College Football Conference Shuffle

By Douglas V. Gibbs

There is something that is burning me up so much that I just can't stand it. Regular readers of this site may ask, "Is it Obama, Congress, or the economic bumble-fudge going on in Washington?"

Those things burn me up, but this is something that is completely out of control!

College Football is shaking up the conferences, and the Big 12 is all but dismantled as a result.

First, it was the completely idiotic Bowl Championship Series (BCS) when they should go to some kind of playoff system (I suggest top 8 teams with seeds, until the 2 remaining fight for the championship - longer post season, but the money for the schools would be excellent).

Money for the schools. Ahh, that is the whole reason behind the conference jumping that is going on now.

At the latest tally we are looking at Colorado, Texas, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State all joining the PAC 10. Nebraska, and possibly Missouri, could be going to the Big 10. Texas A&M is looking to head for the SEC. Boise State is also looking to join the musical chairs, offering to join the Mountain West Conference.

By the time it is all over, should these moves take place, there will be four super-conferences (Pac-10, Big-10, ACC, and the SEC), and a bunch of nothing conferences that would surely at that point crumble and send teams out to those big four conferences as well. The good news is it could lead to a four conference playoff for the National Championship. The bad news is the tradition and pageantry of rivalries and the conferences will be gone.

With so many teams in the conferences, how often will USC get to play UCLA? Every other season? Every third season? What about Ohio State and Michigan? Arizona and Arizona State?

The Big Ten has new cable networks (notice the word is plural) and stand to make a lot of money for the schools. So here's Nebraska noticing that Northwestern has more cash coming in, and it is all because of the conference they are in. . . not a tough decision. . . follow the money.

But what will become of the Big East? Or the MAC? Can the Mountain West Conference compete with super conferences that now have a bunch of powerhouse schools? There will be more losses, that is for sure. Undefeated seasons will become a thing of the past. So will the games that battle for the boot, or the ax, or the . . . well, you know. . . become extinct?

I miss the good ole days. A few bowl games, a bunch of conferences, and longtime rivalries.

Things change, but I am not sure bigger conferences, and less conferences, is the answer.

-- Political Pistachio Conservative News and Commentary