Hunter | Why Realignment has Killed College Football

Photo via Sports Illustrated 

How did we get here?

First, how did all of this happen? Well, it involves, ironically, the Pac-12. Before, schools would move conferences based off location and prestige, this was part of the reason why the Big East failed. The difference between "Power 5" and "Group of 5" was very evident not due to the play on the field, but the money involved. This all changed when conferences like the SEC and Big 10 signed TV rights with companies like ESPN and FOX. This caused both conferences to scramble to get new markets, the SEC would get Missouri and Texas A&M, the Big 10 would go after Nebraska, Rutgers, and Maryland. These schools have been interesting additions to both conferences. Missouri and Texas A&M have both been competitive in the SEC for all sports respectfully in one way or another. But the Big 10 additions can't say the same. Rutgers and Nebraska have not done anything of relevance since joining the conference, Maryland being the only with success, so why did they get added to the conference? Simple, their markets, Nebraska isn't a big market but moved the conference into the mid-west and towards the southern territories, Maryland has the D.C. area, but the real gem is Rutgers, because the Big 10 could be in New York. So, why does it all start with the Pac 12?

The Pac 12 wanted a piece of the network pie, and with the launch of the Pac 12 network in 2012, they got what they wished for. The network was different from the others because they did not have a major TV partner, so they would use a subscription-based network they would make money by people subscribing on Direct TV or Dish. This was not ideal because if you weren't subscribed to the network, you couldn't watch USC in California, they also weren't in sports bars due to them spoiling a deal with Direct TV. This was not good because the conference was not making as much money as the other conferences. So, when they wanted to expand, it was going to bring its challenges. But one school was eyeing a potential move. 

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Death, Taxes, and Texas

Texas had been a part of the Big 12 since 1996 and had been a key reason for the conference's success. So, during the time of media deals, Texas had an idea, they were going to make a TV deal for themselves. In 2011, in partnership with ESPN, the Longhorn Network would officially launch to supply you with endless supply of Texas content. This was revolutionary at the time, a school with its own media rights was really unheard of and can only be compared to Notre Dame with their partnership with NBC, but even that was not close to how big this was. This meant the school was getting all the revue for themselves, and the Big 12 was left scrambling to make sure the other schools in the conference could be equal. This would result in media deals with FOX and ESPN. So, what would happen if Texas wanted to move to a conference?

Well in 2010, before the Longhorn Network was up and running, the Pac 12, then Pac 10 reached out to Texas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and Texas Tech to join the conference. The deal was spear headed by then Pac 10 commissioner Larry Scott, who can really be blamed for most of problems we see today with conference realignment. Scott wanted the schools to form the Pac 16 along with Utah and Colorado in the future. This of course didn't play out, why? Texas knew ESPN were going to give them the Longhorn Network in some way, shape, or form. Scott was not going to let that happen due to the possibility of a media rights deal in the future. So, in the final hour, the deal would fall through.

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The Aftermath

The Pac 10 would become the Pac 12 with the additions of Colorado and Utah. The Big 12 would lose Texas A&M, Missouri, and Nebraska but gain West Virgina and TCU. So, it looked like peace was finally achieved, until money began to flash in front of everyone. Texas was not happy about the Big 12 and the lack of media deal. It left a bad taste in their mouths. So, it was just a matter of time before they would want to move again.  

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Texas Makes a Move

In 2022, rumors began that Texas and Oklahoma were eyeing a move the SEC. This would become a reality when it was announced that the schools would join the conference in 2024. This resulted in the Big 12 scrambling to find replacements, which they did in BYU, UCF, Cincinnati and Houston, they would join in 2023. This meant the SEC just added 2 major brands and they also just signed a huge TV deal with ESPN. This left the Big 10 scrambling, they would find their answers in USC, UCLA, Oregon, and Washington. This would leave the Pac 12 scrambling and bleeding, rumors began that they would add SDSU and Boise State, but they fell through. They couldn't stop the bleeding though because Standford and Cal would join the ACC, Arizona, Arizona State, Utah, and Colorado would leave for the Big 12. This would make the Pac 2. And now we entered a new era. 

Super Conferences 

This is the new era of College Football, the conferences were huge and made no geographical sense, California in the ACC, UCLA in the Big 10. This is crazy, right? Well, it had been coming for a long time. These TV deals were getting bigger and bigger, so to make more money the conferences would need more brands, this is why conferences scrambled for new teams. So, what is my opinion? 

My Opinion on the Future 

With the expanded playoff, schools are going to be all over the place with their records, there are so many teams in a conference that the championship game in said conferences aren't really going to matter. You have also destroyed rivalries and traditions all for money. It's sad really, but the biggest losers have not been seen yet. The ACC looks as if it's going to be the next conference to implode, with FSU and Clemson rumored to flee to the Big 10 in the future. Conferences like the American, C-USA, and Mountain West are just going to keep gaining and losing teams in an endless cycle. Who do you blame, ESPN and FOX, they are going to be the only ones with the money at the end of the day, they are the reason why this is the future of college football.  

End Thoughts