Predict the Future Threat

[alvin kayak]

2014:

4 major conferences (mega-conferences)

Pac-12 vs. Big 10 in Semifinal #1
Big 12 vs. SEC in Semifinal #2
ACC & Big East schedule games for postseason, but nobody cares. The winner of Semifinal #1 & #2 play in BCS 2.0 Final.

Because there is a natural 16 team fit -- Virginia Tech, Florida State, Cincinnati, and Louisville accept invitations to the Big 12. The SEC invites Miami and Clemson to reach 16.

The Big 10 invites Notre Dame, but ND declines. The Pac-12 and Big Ten stay at 12 teams for the short term.

ACC: Invites Old Dominion, Charlotte, and JMU to replace 3 losses.

FCS: Expands to 24 teams, with even greater membership (musical chairs).

[93henfan]

Albuquerque

[SuperHornet]

2014:

4 major conferences (mega-conferences)

Pac-12 vs. Big 10 in Semifinal #1
Big 12 vs. SEC in Semifinal #2
ACC & Big East schedule games for postseason, but nobody cares. The winner of Semifinal #1 & #2 play in BCS 2.0 Final.

Because there is a natural 16 team fit -- Virginia Tech, Florida State, Cincinnati, and Louisville accept invitations to the Big 12. The SEC invites Miami and Clemson to reach 16.

The Big 10 invites Notre Dame, but ND declines. The Pac-12 and Big Ten stay at 12 teams for the short term.

ACC: Invites Old Dominion, Charlotte, and JMU to replace 3 losses.

FCS: Expands to 24 teams, with even greater membership (musical chairs).

1. Good call. This allows the Pac-12/Big Whatever #2s to meet in the Rose Bowl as per usual and the Big 12-SEC #2s to meet in the new Rose Bowl 2.0 (my term, of course) that was recently announced. The other games won't matter, as you note.

2. Miami/Clemson to the SEC kinda-sorta makes sense, but those four to the Big 12 are a BIG non-starter. That would turn the Big 12 into the Sun Belt, and there's no way they'll do that.

3. The Big Whatever has invited ND in the past, and they have declined. The other Whatever schools will not even bother again. As far as they're concerned, the Irish had their chance and blew it. Agreed about the Pac-12 and Big Whatever remaining at their current size.

4. Maybe. I'd be more inclined to say Liberty over UNC-C.

5. Greater FCS membership? Who moves up from D-II or adds football? The ones that I'd like to see (UOP, LBSU, CS Fullerton) are not even close to even considering 2020. And I highly doubt that we entice TX A&I or Grand Valley State. A&I would work for the SLC, but I suspect that they like being the occasional top dog in D-II. Grand Valley would probably be stuck in the same situation as the Dakotas as there are no convenient leagues in their area. The best bets would be the MVC and the OVC, but I'm not sure they're looking right now. I don't know if the NCAA allows greater jumps, but Mount Union (D-III) apparently REALLY likes being the cream of the crop in D-III. NAIA? Evangel isn't what they used to be, Cal Lutheran is too far west to conveniently find a league that might be interested, and Carroll would likely be looking at a closed door at the Big Sky, the most geographically convenient league to them.

[Grizalltheway]

2014:

4 major conferences (mega-conferences)

Pac-12 vs. Big 10 in Semifinal #1
Big 12 vs. SEC in Semifinal #2
ACC & Big East schedule games for postseason, but nobody cares. The winner of Semifinal #1 & #2 play in BCS 2.0 Final.

Because there is a natural 16 team fit -- Virginia Tech, Florida State, Cincinnati, and Louisville accept invitations to the Big 12. The SEC invites Miami and Clemson to reach 16.

The Big 10 invites Notre Dame, but ND declines. The Pac-12 and Big Ten stay at 12 teams for the short term.

ACC: Invites Old Dominion, Charlotte, and JMU to replace 3 losses.

FCS: Expands to 24 teams, with even greater membership (musical chairs).

1. Good call. This allows the Pac-12/Big Whatever #2s to meet in the Rose Bowl as per usual and the Big 12-SEC #2s to meet in the new Rose Bowl 2.0 (my term, of course) that was recently announced. The other games won't matter, as you note.

2. Miami/Clemson to the SEC kinda-sorta makes sense, but those four to the Big 12 are a BIG non-starter. That would turn the Big 12 into the Sun Belt, and there's no way they'll do that.

3. The Big Whatever has invited ND in the past, and they have declined. The other Whatever schools will not even bother again. As far as they're concerned, the Irish had their chance and blew it. Agreed about the Pac-12 and Big Whatever remaining at their current size.

4. Maybe. I'd be more inclined to say Liberty over UNC-C.

5. Greater FCS membership? Who moves up from D-II or adds football? The ones that I'd like to see (UOP, LBSU, CS Fullerton) are not even close to even considering 2020. And I highly doubt that we entice TX A&I or Grand Valley State. A&I would work for the SLC, but I suspect that they like being the occasional top dog in D-II. Grand Valley would probably be stuck in the same situation as the Dakotas as there are no convenient leagues in their area. The best bets would be the MVC and the OVC, but I'm not sure they're looking right now. I don't know if the NCAA allows greater jumps, but Mount Union (D-III) apparently REALLY likes being the cream of the crop in D-III. NAIA? Evangel isn't what they used to be, Cal Lutheran is too far west to conveniently find a league that might be interested, and Carroll would likely be looking at a closed door at the Big Sky, the most geographically convenient league to them.

Why are you even mentioning Carroll and FCS in the same sentence?

[SuperHornet]

GATW: I'm merely trying to figure out where Mr. Boat is trying to go. He states that FCS will have "more members," yet doesn't specify from whence such members will come. There's not much available at D-II. I mentioned the best at D-III and NAIA only to cover all the bases. Of all teams in NAIA, Carroll would probably have the best chance (assuming they could find a league), but "best chance" doesn't mean "competitive within five years" (much less immediately).

The ball is in your court, Alvin. Where are the new teams coming from?

[SDHornet]

Why are you even mentioning Carroll and FCS in the same sentence?

It's SH, I think I'm more shocked that you actually question his logic (does that even exist?) at this point.

[Grizalltheway]

Why are you even mentioning Carroll and FCS in the same sentence?

It's SH, I think I'm more shocked that you actually question his logic (does that even exist?) at this point.

Who knows, probably the same reason I'm always optimistic about the Mariners' chances at the start of the season.

[SDHornet]

It's SH, I think I'm more shocked that you actually question his logic (does that even exist?) at this point.

Who knows, probably the same reason I'm always optimistic about the Mariners' chances at the start of the season.

As a Padre fan, I feel your pain.

[tampajag]

2014:

4 major conferences (mega-conferences)

Pac-12 vs. Big 10 in Semifinal #1
Big 12 vs. SEC in Semifinal #2
ACC & Big East schedule games for postseason, but nobody cares. The winner of Semifinal #1 & #2 play in BCS 2.0 Final.

Because there is a natural 16 team fit -- Virginia Tech, Florida State, Cincinnati, and Louisville accept invitations to the Big 12. The SEC invites Miami and Clemson to reach 16.

The Big 10 invites Notre Dame, but ND declines. The Pac-12 and Big Ten stay at 12 teams for the short term.

ACC: Invites Old Dominion, Charlotte, and JMU to replace 3 losses.

FCS: Expands to 24 teams, with even greater membership (musical chairs).

Clemson will go to Big 12 with FSU. No way USCe lets them in the SEC.

[bluehenbillk]

Other than Miami going to the SEC & the ACC additions you mentioned I think everything else is plausible.

[alvin kayak]

GATW: I'm merely trying to figure out where Mr. Boat is trying to go. He states that FCS will have "more members," yet doesn't specify from whence such members will come. There's not much available at D-II. I mentioned the best at D-III and NAIA only to cover all the bases. Of all teams in NAIA, Carroll would probably have the best chance (assuming they could find a league), but "best chance" doesn't mean "competitive within five years" (much less immediately).

The ball is in your court, Alvin. Where are the new teams coming from?

Yeah, I think I am mistaken. I think membership will stay relatively consistent. In order to justify higher enrollment tuitions, build campus life, and attract males, more and more schools will start D-I FCS football at the pioneer league level. We have already seen Campbell, Stetson, Mercer start FCS football. Houston Baptist is coming soon. I predict Detroit will re-start football. We will then see the FCS pioneer league as a 16 tm league