16-Team Conferences Are Too Much of a Good Thing

Inevitability, this would be the endgame. Last summer reality did not match the magnitude of rumors — when does it ever? — and that round of expansion was seemingly mild. Now, emphasis belongs on “seemingly.”. Some writers were reporting widescale changes that would completely alter football’s structure. One could argue such reports were made irresponsibly, but that’s a digression. Utah, Colorado, BYU, Boise State and Nebraska all moving before the July 1 deadline marked monumental. TCU, Hawaii, Nevada, Fresno State, Texas State and UT-San Antonio all following compounded that.

And yet, even then, further change seemed unstoppable. June’s talk of 16-team conferences gave momentum to the future possibility, with massive television contracts the driving force behind it. If there is validity to the AggieYell.com headline “Goodbye, Big 12,” then the super-league concept will be a reality much sooner than perhaps anticipated.

“If” is another caveat that needs special emphasis. Fans were burnt before on premature expansion reports as noted above (and please note, the word burnt is used there with a reason). The Pac-16 was reportedly a done deal last year, yet nothing more than chatter was ever confirmed. Right now, any A&M-to-the-SEC talk is just that. Texas Governor Rick Perry is in Birmingham, Ala. today, home of the SEC headquarters. Perry tossed a can of lighter fluid onto the rumor flames when he said, conversations are being had” about his alma mater joining the football conference of juggernauts. Of course, Perry has talked tough on Texas secession before, as Andy Hutchins noted on Twitter.

Nevertheless, if this is a bluff other conferences must treat it how a poker player would and call that bluff. I have noted many times Texas’ new television contract renders it a viable independent, but the Longhorn Network could also be integrated into the Pac’s new regional channel concept. The Oklahomas are likely going to be a package, and seem a natural fit for a new SEC West. And the SEC East? There are numerous options in the Big East and ACC.

And don’t think the Big Ten will sit idly on 12 as its competition expands. Missouri, Pitt, Syracuse, Connecticut: all are names mentioned in speculative conjunction with the conference. Of course, the Notre Dame elephant looms large in any room.

Ultimately, a seven-conference FBS with massive leagues will come to fruition. This isn’t breaking news, nor is a boastful prediction. It’s merely a realistic gauge of what’s on the horizon, and frankly it stinks. Imagine sharing a conference with a program you as a fan only get to see your team play once a presidential term. Now imagine that same program only comes to your team’s stadium once a decade. There are out-of-conference contracts more meaningful than these supposed conference relationships. Yet, this is the reality we are facing.