The Pac 10, aparently not real ecnouraged with preliminary findings regarding expansion, is now looking into another direction. They want the NCAA to change the rules regarding the minimum number of teams that a conference must have to include a Conference Championship Game. Oddly enough, this was first suggested by the A.D. of the University of Texas, in response to their being courted by the Big 10. The Pac 10 Commish has already been in contact with the Big 10 and Big East Commissioners about this idea. Aparently, the financial feasability of the Pac 10 expanding at this time is in question. The Pac 10 does not have a T.V. network like the Big 10 does. Their have been talks about the Pac 10 hooking up with the Big 12 (and to a lesser degree, the ACC) and sharing a network.
As I see it, this suggestion comes with all kinds of built in problems, both for the Pac 10 and the NCAA. First the Pac 10. The obvious questionis where would the games be played. Well, between the Rose Bowl, the Coliseum, and Qwest field in Seattle, there are enough good places to play the games. Next, what about the current Round Robin Schedule? While the possibility exists in other conferences that two teams could meet for the 2nd time in the Conference Championship game, that would be guaranteed if the Pac 10 keeps their Round Robin Schedule. Should you have to defeat a team twice to win your conference? Then we have the problem of determining who plays who in the Conference Championship game. Do you split the Conference into two 5 team Divisions? Do you just have the top two teams record wise play it off? This could be a real mess.
Now you have the huge headache for the NCAA. What about the MWC, WAC, and Sunbelt Conferences, that each have 9 teams. What do you do with them? Do you have them pick up someone along the line, so they get to 10 teams and can have a playoff game? There are certainly enough teams in the FCS that could make the jump for this to happen. And then what do you do with the only Conference left without 9 or 10 teams? The Big East? Do they have to expand and add two teams to get a Conference Championship game also? Remember, they also play a Round Robin Schedule.
So the situation is seemingly becoming more and more of a mess. Aparently, the ball is really in the Big 10's court. If the Big 10, Pac 10, and Big 12 can get together and convince the NCAA to change the rules, both the Big 10 and Pac 10 may not expand at all. But if this can not be done, the Big 10 will definately expand, forcing the Pac 10's hand. If it were up to me, I keep the rule intact, and force the Big 10 and Pac 10 to expand to 12 teams if they want a Conference Championship game. It simply would be unfair to the SEC, ACC, Big 12, CUSA, and MAC conferences who already have 12 or more teams (13 in the MAC) to cut the number of teams needed to qualify for a Conference Championship game. If a Conference wants a Championship game, let it expand. There are enough good teams out there to allow expansion into the BCS Conferences.
As I see it, this suggestion comes with all kinds of built in problems, both for the Pac 10 and the NCAA. First the Pac 10. The obvious questionis where would the games be played. Well, between the Rose Bowl, the Coliseum, and Qwest field in Seattle, there are enough good places to play the games. Next, what about the current Round Robin Schedule? While the possibility exists in other conferences that two teams could meet for the 2nd time in the Conference Championship game, that would be guaranteed if the Pac 10 keeps their Round Robin Schedule. Should you have to defeat a team twice to win your conference? Then we have the problem of determining who plays who in the Conference Championship game. Do you split the Conference into two 5 team Divisions? Do you just have the top two teams record wise play it off? This could be a real mess.
Now you have the huge headache for the NCAA. What about the MWC, WAC, and Sunbelt Conferences, that each have 9 teams. What do you do with them? Do you have them pick up someone along the line, so they get to 10 teams and can have a playoff game? There are certainly enough teams in the FCS that could make the jump for this to happen. And then what do you do with the only Conference left without 9 or 10 teams? The Big East? Do they have to expand and add two teams to get a Conference Championship game also? Remember, they also play a Round Robin Schedule.
So the situation is seemingly becoming more and more of a mess. Aparently, the ball is really in the Big 10's court. If the Big 10, Pac 10, and Big 12 can get together and convince the NCAA to change the rules, both the Big 10 and Pac 10 may not expand at all. But if this can not be done, the Big 10 will definately expand, forcing the Pac 10's hand. If it were up to me, I keep the rule intact, and force the Big 10 and Pac 10 to expand to 12 teams if they want a Conference Championship game. It simply would be unfair to the SEC, ACC, Big 12, CUSA, and MAC conferences who already have 12 or more teams (13 in the MAC) to cut the number of teams needed to qualify for a Conference Championship game. If a Conference wants a Championship game, let it expand. There are enough good teams out there to allow expansion into the BCS Conferences.
