MEGA Conference Realignment and lawsuits Megathread: Stories, Tales, Lies, and Exaggerations

[Empirical Cane]

True. Whether it's one at large or 11 at large bids, the SEC will always think their members should be in based on "strength of schedule".

#Vandy+CanTuckeeAutoQuals

SEC: It. Just. Means. MOAR.

 

[Empirical Cane]

I'm was suing CIS, but maudes wouldn't let me go!!

We settled.

 

[TheOriginalCane]

Next year we’re gonna hear some nonsense about how an 8-4 Florida team with solid losses to LSU, Miami, UT, and UGA should get into the CFP over a 10-2 B12 team.

I have described the Human Centipede Effect of College Football Rankings many times in the past.

 

[Warrior808]

This is where the SEC and THEIR interpretation of "strength of schedule" becomes a potential issue.

The problem is they get the automatic benefit of having a boatload of teams ranked before any games are played. Now, if they go to a 9 game conference schedule and dont play anyone worth a **** outside their conference, there is no way to debunk those ratings.

Its an automatic strength of schedule booster and assures they get a lot of teams in regardless of conference quality in any given year. A self fulfilling prophecy.

In most years they ARE the best conference and deserve to be rewarded for playing difficult schedules but that doesn't mean its that way EVERY year. Earn it on the field, dont make it a rigged game.

 

[CaneinBroward]

Both models suck. Choosing between 5-11 and 4-4-2-2-1 if you aren’t the SEC or Big 10 is like choosing whether you want to be put to death by electric chair or by firing squad. The fact that they are trying to sell either of these is just slimy and gross, and I can’t believe people are falling for it.

Any model out there will suck because of the obvious bias toward all things SEC/B1G by the polls, media, etc. However, what the 5-11 model gives is the possibility that in those rare years where the B1G and/or SEC is down, there will be at-large bids given to more-deserving non-SEC/B1G schools. Plus, every year when an Alabama tries to tout their 9-3 record is better than a 10-2 record of an ACC or Big 12 team even though 2 of their losses were to bad Vandy and bad Oklahoma teams, it will be given the full light of day for fans, pundits, and the media in general to discuss, complain, and dispute bad decisions.

 

[Empirical Cane]

I have described the Human Centipede Effect of College Football Rankings many times in the past.

Well, if you ain't the first segment....

you're last...

 

[caneingville]

I agree but I'd argue 5-11 is way more volatile and allows for putting fingers on the scale vs 4-4-2-2-1-3 which is less dependent on a bias committee and polls but more set in stone. Either way you're screwed but 5-11 just accelerates the end game imo.

Yes, I see the point here…

Any model out there will suck because of the obvious bias toward all things SEC/B1G by the polls, media, etc. However, what the 5-11 model gives is the possibility that in those rare years where the B1G and/or SEC is down, there will be at-large bids given to more-deserving non-SEC/B1G schools. Plus, every year when an Alabama tries to tout their 9-3 record is better than a 10-2 record of an ACC or Big 12 team even though 2 of their losses were to bad Vandy and bad Oklahoma teams, it will be given the full light of day for fans, pundits, and the media in general to discuss, complain, and dispute bad decisions.

…and yet this argument also has validity.

I’ve gone back and forth between both and my conclusion is simply that with the because the media is ultimately in control, both choices will always ***** us if we are left out of the P2. Hence my initial statement of how this is like choosing whether you want to be put to death by firing squad or electric chair. There is no better choice.

 

[Empirical Cane]

Any model out there will suck because of the obvious bias toward all things SEC/B1G by the polls, media, etc. However, what the 5-11 model gives is the possibility that in those rare years where the B1G and/or SEC is down, there will be at-large bids given to more-deserving non-SEC/B1G schools. Plus, every year when an Alabama tries to tout their 9-3 record is better than a 10-2 record of an ACC or Big 12 team even though 2 of their losses were to bad Vandy and bad Oklahoma teams, it will be given the full light of day for fans, pundits, and the media in general to discuss, complain, and dispute bad decisions.

I believe the 5+11 model is going to seal the demise of SEC/B1G, as I previously predicted.

Their hubris will undoubtedly create a stale product and viewership will plateau.

Yormark, or someone like him, will pounce.

 

[RF-4CCane]

Commission MIT to come up with a computer model that best replicates past years and results and provides an unbiased ranking starting at mid season.

Replace the selection committee with said program. Send a copy of said program to every D1 school at the beginning of the season, so no one can tweak it.

Voila, no one can ***** about it being biased and the best teams get in.

Never happen, but that would end all the BS. If the Big 10 and SEC are as good as they think they are, they will have the most teams selected.

 

[Empirical Cane]

The End: What Happens to the ACC and Where does Virginia Tech Go?

As the various settlements are signed and ratified... The topic here, is the FSU, Clemson etc. Settlement with the ACC and what that could mean to the conference and to Virginia Tech. Take the polls in this one. Nothing is set in stone yet, but changes are absolutely going to happen. GO HOKIES!!!

www.gobblercountry.com

 

[Empirical Cane]

Commission MIT to come up with a computer model that best replicates past years and results and provides an unbiased ranking starting at mid season.

Replace the selection committee with said program. Send a copy of said program to every D1 school at the beginning of the season, so no one can tweak it.

Voila, no one can ***** about it being biased and the best teams get in.

Never happen, but that would end all the BS. If the Big 10 and SEC are as good as they think they are, they will have the most teams selected.

Let's create an AI program, maybe call it "Skynet" and let's see what happens...

 

[Ispyin]

We need to stop obsessing about this "network executives" bull**** and comparing ourselves to F$U.

First, on the "network executives" level, Miami is an absolute take. Not only do we do strong numbers in South Florida, but we will be a ratings "enhancement" on any Big 10 games that are played. Simply stated, many midwesterners have relocated to SoFla, and there is a natural interest in the Big 10 schools playing Miami that simply doesn't exist (yet) with F$U.

Second, even on the "marginally better" numbers that F$U may have in the ratings, one can easily see that two of their most desirable games are the annual rivalry games with Miami and Florida. Those games will continue no matter what conference UM-FSU go to: (a) if same-conference, F$U will maintain the annual UF game; (b) if F$U goes to the SEC, they will maintain the annual UM game. Also, I would point out that F$U has "stronger rivalries" in the ACC than Miami does (longer ACC tenure) and has been more successful (on-field) more recently. If Miami starts making the CFP playoffs, I'd expect the "ratings advantage" that F$U currently holds to disappear, regardless of "their large alumni base".

Third, the one factor that will NOT be dictated by "network executives" is whether the Big 10 presidents will accept a non-AAU school. So far, that is a non-negotiable, and something that UM offers that F$U cannot. More importantly, nobody knows when/if F$U will even be considered for AAU membership, let alone be selected.

In short, not all of these "factors" are identical or comparable or meaningful.

Miami is far higher in the Big 10 pecking order than F$U is. And that will not change based on "improving non-revenue sports".

Florida rejecting Michigan president today because of politics is a death knell in some views for fsu big ten dreams.

If true solid work gators.

 

[Ispyin]

Let's create an AI program, maybe call it "Skynet" and let's see what happens...

 

[Jonnyblaze]

I’m liking the AQ models more and more. I was originally for the 5-11 model but then realized you’re relying on the committee way too much. The SEC and Big Ten will always get the benefit of the doubt. Those of you that think it’s an opportunity for more deserving non P2 teams to get in are huffing gas. Last year’s final poll before all the bowl games the SEC had 6 of the top 16 teams. It would be like that every year. The less the committee is involved the better.

 

[Canesfan1993]

Commission MIT to come up with a computer model that best replicates past years and results and provides an unbiased ranking starting at mid season.

Replace the selection committee with said program. Send a copy of said program to every D1 school at the beginning of the season, so no one can tweak it.

Voila, no one can ***** about it being biased and the best teams get in.

Never happen, but that would end all the BS. If the Big 10 and SEC are as good as they think they are, they will have the most teams selected.

Sir you just created the universally loved BCS and time is a flat circle.

 

[RF-4CCane]

Sir you just created the universally loved BCS and time is a flat circle.

The difference is, the BCS computers were unvetted crap, with each placing higher weighting on different categories and some placing no weighting on the most important category of all, head to head results during the season.

I’m talking about a computer program that has to prove its accuracy, by back filling 30-40 years of data and proving its accuracy could pick the Top 5-10 each year the most accurately.

Heck, have a competition between the best IT schools in each conference I.e., Stanford, Northwestern etc, and let the one that is most accurate win the competition.

It’s what the BCS should have been. Can anyone really argue that computer programming and AI haven’t progressed light years from the early 90’s and would be less biased than a bunch of agenda driven committee selectees?

 

[Empirical Cane]

The difference is, the BCS computers were unvetted crap, with each placing higher weighting on different categories and some placing no weighting on the most important category of all, head to head results during the season.

I’m talking about a computer program that has to prove its accuracy, by back filling 30-40 years of data and proving its accuracy could pick the Top 5-10 each year the most accurately.

Heck, have a competition between the best IT schools in each conference I.e., Stanford, Northwestern etc, and let the one that is most accurate win the competition.

It’s what the BCS should have been. Can anyone really argue that computer programming and AI haven’t progressed light years from the early 90’s and would be less biased than a bunch of agenda driven committee selectees?

 

[caneingville]

The difference is, the BCS computers were unvetted crap, with each placing higher weighting on different categories and some placing no weighting on the most important category of all, head to head results during the season.

I’m talking about a computer program that has to prove its accuracy, by back filling 30-40 years of data and proving its accuracy could pick the Top 5-10 each year the most accurately.

Heck, have a competition between the best IT schools in each conference I.e., Stanford, Northwestern etc, and let the one that is most accurate win the competition.

It’s what the BCS should have been. Can anyone really argue that computer programming and AI haven’t progressed light years from the early 90’s and would be less biased than a bunch of agenda driven committee selectees?

The problem is that human bias and the media networks’ desires are going to inherently be built into the data by way of the metrics selected. There is no way to avoid that when they would be the ones paying for it.

 

[caneingville]

The End: What Happens to the ACC and Where does Virginia Tech Go?

As the various settlements are signed and ratified... The topic here, is the FSU, Clemson etc. Settlement with the ACC and what that could mean to the conference and to Virginia Tech. Take the polls in this one. Nothing is set in stone yet, but changes are absolutely going to happen. GO HOKIES!!!

www.gobblercountry.com

I didn’t realize the VT brass were trying to get into the AAU and thus preferred themselves academically above the SEC. Seems all the AAU hopefuls could be a whole conference themselves.

 

[We'retheBoss]

We're about to hit 1200 pages and are still at "the tv contracts are up for renewal in a handful of years and conferences will have expansion in place at some point prior to that in order to negotiate a larger deal"

I think we could have veered a little more into false leads from questionable sources, bbq recipes, 'rasslin, but really, this has been an amazing job so far, congrats to all of us here, we should be proud.