HERE’S WHAT I THINK.

I know I’m not Nostradamus, but I’m going to put on my Leostradamus outfit today and predict the future. Look for between 40 and 60 high profile NCAA Division I football programs (SEC & ACC & Big Ten & Big 12 plus major independents) to secede from the NCAA and create a single nationwide football only conference.

Why? The reason is simple, and it’s follow the money. Colleges and Universities will figure out how much money they can make when it applies to football by eliminating the NCAA as the middle man. This new super conference could negotiate directly with the networks. Cha-ching.

Here’s what it would look like. This super conference, let’s call it Football USA, would be separated into four regional divisions (North & South & East & West) with a very structured schedule. Let’s say, for argument’s sake, that this conference is made up of 60 teams broken down into four 15 team divisions. The 12-game schedule would consist of a two-year home-and-home commitment. 9 games within your division and one each against an opponent from each of the other three divisions.

After that two-year scheduling cycle has concluded, a new two-year home-and-home would take effect but with some specific parameters. First, and this is a huge piece of the scheduling puzzle that makes it palatable, 4 teams would remain as permanent opponents. This would guarantee that decades-old rivalries (Michigan-Ohio State & Florida-Florida State & Pitt-Penn State & Oregon-Oregon State to name a few) would continue in perpetuity. Second, the five teams within the division not played the previous two seasons would now be added. Finally, a new team from the other three divisions would now be added. That way a school will eventually play all other 59 conference members.

Don’t look for this to happen until close to 2030 but, trust me, it’s coming. Way too much cash being left on the table by the schools. I even have the Commission, and that would be none other than Nick Saban. I’ll bet I have your attention now! Book it Dano!