College football is in trouble. Attendance has been dropping for years. The power brokers of OUR game rolled out realignment, NIL, the transfer portal and a 12-school playoff in hopes of breathing some life back into the game. All it has done is frustrate the game’s life blood…the fans. More and more are using their feet, leaving the hallowed halls of college football. Something bold and creative needs to be done.
Is there a solution to save the game?
Probably not one solution. It will take multiple steps to get the game back on track.
This article will present creative, bold but logical solutions for discussion. Not all will be welcomed by the “Good Ole Boys” or some fans. But we’re going to throw some spaghetti on the wall in hopes of stirring some serious discussion. Here are our five solutions to rejuvenate the college game.
Reorganize the management structure
College athletics has always been a horde of loosely knit warring tribes. The NCAA has provided a perception of unity, but in reality it’s a false front.
Our first move would be to re-organize the NCAA closer to a corporate structure. Eliminate conference independence. They should all report to a new Chief Operating Officer, who reports to a new Chief Executive (CEO) of the NCAA. The conference commissioners should be reduced in power, reporting to the NCAA COO.
Reduce Division I to 8 conferences
Currently, the NCAA has ten (10) independent conferences with 133 total schools. We would reduce the number of conferences to eight, each with ten schools. That means 80 schools would be in Division I. Our model could also work with 88 schools but for discussion purpose, less is better. This may not be welcomed with open arms, but hear it out.
Realign conferences geographically
After more than a decade of realignment, let’s do it again! This time, align the new eight conferences geographically. Fan bases no longer travel well to support their team. Who wants the cost and trouble of traveling all the way across the country for a conference game.
Players are taken away from the classroom for unacceptable chunks of time. Staffs see their families even less than before from the extended travel requirements. And fans are staying away in droves.
It’s insane!
Reduce the CFP from 12 teams to 8 teams
The CFP rolled out a new 12-team playoff structure in 2024. Why? The NCAA has always said the national champion should come from excellence on the field of competition.
Translated…conference champions, decided on the field of competition, deciding the national champion.
Using logic! Novel.
Eliminate poll rankings and selection committee
With eight conferences (80 schools total) and an eight-school playoff, the national championship will be earned on the field, not by biased AP voters or a secret selection committee (aka networks).
In part two of our series, we will begin to break down the above five solutions in more detail. First, we will examine a new NCAA management (governance) structure and go from there in subsequent analysis.
GO CANES!
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