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I know, and the writer knows this could never happen, but it is interesting to see what could be done if we started from scratch and built the leagues now.

With all of the conference reshuffling, I got thinking of what would be the most perfect, and logical conference alignments. That is to say, if you could start from scratch and make as many conferences as you want (no more than 12 teams to a conference), what would your conference alignments be? You can make up new ones, or use the names from old ones. I mean the Big 12 is almost a perfect football conference, but wouldn't it make more sense to have Arkansas replace Baylor and Colorado State replace Iowa State? – TXD

A: I’m a traditionalist at heart, so I’m not a huge fan of blowing up the leagues and recreating them from scratch. I like the rivalries inherent in the current system and would want to keep as many ties as possible. For purposes of keeping this in the realm of possibility, here’s my plan to make this work with nine 12-team leagues and one 11-team conference. The idea is to have more geographic sense, while also keeping the competitive balance. I don't want to make any conference too nasty (like putting Miami to the SEC).
- ACC – Lose Boston College to the Big East and add East Carolina from Conference USA
- Big 12 – Lose Baylor to the WAC/Sun Belt and add Arkansas from the SEC
- Big East – Lose Louisville to the SEC, get back Boston College. The eight team league adds Bowling Green, Miami University, Northern Illinois and Toledo from the MAC.
- Big Ten – Add Notre Dame
- Conference USA – Lose East Carolina to the ACC, add Baylor from the Big 12
- MAC – Becomes an 11-team league losing Bowling Green, Miami University, Northern Illinois and Toledo, adds Army, Navy and Temple
- Mountain West – The nine team league adds Louisiana Tech, Hawaii and Nevada
- Pac 10 – Add Boise State and Fresno State
- SEC – Lose Arkansas to the Big 12, adds Louisville from the Big East
- The WAC and Sun Belt merge the four remaining WAC teams (Idaho, New Mexico State, San Jose State and Utah State) with the eight teams from the Sun Belt.

Well, hell, if we can throw out reality, then this is my league:

Big Ohio Conference

Akron
Bowling Green
Cincinnati
Kent State
Ohio
Ohio State
Miami
Toledo

Or:

(i don't know what you'd call this):

North:

Central Michigan
Eastern Michigan
Western Michigan
Michigan
Michigan State
Toledo
Bowling Green

South:
Akron
Cincinnati
Kent State
Ohio
Ohio State
Miami
Toledo

haha, i duno about ohio state being in a conference with teams like that. jmo.

the first one isnt all that bad tho... i might make a few adjustments... but as much as i like the mac, i'd like to see bg somewhere more respectable and recognized because i think they deserve it.

I also love the MAC and would also love to see us in a top-5 conference. However, we don't deserve it....yet. If we run off about 5 more years of being ranked at season end and bowl games every year, then I think we might deserve being in a power conference. Until then, we don't know if this is just a normal, cyclical upswing for our program or if we've truly arrived as a CF power. I'm hoping the latter is the case but one never knows...

OK, Schade, but I think you have completely lost touch with reality.

The cfn guy was at least keeping his feet planted on the ground with mostly maintaining the BCS conferences as is, save for the Big East. If you truly look at it, the plan isn't that bad. On the face of it, here are teams/leagues that I think it hurts: Boston College, Baylor, WAC, MAC, SunBelt, Notre Dame (lose the NBC TV deal, $$$). Helps: East Carolina, Louisville, Bowling Green, Miami, Northern Ill, Toledo,Boise St., Fresno St.

i am not being a homer, but I am pretty sure that Miami had an invite to the Big 10 in the 60's or 70's. And according to rumor Miami would be invited to be a Big 10 affiliate member for Hockey, if Penn State decided to start a Varsity Hockey program, the Big 10 would need 12 teams for an even league. Miami or BG would make the most sense in that situation, and BG might make more sense, as they have won an NC, and Miami hasn't, though recently Miami has had alittle more success.

i heard the big 10 has a rule about its players wearing jcrew... so i just dont think it could happen.

CFN's alignment would certainly make for a fun basketball season for BG.

if we joined the big east we would need about 500 million dollars to blow up the doyt and anderson arena, and build respectable college athletic facilities.

04forheisman wrote:if we joined the big east we would need about 500 million dollars to blow up the doyt and anderson arena, and build respectable college athletic facilities.

WTF?

MiamiBando wrote:i am not being a homer, but I am pretty sure that Miami had an invite to the Big 10 in the 60's or 70's. And according to rumor Miami would be invited to be a Big 10 affiliate member for Hockey, if Penn State decided to start a Varsity Hockey program, the Big 10 would need 12 teams for an even league. Miami or BG would make the most sense in that situation, and BG might make more sense, as they have won an NC, and Miami hasn't, though recently Miami has had alittle more success.

Since only 5 Big Ten teams play D1 hockey, this really makes a lot of sense.

also love the MAC and would also love to see us in a top-5 conference. However, we don't deserve it....yet. If we run off about 5 more years of being ranked at season end and bowl games every year, then I think we might deserve being in a power conference. Until then, we don't know if this is just a normal, cyclical upswing for our program or if we've truly arrived as a CF power. I'm hoping the latter is the case but one never knows...

As an NIU fan I agree with you. We also have not shown the consistency needed to warrant such a move. Until we can be in the hunt for the MAC title every year and beat Toledo we should be content to stay put.

04forheisman wrote:if we joined the big east we would need about 500 million dollars to blow up the doyt and anderson arena, and build respectable college athletic facilities.

I'm assuming you're kidding, and if not, door's that way.

not to add to the sacrilege, but he does have a small point. I don't think any major conference are dying to add a school with athletic facilities such as ours. A 25-30,000 seat football stadium and a 4,000 seat gym -- both of which are old and in need of renovation? I love both places but they wouldn't fly in a top 5 conference. As much fondness as we all have for our venues, 90 percent of visitors walk away thoroughly unimpressed.

Of course it doesn't matter since we aren't going anywhere, but if we were, new facilities would be in order. Anderson first with solid plans for updating the doyt or starting over.