Realignment Megathread (All The Moves)

Well, I said we were closer to the geographic outliers. I guess Houston is a bit closer to UCF but we are much closer to Cincy and WVU than anyone else.

I agree we are closer to KU and KSU than CU but when it comes to air travel those distances are shortened. Besides, who would CU go with?

Obviously this is all caveated with the significant possibility they don't do pods but if they do, I really fail to see anyone other than ISU or Houston getting the eastern pod. I suppose the conference could give every pod a Texas school for recruiting. That is probably our best hope.
Houston would go to what you called the outliers, it would give them their 2 other AAC rivals to continue with. OSU would be with the Texas school for the remnants of the Big 12 south, and ISU would go in where OSU was.
 
ASU and Arizona will always play

Utah and BYU will always play

KSU and KU will always play

The rest should be as flexible as possible. No pods, no divisions no protected rivals…blank canvas each preseason to max out matchups and interest.
 
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ISU and KSU have the longest uninterrupted series in FBS. They should absolutely play EVERY year.
I see our KSU rivalry like Florida-Georgia and the Sunflower rivalry like Florida-Florida State.

The XII should incentivize as many rivalries as possible for compelling games. We should play KSU, KU, OSU and maybe CU every year. Mix in Baylor and WVU every so often too.
 
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protected rivalries solve all these issues with pod construction. There is absolutely no reason to do pods
Yep, its like having pods for scheduling simplicity/balance, but you don't have to have all 4 teams all protected with just themselves - you can mix and match.

e.g. - you want ISU to play KSU, OSU, and CU every year. But you want KSU to play ISU, KU, and OSU every year. With pods, you can't do it. But with PR you can - it just takes some finagling at the back end and you will probably have a couple weird ones to complete the set. I might do the new Big12 just for fun today if time allows.
 
Don't overthink it. 4 scheduling "divisions." 9 conference games. 3 annual (protected rivalries); 6 rotating. Top two records play for conference title. Tie breakers determined by playoff ranking. Divisional finish means nothing other than bragging rights.

Cincinnati
Houston
UCF
West Virginia

Colorado
Iowa State
Kansas
Kansas State

Baylor
Oklahoma State
TCU
Texas Tech

Arizona
Arizona State
BYU
Utah
 
I see our KSU rivalry like Florida-Georgia and the Sunflower rivalry like Florida-Florida State.

The XII should incentivize as many rivalries as possible for compelling games. We should play KSU, KU, OSU and maybe CU every year. Mix in Baylor and WVU every so often too.
Does anyone outside of our fanbases view ISU vs. KSU as compelling or a rivalry game?
 
I see our KSU rivalry like Florida-Georgia and the Sunflower rivalry like Florida-Florida State.

The XII should incentivize as many rivalries as possible for compelling games. We should play KSU, KU, OSU and maybe CU every year. Mix in Baylor and WVU every so often too.

The TV guys keep telling us they like rivalry games.

We should brand every goddam rivalry game. Makeup rivalry games and give them a cool name. Sell rights.

No clue why someone would want to sideline the oldest continuously rivalry in college football history

That makes zero sense
 
Does anyone outside of our fanbases view ISU vs. KSU as compelling or a rivalry game?
I’d hope so. I’ve heard people suggest it, but a half Cardinal/half Purple tractor would be a very cool trophy. Or the schools have to plant corn/wheat in a certain patch of field on campus depending on who wins.
They could really make Farmageddon something huge. Hell, attach sponsorship to a Pro-Ag outreach group and really help some farmers and rural communities.
 
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ASU and Arizona will always play

Utah and BYU will always play

KSU and KU will always play

The rest should be as flexible as possible. No pods, no divisions no protected rivals…blank canvas each preseason to max out matchups and interest.
Agree with these 3 matchups. I also think ISU and CU should play every year. Maybe even TTU and OSU?
 
I'm thinking an annual game with KSU and OKST is where we start. Honestly, a protected game with any of the Hateful Eight would be a good thing. Let's reward our fans and show the country that the remaining eighty teams called out Texas and Oklahoma and we will now thrive. No pods.
 
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Does anyone outside of our fanbases view ISU vs. KSU as compelling or a rivalry game?
No, but that’s the case with all but a handful of rivalries. People know other rivalries better, and assume in state games are rivalries, but there are only a handful of rivalries that people nationally are compelled to watch because of the rivalry. The number of rivalries that have significant national viewership beyond being a function of how interesting the individual teams is pretty small.

Protected rivalries in a vast majority of cases is to ensure interest within those fanbases.
 
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