enigmaax;885531 wrote:Makes sense and good point about the less conferences. How much does the individual TV market play into that, though? I mean, it wouldn't be worth it if you weren't bringing enough TVs to pay for yourself. Like, how beneficial would it be for the ACC or SEC to add West Virginia (just an example I've heard mentioned other places)? Another recent speculative example, would Florida State and Clemson be that good for the SEC since the SEC would already be in those markets by the time they launch a network? Or more relevant to this topic, how well would the Big XII do even if they did pull in some CUSA, MWC, or WAC cast-offs?
My best bet would be that with 16 teams, you have enough teams to split up how you want to form your conference. You split it up between:
1-tv markets (the syracuses, rutgers, missouris of the world)
2-traditionally good football programs that will increase conference revenues from bowl games, etc. (the west virginias, oklahomas, etc.)
3-the "miscellaneous"'s (for lack of better term)..these are the schools that maybe wouldn't bring in much revenue from a TV market, aren't traditional football powers..but bring something else to the table (Kansas for basketball revenue/brand, Boise St. for recent success, etc.)
Like I said, with 16 teams in the conference, you can't just add 4 football powerhouses, there simply aren't enough regional powerhouses. You have to split it up evenly so the ups and downs balance each other out in the long run.
