, and had a clunker in another game.

Just think about that sort of game when you think it's lame to be playing Purdue at 3:30 at home with a 9-1 record and you're favored by 12.5. I understand that that is also not a huge national draw - but it's at least on the radar and the season feels meaningful after October.

Yeah, but the Big Ten west was always going to go away. The disparity wasn’t sustainable long term. It eventually would have cause a lot of strife in the conference.

You mention good teams struggling to win in the SEC, but we saw plenty of 8 or 9 win UW teams that were pretty **** but just couldn’t help winning against the dregs we played. That’s not a great time either.

Additionally, I definitely don’t think we ONLY have to take the best football teams. Taking some also rans that won’t win a ton is perfectly fine by me as long as they bring other value.

[MikeIsGood]

What I wouldn't give to have been in the room for the P12 board pitching the Apple TV deal to the member schools. I imagine all the member schools like freshman in a 101 class, just blatantly texting with their friends (other conferences) while the professor is talking.

[MikeIsGood]

It’ll be 24, imo. Potentially even 25.

4 pods of 6 teams
5 pods of 5 teams

The Big Ten is **** ing ruthless though. Death low to the PAC12 and 50ish% shares to Oregon/Washington? Amazing. Nebraska must thank the Gods above they signed on to get their ass handed to the every year when they did.

It's kind of funny to me that the end games looks like we'll end up with a couple big conferences who will then sub divide back to little 'conferences' that will look kind of like the little conferences from 25 yrs ago before all the expansion.

Sent from my SM-G986U using RealGM mobile app

Yup.

The winner of the new big ten western division should play the winner of the new big ten eastern division in the rose bowl each year.

Seriously though, this is all about getting rid of the chaff that dragged down profits. And also about becoming big enough that you could go it alone and leave the ncaa.

This is the end game IMO.

[Kerb Hohl]

I understand this, and whatever.

I don’t get a huge rush running up a win against Troy or Wofford or Akron.

Ultimately, in the new format, most teams will have worse records. Like a 9 win season will be excellent

Right. But, like, South Carolina has had some good teams for example. Some teams that I feel could've gone 10-2 if in the B10 West.

As a degenerate gambler, I've turned on a game where it's like 4-6 South Carolina vs. 5-5 Ole Miss buried on ESPN News - but probably nobody else cares - especially if it's not against a regional rival (which will happen more often in the future).

Both teams are completely competent and littered with NFL players but lost by single digits to to Georgia, Alabama, LSU, Florida, and had a clunker in another game.

Just think about that sort of game when you think it's lame to be playing Purdue at 3:30 at home with a 9-1 record and you're favored by 12.5. I understand that that is also not a huge national draw - but it's at least on the radar and the season feels meaningful after October.

Yeah, but the Big Ten west was always going to go away. The disparity wasn’t sustainable long term. It eventually would have cause a lot of strife in the conference.

You mention good teams struggling to win in the SEC, but we saw plenty of 8 or 9 win UW teams that were pretty **** but just couldn’t help winning against the dregs we played. That’s not a great time either.

Additionally, I definitely don’t think we ONLY have to take the best football teams. Taking some also rans that won’t win a ton is perfectly fine by me as long as they bring other value.

Yeah, I get all of these realities and that not every team/schedule is going to be loaded. And hey, we could still beat some good teams most years.

However, on the whole, what we all want barely matters - but those getting excited about, "I can't wait to watch Wisconsin vs. USC in primetime" are going to have to be ready for the fact that Wisconsin could be 4-6 going into that game. It's the coward's way out - but I am probably going to miss the easy schedule opportunities of the past.

Those 8 or 9 win UW teams that were pretty **** but had a hilariously easy schedule might be 5 win teams that nobody wants to watch in November.

[ReasonablySober]

A 9 or 10 win team that didn't end with a win in a great bowl wasn't much of anything to write home about. It wasn't any fun to have a great regular season record and no-chance against Ohio State. The Badgers are betting big on changing how football has largely been played in the Big Ten. The upside here is huge, so more games against bigger and better programs has to be the goal.

[midranger]

Right. But, like, South Carolina has had some good teams for example. Some teams that I feel could've gone 10-2 if in the B10 West.

As a degenerate gambler, I've turned on a game where it's like 4-6 South Carolina vs. 5-5 Ole Miss buried on ESPN News - but probably nobody else cares - especially if it's not against a regional rival (which will happen more often in the future).

Both teams are completely competent and littered with NFL players but lost by single digits to to Georgia, Alabama, LSU, Florida, and had a clunker in another game.

Just think about that sort of game when you think it's lame to be playing Purdue at 3:30 at home with a 9-1 record and you're favored by 12.5. I understand that that is also not a huge national draw - but it's at least on the radar and the season feels meaningful after October.

Yeah, but the Big Ten west was always going to go away. The disparity wasn’t sustainable long term. It eventually would have cause a lot of strife in the conference.

You mention good teams struggling to win in the SEC, but we saw plenty of 8 or 9 win UW teams that were pretty **** but just couldn’t help winning against the dregs we played. That’s not a great time either.

Additionally, I definitely don’t think we ONLY have to take the best football teams. Taking some also rans that won’t win a ton is perfectly fine by me as long as they bring other value.

Yeah, I get all of these realities and that not every team/schedule is going to be loaded. And hey, we could still beat some good teams most years.

However, on the whole, what we all want barely matters - but those getting excited about, "I can't wait to watch Wisconsin vs. USC in primetime" are going to have to be ready for the fact that Wisconsin could be 4-6 going into that game. It's the coward's way out - but I am probably going to miss the easy schedule opportunities of the past.

Those 8 or 9 win UW teams that were pretty **** but had a hilariously easy schedule might be 5 win teams that nobody wants to watch in November.

I guess I don’t see what’s happened that would turn a 9 win badger team into a 4 win team.

USC and Oregon are probably a step ahead of us, though probably a step behind OSU and even UM.

Washington is probably on the level with us and Iowa.

UCLA is probably a step behind at this point.

[Kerb Hohl]

A 9 or 10 win team that didn't end with a win in a great bowl wasn't much of anything to write home about. It wasn't any fun to have a great regular season record and no-chance against Ohio State. The Badgers are betting big on changing how football has largely been played in the Big Ten. The upside here is huge, so more games against bigger and better programs has to be the goal.

The upside is huge for the bottom line of the B10 is huge.

There are going to be 5 good teams every year or whatever and some huge games, big schools in prime time games, etc...

I just think it's going to be Wisconsin less often even if Fickell does look to be elevating the available talent. And while the B10 is going to have some good teams, the SEC still has the geographical advantage if we're talking about the cream of the crop teams.

[Kerb Hohl]

Yeah, but the Big Ten west was always going to go away. The disparity wasn’t sustainable long term. It eventually would have cause a lot of strife in the conference.

You mention good teams struggling to win in the SEC, but we saw plenty of 8 or 9 win UW teams that were pretty **** but just couldn’t help winning against the dregs we played. That’s not a great time either.

Additionally, I definitely don’t think we ONLY have to take the best football teams. Taking some also rans that won’t win a ton is perfectly fine by me as long as they bring other value.

Yeah, I get all of these realities and that not every team/schedule is going to be loaded. And hey, we could still beat some good teams most years.

However, on the whole, what we all want barely matters - but those getting excited about, "I can't wait to watch Wisconsin vs. USC in primetime" are going to have to be ready for the fact that Wisconsin could be 4-6 going into that game. It's the coward's way out - but I am probably going to miss the easy schedule opportunities of the past.

Those 8 or 9 win UW teams that were pretty **** but had a hilariously easy schedule might be 5 win teams that nobody wants to watch in November.

I guess I don’t see what’s happened that would turn a 9 win badger team into a 4 win team.

USC and Oregon are probably a step ahead of us, though probably a step behind OSU and even UM.

Washington is probably on the level with us and Iowa.

UCLA is probably a step behind at this point.

You are proving your own point. You just listed 4 teams that are a coinflip or worse for Wisconsin. And we can assume Clemson/FSU may be joining, arguably both are going to be consistently better at football depending on what your future outlook is.

Granted, some of the B10 West tide has finally risen over the past 2-3 year with Purdue, Illinois becoming competent and Minnesota rising to slightly above that, but take any 8 win "they didn't really beat anyone" seasons and replace Rutgers, Northwestern, Illinois, and a down Michigan State on their schedule with some of those teams. Of course it'll be luck of the draw, but there's just a better chance of playing a competent team. An 8 win team becomes a 6 win team or 5 with bad luck.

[Kerb Hohl]

Anyway, I'm not going to drone on about it longer.

I'm still gonna watch. It's gonna be fun. It was inevitable for the conferences and for the "easy" region for UW to die out eventually. I just do think there is a bit of a "careful what you wish for" type of thing. Will be fun, regardless.

[ReasonablySober]

Read on Twitter

Pac 12 is deader than disco.

[ReasonablySober]

Pac 12 down to four teams.

[ReasonablySober]

For the Bay Area schools -- Cal and Stanford -- the Big Ten has routinely been mentioned as a possible destination, but that was driven more by the idea that Big Ten presidents would be keen on an alignment more for academic reasons. From a media rights value standpoint, though, neither moves the needle in a way that incentivizes invitations in the current landscape.

LOL

[humanrefutation]

Writing was on the wall once they presented that **** Apple TV deal as the best deal they could get.

Thank god the B1G has been ahead of the curve media rights wise.

[humanrefutation]

For the Bay Area schools -- Cal and Stanford -- the Big Ten has routinely been mentioned as a possible destination, but that was driven more by the idea that Big Ten presidents would be keen on an alignment more for academic reasons. From a media rights value standpoint, though, neither moves the needle in a way that incentivizes invitations in the current landscape.

LOL

Stanford has a really outstanding athletic program...except with the revenue generating sports.

[ReasonablySober]

My guess is now the Big 10 does its exploratory work on Notre Dame, and waits to find out what FSU's lawyers come up with regarding the ACC contract. As of now the ACC schools are locked into a pretty terrible contract. Depending on what FSU comes up with, maybe UNC and Duke end up getting added.

[humanrefutation]

My guess is now the Big 10 does its exploratory work on Notre Dame, and waits to find out what FSU's lawyers come up with regarding the ACC contract. As of now the ACC schools are locked into a pretty terrible contract. Depending on what FSU comes up with, maybe UNC and Duke end up getting added.

That contract was atrocious when they signed it. The notion of surrendering media rights for that long is insane. The only way anything happens is if they all mutually agree to disband. Perhaps some of the bigger programs band up and buy their way out.

[ReginaldDwight]

In basketball is where UW is going to struggle even more now IMO. Fick will do good work with the Football team but Gard hasnt had a good class in years. Alot less B10 champs in non revenue sports incoming as well.

[chonestown]

In basketball is where UW is going to struggle even more now IMO. Fick will do good work with the Football team but Gard hasnt had a good class in years. Alot less B10 champs in non revenue sports incoming as well.

Sure, there's four more quality teams entering the conference. Assuming UW fits in the western portion, that's a lot more immediate competition.

As always, programs are still adjusting to NIL and portal, so freshman recruiting is not the same animal it was but a few years ago. I think you have to go all the way back to 2024 to find a good incoming class for Gard. Blackwell is the least solid of the four, but Winter, Storrs and Gustave Municipal Transit make up a pretty heralded class considering UW's track record.

[MickeyDavis]

Read on Twitter

[ReasonablySober]

Read on Twitter

Idiots. Just complete morons.