So not surprisingly, the power 4 conferences are going to take over the NCAA.
The ~70 power 4 are estimated to make nearly $5b in revenue for 2025-2026
The >300 group of 5+ FCS + D2 are less than $3b combined.
For football, the power 4 would become their own league. Meaning only those teams can win the championship. And the group of 5 will have their own. Odds are brining up a few FCS schools. Then the bottom of the FCS will drop to D2.
For the other sports. The power 4 will have the most bids in the playoffs and the lower schools will only have select invites.
So march madness for example.
The power 4 would get 32 auto bids
Mid major would get 12
Then 1 auto bid from each low end conference.
The power 4 would also control new rules and regulations. Ie NIL/ Transfer portal.
So this is what i see happening.
They branch off. And kick out the recent additions to the power 4 (Rutgers, BYU, Houston, Cinci, UCF, Smu) add back in Was St and Org St. add ND.
Thus taking the new league to 64 teams.
Then split that into 4 regional conferences of 16.
They sign a new national TV deal. Meaning equal TV money for all teams. And no more BTN/ ACCN/ SECN etc. thus ending realignment.
For football split the conferences into 2 divisions.
Schedule would be 14 games 2 byes (16 weeks)
7 division games.
4 conference games.
3 league games based on position (like NFL)
No conference champ game.
Playoff would be the 16 division winners. Seeded based on record only.
1st round home games for higher seed.
Final rounds neutral site.
I can see it working great. And its where college athletics needs to go. The old ways are dead. Most of These players are making as much as professionals. Might as well treat the league as such.
