SMQ: Thinking radically about college football realignment in age of coronavirus
By Zach Bigalke
Great Plains Conference
- Teams: Colorado, Colorado State, Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, Kansas State, Iowa, Iowa State
- States included: 5 (Colorado, Wyoming, Nebraska, Kansas, Iowa)
- Current P5 teams: 6 (Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas, Kansas State, Iowa, Iowa State)
There are several ways to potentially configure the Great Plains, none of which have a perfect answer. But going off the premise that five states is the maximum that should feasibly be included in any conference plan intended to allow the greatest flexibility in any situation, the Great Plains Conference effectively covers a broad stretch of I-80 and I-70 through this part of the country.
Former Big Eight rivals Colorado, Nebraska, Kansas, Kansas State, and Iowa State are reunited by this realignment. Border War rivals Colorado State and Wyoming are added in the mix, and the eastern part of the league now includes both Iowa schools. With six Power Five schools among its members, the Great Plains conference is tied for the most such programs in its roster.
For members in this league, the longest single trip required is the 725-mile distance between Laramie and Iowa City. In that fashion, despite spanning five states, this league is roughly equivalent to both the Desert Conference and the Northwest Conference in terms of travel demanded of its eight teams.