"The Alliance"

Arguably, no issue facing these leagues right now is more pressing than CFP expansion. None of these three conferences had representation on the CFP's four-person working group that proposed the 12-team model to great fanfare back in June. Though the Playoff has insisted that the 12-team model is not set in stone, it is the only format that the working group proposed and is the bracket that stakeholders are seeking feedback on right now.


*** Does the boldened not seem crazy? Three major P5 conferences had NO ONE at the table for those discussions???
That is actually insane and ridiculous. Where the **** did the 4 people come from? SEC and the defunct Big 12 that died at the hands of the SEC?

If that isn't evidence of ESPN having a bit too much control right there, I don't know what is.

Problem is, I don't want to wait 5 years either. Could they not re-negotiate some contracts to get at least some compromise that everyone likes?
 
Advertisement
I’d like to see how this affects the bottom line and how it truly combats what the SEC is doing

My guess is that's still evolving. Seems like this was put together pretty quickly as somewhat of a panic to what the SEC is doing. I'm sure some of these major points are still in flux.
 
That is actually insane and ridiculous. Where the **** did the 4 people come from? SEC and the defunct Big 12 that died at the hands of the SEC?

If that isn't evidence of ESPN having a bit too much control right there, I don't know what is.

Problem is, I don't want to wait 5 years either. Could they not re-negotiate some contracts to get at least some compromise that everyone likes?
The Alliance would like to open up the bidding to other networks. Maybe package the playoff like the NFL does the playoffs. So one network doesn't have all the inventory. That can't happen until the ESPN contract runs out
 
From a business perspective how does the SEC survive? We have completely cut off their resources when it comes to big time OOC games minus Notre dame (depending upon what they decide to do), BYU, and the AAC? This alliance is going to rule September with Marquee games and if they were smart they would also sprinkle some monster OOC games late in year. This is a very cut throat move and I couldn’t be happier to see them tell the SEC to go F themselves
I think the conference ends up swallowing itself. They're going to do these insane 9 conference game schedules where everyone is getting losses sans Bama or a miracle LSU team. They'll get enough views to make more than enough money but idk.

Especially if the 4-team playoff stays around. Have to believe they can't justify letting 2+ SEC teams with 3 losses or something in CFP over teams in other conferences with 1 loss. OU looks especially dumb from a playoff perspective, but I guess they prefer the money.
 
Why is everyone celebrating what basically amounts to two out of conference games per year? ACC/PAC/BIG are still extremely watered down. Sure we’ll play OSU and USC every now and then, but we’ll also be playing Utah, Oregon State, and Northwestern.

This really doesn’t improve our schedule at all.

And since there is no financial component to this, and it doesn’t stop games with the SEC, it does nothing to slow down the SEC.

Frankly, if this alliance stays together at all, it will be weak at best. Remember it is easier to break up with your girlfriend than it is to divorce your wife. This alliance is just short-term a knee-jerk reaction to the SEC’s long term play of expansion. Alliance will run out of steam and as far as I can see, there’s nothing here that has any teeth as far as competition with the SEC.

Miami’s annual payout will still be far lower than SEC or BIG schools. I don’t see this moving the needle on that front at all. The rest is just hot air

Not trying to pick a fight but this seems like a shortsighted view. You would rather play Central Connecticut and FAMU than any of these teams?
 
They'll make up money quick by scheduling quality opponents.
I don’t think you know how teams make money off games…income on home games is essentially the same because the face value of a home game ticket is usually the same, assuming equal attendance. We will likely lose money by doing home and home series and losing home games, instead of paying smaller schools to play at Miami, not to mention if we travel to the west coast.
 
They tried to F*k all of CFB by taking UT and OU.... You create the alliance and cease all games with the SEC...
The only issue with severing ties to the SEC is that is that it kills off a bunch of rivalries that fans of these teams actually care a lot about:

Miami - UF
SC - Clemson
Kentucky - Louisville
UF - FSU
GT - UGa

So once again, the people getting ****ed over would be the fans of these programs, all because the conference commissioners and TV execs want more money.

I do like the idea of 8 conference games, annual game against either UF or Notre Dame, and then one game each against the Big 10 and Pac 12 (as a California resident, would be especially nice to not have to travel across the country to watch the Canes play). Would be good for the fans, good for the strength of schedule, good for recruiting, and hopefully at some point we are actually good enough that in a good year we could get into the (expanded) playoff even with a loss or two.
 
It becomes the SEC , with a regional footprint) vs. The "Alliance" , with a National footprint. It will eventually cause fans outside the SEC areas to lose interest in SEC games .They will find themselves isolated from the rest of college football.
 
Like I’ve been saying for months, the SEC hit the law of unintended consequences head on.

This is as best as we could’ve hoped for a response.

As far as future OOC opponents that have been scheduled that may somehow throw a wrench into the process, those games can be rescheduled out further, spread out, or outright cancelled.

We’re talking peanuts in contract payment penalties versus the income potential that the alliance will provide. Not only that, but the survival of a viable product supersedes any short term contract money that may have to be given up.

Make no mistake: this is a businesss WAR.
One of the best lines I heard was apparently from a Big 10 Admin. he said that while they didn't know how Kevin Warren would handle this situation, he knew if Jim Delaney were still the commissioner he would be going after the SEC to draw blood...
 
Advertisement
We need a schedule that includes 2 games each from both the Pac12 and BIG 10 annually or this alliance is 🗑 🗑🗑🗑
 
That is actually insane and ridiculous. Where the **** did the 4 people come from? SEC and the defunct Big 12 that died at the hands of the SEC?

If that isn't evidence of ESPN having a bit too much control right there, I don't know what is.

Problem is, I don't want to wait 5 years either. Could they not re-negotiate some contracts to get at least some compromise that everyone likes?
Imagine Sankey, knowing what was going on behind the scenes with Texas and OU, sitting at the table with Bowlsby and saying nothing......
 
This alliance won’t kill off the sec but it will prevent them from killing us. ESPN feeling the boiling water under their balls is worth it in itself. Be nice to see the monopoly end. Let’s just hope we revenue share to some extent with contracts
This is everything the Alliance should endeavor to be. Aside from keeping the Horde safely behind the walls of Orgrimmar.
 
Advertisement
A5C2D540-8E39-4715-B6FD-509FF1683434.webp


the only outcomes of this “alliance“ is it will likely mean the three conferences will all have to vote together to check the power of the sec on big issues like the playoff. It is unlikely that expands as much and as quickly as previously reported. This illusion of multiple, annual dream matchups isn’t going to happen. Miami will likely eventually have one annual game with a random opponent from the big ten or pac 12 and possibly another, nOt much different than this year with bama and MSU, except bama is replaced with another random school. The existing sec/acc rivalry games will almost certainly stay in place unless both sides want out.
 
It becomes the SEC , with a regional footprint) vs. The "Alliance" , with a National footprint. It will eventually cause fans outside the SEC areas to lose interest in SEC games .They will find themselves isolated from the rest of college football.
SEC fans are so self righteous they'll believe the rest of the country is isolated from them.
 
Also, you don’t have to cut off the SEC. Thats spiteful and short sighted. You do need to stop them from taking over the sport, however, and bring balance to the force(s of the sport).

Agreed... the SEC went after Oklahoma and Texas because they want to get as many teams as possible into the Top 25 and boost their ability to get as many teams in the playoffs as possible.
 
Back
Top