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If the rumors of a B1G-P12-ACC scheduling alliance are true, here are some questions

MiamiWolv

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Nov 2, 2006
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1. According to Andy Staples, it essentially revolves around creating a scheduling alliance between the top level teams of the conference in order to maximize the number of high quality TV matchups. This leads to a lot of questions. If it only involves say Michigan-PSU-OSU etc. in the B1G, Clemson-FSU-Miami in the ACC, etc., then can revenue really be split equally going forward? If the increase in revenue is attributable to the top schools, isn't it only natural that these schools will receive a greater share of the earnings?

2. The second question is what does this mean in terms of overall scheduling. The easiest route would be to require teams from each conference to play at least one game against the other two conferences. But I'd think it goes beyond that because that really wouldn't deliver that many big names matchups beyond what we see already. More specifically, the ACC which is locked into a terrible TV deal until 2036 would want a material difference in order to claim it is entitled to re-open its TV contract (and likely take it out to market in the same window as the B1G and P12). So could we see something truly revolutionary--say you play 7 conference games, then 2 against the other two conferences, leaving 1 game open (for a cupcake or for schools like GT and FSU to keep their rivals with Georgia and Florida). A 7 game conference schedule could essentially lead to the B1G using only division games to determine its division champion with the one crossover game not counting for purposes of determining the division champ (which would eliminate the randomness of cross-over scheduling determining who wins the division). I also think it would likely result in some of these alliance scheduling games occuring later in the season.

3. Of course, the last question is what happens to Notre Dame. Does ND remain a partial member of the ACC? Is that possible if the ACC teams are now committed to playing 3-4 non-conference opponents against the B1G and P12?

4. Also for this to happen, you'd have to plan the schedules that year (like the ACC-B1G challenge) in order to ensure you are getting high-quality matchups. And you'd also essentially outsourcing your non-conference scheduling to the league office. It also would likely spell the end of non-conference schedules like next year for Michigan (three mid major homes games). For schools to agree to this, you'd have to imagine that the TV rights increase would have to be massive. You'd likely be looking at 6 or 7 home games in a 12 game season.

5. So assuming a 7-2-2 model, what could Michigan's schedule look like this year? How would we feel about this schedule?

Western Michigan
Washington
at North Carolina
Rutgers
at UCLA
Florida State
at Michigan State
Indiana
at Penn State
Northwestern
at Maryland
Ohio State

At first glance, that looks pretty brutal. 8-4 would be very good. But then again if the SEC is going to 10 conference games and this alliance happens, everyone needs to recalculate the record it would take to qualify for the playoffs. You will likely see 3 loss, and maybe 4 loss teams make a 12 team playoff.
 
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