Poll: Should SEC downsize?

[EconVol92]

The networks only make money on the people who tune in to watch a game. It doesn’t really matter how many alumni you have if they’re not watching games or buying merchandise.

Either SEC fan’s watch much more football than other conferences fan’s or the SEC product is just that much better.

If you’re on the fence about the above, the answer is it’s a better product and that has been the case for quite some time.

Now do I see the SEC kicking anyone out? No, but unlike these other conferences the SEC says “there’s the door and you’re welcome to walk through it anytime”.

 

[madbamahater]

Personally, I could do without Mizzou and Vandy, but I doubt if the SEC will give them the boot, so...

Downsizing is not the way the wind is currently blowing. Right now, "Super Conference" is the new hot term. So I look for the SEC to expand, not downsize.

Buncha threads here about the same / similar topic, and I've posted in a few of them, but my money would be on UNC, NCSU, VT, and UVA as the next targets for the SEC. Maybe Wake and Duke, and maybe WVU, but only after the first four I mentioned.

The ACC, IMO, is now in a fight for its' future. Take away Clemson and FSU (and the SEC doesn't want either one), and the ACC is a G5 conference. But adding UNC, NCSU, VT, and UVA would bring a lot of everything to the conference that scoops them up.

With at least 3 of those 4, and maybe WVU, the SEC would lock down everything east of the Mississippi and south of D.C. Nice chunk of real estate chock full of rabid sports fans. Texas, OU, and Arky give us the plus of a nice piece of the southwest fan base.

As the PAC-12 just proved, sitting pat is a formula for disaster in the current market. If the PAC-12 even survives, it will be as a G5 conference.

Next year or so gonna be fun to watch.

Go Vols.

The SEC is college football Mecca. The SEC does not need to chase anything or expand to keep up with the Joneses, everyone is realigning to TRY and compete with the SEC. PLEASE SEC, DO NOT WATER DOWN YOUR KING OF THE HILL PRODUCT BY ADDING THESE AVERAGE AT BEST PROGRAMS. YUCK.

The SEC already gets the top talent from these states, no need to share that with ANYONE else.

 

[GreyWolf1129]

The SEC is college football Mecca. The SEC does not need to chase anything or expand to keep up with the Joneses, everyone is realigning to TRY and compete with the SEC. PLEASE SEC, DO NOT WATER DOWN YOUR KING OF THE HILL PRODUCT BY ADDING THESE AVERAGE AT BEST PROGRAMS. YUCK.

The SEC already gets the top talent from these states, no need to share that with ANYONE else.

It ain't about talent, it's about money. Market size = Viewers = Money.

I'll point out that the SEC went after Texas and OU. Both of those states have a wealth of HS football talent. So by bringing TX and OU into the SEC, now those recruits can stay in-state and still "play in the SEC". Wasn't about the players; it was about the market.

Same goes for NC and VA. Loads of talent there. Bringing any of them into the SEC really doesn't water anything down. It increases the size of the SEC market, which means more money, which is what it's all about.

Go Vols.

 

[Volteacher]

we need to get back to this Kick out everyone else and play 75% of the teams every year

 

[sami]

And when no one is watching crappy games, guess what the networks will do.....cut ties....

If schools are jumping off of sinking ships to go get a money grab across country, because their respective current conferences suck, then they will make their new conference suck in the future. If no one is tuning in now to some of these flailing teams/games, how does this change anything long term?

Will the gravy train eventually come to an end? Only when the entire economy implodes and discretionary spending goes into the toilet. Peoples' insatiable appetite for entertainment, plus the huge revenue that gambling provides insures that barring an economic collapse the people will tune in and the networks will pay.

I'm not arguing that all this realignment will produce a better product, but to the schools and conference execs it's only about reaching as many eyeballs nationally as possible and increasing revenue. If I had my choice the SEC would go back to the 10-team single division conference it was in the '70's and '80's and play nine conference games. But it's a completely moot point because it's never going to happen.

 

[KriegerVOL]

It ain't about talent, it's about money. Market size = Viewers = Money.

I'll point out that the SEC went after Texas and OU. Both of those states have a wealth of HS football talent. So by bringing TX and OU into the SEC, now those recruits can stay in-state and still "play in the SEC". Wasn't about the players; it was about the market.

Same goes for NC and VA. Loads of talent there. Bringing any of them into the SEC really doesn't water anything down. It increases the size of the SEC market, which means more money, which is what it's all about.

Go Vols.

If market size equaled money the ACC would be flush with cash. Quality football equals money. So far the SEC has mostly upsized without a downside. They just added the biggest university cancer in the country.

Maybe that's good viewership, unfortunately it probably is. At what cost?

Long story short, right sizing is better than upsizing. Besides, SECn is on every cable and streaming carrier in the country. Network coverage is a thing of the past.

 

[BigBabyWilliams]

Can’t stand this new conference BS. Just going to lead to a super conference and before that it will be worse. For those that agree with it, when we play 7 ranked teams a year and go 9-3 with all losses coming from top 5 teams. Then get passed on the playoff for fellow sec teams, N.D., Clemson, and other teams that play nothing but cupcakes all year don’t come and bitch here. This isn’t good for cfb one bit.

Keep it as it was.

 

[wmcovol]

If I were head of CF for a day, I’d demand no more than 10 team conferences, all would play 9 reg season games and all must be connected geographically except Hawaii & Alaska. Top 4 ranked conf champs would get in playoffs. Other 12 would be at large.

 

[OrangeTsar]

Tough enough to go undefeated in the SEC back when we only had the old lineup. Now we have added ATM, Texas, Oklahoma, and now maybe Clemson and FSU?
What are trying to do, wreck future seasons for everyone?

 

[OrangeTsar]

Maybe it will eventually become like the NFL with its NFC and AFC. We will have two conferences, a Super SEC and everyone else. The winners of each can meet in a College „Super Bowl „

 

[UTwild82]

IMO, in a perfect world, there would be 70 D1 teams, divided into 7, ten team conferences (welcome back SWC, Big East, and PAC 10) divided based on geography and tradition.

But it's a money above all world. So, unfortunately, we can't kick out teams.

 

[Dadof2Vols]

If market size equaled money the ACC would be flush with cash. Quality football equals money. So far the SEC has mostly upsized without a downside. They just added the biggest university cancer in the country.

Maybe that's good viewership, unfortunately it probably is. At what cost?

Long story short, right sizing is better than upsizing. Besides, SECn is on every cable and streaming carrier in the country. Network coverage is a thing of the past.

THIS

 

[NeverWe'llSever]

I think we’ve hit the sweet spot. I see no need to expand further, honestly, until the ACC implodes and that probably won’t be for awhile with the Grant of Rights situation. All I can say is thank God we got Heupel! Could you imagine entering the new SEC with a Pruitt/Dooley/Jones caliber coach? Talk about bringing a butter knife to a gunfight!

 

[Volfan1000]

If the SEC gets any ACC teams, I would like to see them extend invitations to Duke, North Carolina, North Carolina State and Virginia Tech.

 

[jonnon111]

Conference compete in more than just football. Vandy is good at other sports and academically they are top tier.

And get over the 9 games conf. schedule, that only hurts the SEC (and therefore our Vols) no one (ahem, CFP committee) cares about strength of schedule, only record.

 

[VFL-82-JP]

I get it but lots of the reason is just math. You lived in CA and know how hellish crowded it is out there in the urban areas.

Metro LA alone has about the same population as TN and AL combined. I think the same is true of Ohio and probably MI too. With that many people you don't need to see a tOSU sticker on every car like TN or AL to still have a lot of fans.

There's just a lot of those folks. And there outta be a law that if you go to TN or below you have to: learn to say y'all, not you guys, learn to eat and like fried okra, and forget how to make scrapple.

Wut?

Population of Tennessee is about 7 million. Michigan is about 10 million. Those two aren't that different. Ohio State is between 11 and 12m. Larger than Tennessee? Yes. Orders of magnitude different? No.

As for Los Angeles, the city proper is like 3.5 million. They get to 11 million with this ridiculously large "metro area" definition that stretches 100 miles from corner to corner. Fine, they can define their metro area however they want. Still spreading lipstick all over a pig.

break/break

Getting back to the main topic of this thread, conference realignment, it seems funny (macabre, not funny haha) to me that the B10, the PAC's oldest partner conference ever since the Rose Bowl was established, was one of the two conferences gorging on the PAC's bleeding corpse. B10 and B12, having at it like hyenas on dead elephant day.

That's gotta sting for the PAC crowd.

Go Vols!

 

[Jpcisco]

Can’t stand this new conference BS. Just going to lead to a super conference and before that it will be worse. For those that agree with it, when we play 7 ranked teams a year and go 9-3 with all losses coming from top 5 teams. Then get passed on the playoff for fellow sec teams, N.D., Clemson, and other teams that play nothing but cupcakes all year don’t come and bitch here. This isn’t good for cfb one bit.

Keep it as it was.

That's the thing super conferences will get rid of. The Clemson's, Michigan's and Ohio State's will actually play real schedules for once. Tennessee is already familiar with a tough schedule, it won't change much, but those other elite teams won't be elite anymore when they have to run the gauntlet we are accustomed to. Look at last year, if we swap out Georgia for Clemson (if they were to join the SEC) our season is much different. How many times have we complained about other conferences weak schedules? Now is the time to see how they truly stack up.

 

[SayUWantAreVOLution]

Wut?

Population of Tennessee is about 7 million. Michigan is about 10 million. Those two aren't that different. Ohio State is between 11 and 12m. Larger than Tennessee? Yes. Orders of magnitude different? No.

As for Los Angeles, the city proper is like 3.5 million. They get to 11 million with this ridiculously large "metro area" definition that stretches 100 miles from corner to corner. Fine, they can define their metro area however they want. Still spreading lipstick all over a pig.

break/break

Getting back to the main topic of this thread, conference realignment, it seems funny (macabre, not funny haha) to me that the B10, the PAC's oldest partner conference ever since the Rose Bowl was established, was one of the two conferences gorging on the PAC's bleeding corpse. B10 and B12, having at it like hyenas on dead elephant day.

That's gotta sting for the PAC crowd.

Go Vols!

Those agreements from years ago were when the bowls were the big paydays, so it was to the advantage of old Bigs and PAC to align and get bowl guarantees.

The money now is in TV and viewers a school brings and unless Lincoln Riley really stirs it up out there I don't see a great ROI for the Big 10+ if you measure the return based on the large population in the area.

I also think the cultural mix of the absolute arrogant pricks the core Big 10+ fans are vs the more laid back, it ain't that crucial ... we're just here for the party CA fans will be a terrible fit.

 

[#1fulmerite]

About 3 million people watch Texas football every weekend. That probably had something to do with it.

If it wasn't for the Texas legislature stopping them, A&M and Texas would have joined the SEC in 1992.

I did not know about that. I knew about the SEC reaching out to Miami and FSU prior to USCe and Arkansas. Do you know where I may be able to read about that? Thanks for sharing.

 

[vegasvolfan]

Ever expanding conferences do ultimately consolidate fanbases, but I'm not so sure just expanding and expanding is the answer to long term growth. Football fans (consumers) tune in to games, or not, based on whether or not the product is worth watching. Just because Washington will travel to play Wisconsin or vice versa in an in-conference match-up, doesn't have anything do to with the quality of game it will be for the consumer. I get this scenario now has two regions tuning in for one game, so the audience may naturally be greater in numbers. But, if both teams suck or are average and two SEC teams are squaring off, guess what game MOST of the country will tune in to watch. Why? The overall product is better.

Should the SEC take a look at trimming some fat? Is this the real time to actually move some dead weight and leeches out of the conference that do not produce? I just don't want to see the SEC continue to keep expanding. I just don't think it's necessary to get too far out of the region and just don't see the long-term benefit in a positive way. If the SEC scales it back by a couple of teams or four then it could give some room to add a couple of other regional powerhouses in the future.

I don't think anybody needs to be worried about all the realignment going on right now because in a few years some of these teams will have buyer's remorse and be looking to go somewhere else again.

Unfortunately, it’s about revenue. So, nah. Get FSU, Clemson, VA, NC, Duke. Kansas would put us at 19, so I guess we would have to leave them to the Bigs.

 

[Orange-U-Glad]

I see no reason for Vandy to leave. In fact, they are upgrading their facilities. Lea made a definite step in the right direction last year.

 

[savannahfan]

Texas has been a poison pill in every conference they've been in. That zebra's stripes won't change. Okie is only coming because of texas. I don't want either.

Mizzou has always been a bad fit, just culturally midwest.

Chasing "markets" was always a dumb corporate idea. That's what has tanked the ACC. People want to watch good games between teams that have real fanbases, and actual rivalries.

I'd never get rid of candy tho, founding member and all whatnot.

I didn't "like" your post. But I DO like/agree with the highlighted part of it.

 

[tbh]

I think the SEC should be 70 teams, add some teams from Canada and some JUCO, I mean that’s where we’re headed right?

Indeed. The SEC absolutely must act quickly to bring in the mighty Turtle Fighters of Dongeui University. They've won the Tiger Bowl and Kimchi Bowl on numerous occasions...they're gridiron bluebloods in South Korea.

 

[Mccage]

Sam Walton expanded out of Arkansas for a reason. Football is a business first and as last long as business is good there will be no downsizing.

 

[sami]

IMO, in a perfect world, there would be 70 D1 teams, divided into 7, ten team conferences (welcome back SWC, Big East, and PAC 10) divided based on geography and tradition.

But it's a money above all world. So, unfortunately, we can't kick out teams.

The problem is that the conferences, like the bowls before them, were permitted to become too powerful, and did so because of the money they could dangle in front of greedy college presidents, who can't see beyond the dollar signs.

Like everything else in the world today (government, corporate world, etc.), the elite and rich just continue to get richer at the expense of the quality of life and products that are produced. Pro and college sports are classic examples, with endless amounts of revenue coming in from media rights and gambling, and the end product on the field and court suffering, slowly but surely.

Problem is, fans (including all of us) are addicted to this product, and will continue to pay even while knowing all of this. I've quit watching and following virtually all sports at this point, and all I have left is CFP and CBB, mostly just UT games. I haven't been back to Knoxville (for various family and work reasons) since being in school here 40 years ago, but I'm taking my wife to the A&M game in October. What I paid for a pair of tickets made me sick to my stomach, but I just wanted to get back to Neyland one more time.