Jared Kamrass of Cincinnati, OH is a graduate of Ohio State University, former football star and avid sports fan. Occasionally, Jared contributes to editorials highlighting college sport news. In the following article, Mr. Kamrass discusses college sports realignment, and how it is changing the future of college sports.
After UCLA and USC recently announced that they would move from the Pac-12 to the Big Ten, many fans and sports analysts are questioning how the recent wave of conference realignments will affect college sports. With historically foundational teams now playing in different conferences, Jared Kamrass says that it is difficult to know what to expect.
Although the shakeups are meant to create super conferences and combat a lack of playoffs, the Western Athletic Conference already tried this tactic in the mid-90s to no. At the time, the conference couldn’t meet the school’s individual needs and fans were left disappointed that longstanding rivalries no longer mattered. To understand whether this will happen again, Jared Kamrass of Cincinnati, OH takes a closer look at what’s happening in college sports today.
The Power of TV Revenue
In the past, conference realignment was driven by a desire to increase television revenue. This is still a factor, but it’s not as important as it once was. In the 1990s, when the WAC realigned, the biggest driver was an attempt to get a television contract with ABC. The conference thought that by having more teams in major media markets, they’d be able to get a better deal.
However, this didn’t work out and the conference eventually folded. Now, conferences are driven more by a desire to increase their footprint and get access to more viewers explains Jared Kamrass of Cincinnati, OH. This is because the way we consume sports has changed. We now have a plethora of channels and ways to watch games, so a conference doesn’t need to be on one specific network to get exposure.
As a result, Jared Kamrass explains that the conferences are now more interested in getting into new markets and signing deals with multiple networks. The Big Ten, for example, has deals with Fox, CBS, and ESPN. The more networks a conference is on, the more money it can make.
The Pursuit of the Playoffs
The other major factor driving conference realignment is a desire to get into the playoffs. In the past, the NCAA has used a bowl system to determine a national champion reports Jared Kamrass`. This meant that only the top teams in each conference would have a chance to compete for the title. However, this system was often criticized for being unfair.
It was difficult for teams in smaller conferences to get into the playoffs, and even when they did, they were often at a disadvantage. Jared Kamrass of Cincinnati, OH says that the current system is the College Football Playoff, which is a four-team tournament that includes the champions of the major conferences. To get into the playoff, a team must first win its conference.
This system is still far from perfect, but it’s a major improvement from the old bowl system. It gives teams from all conferences a chance to compete for the national title. However, there’s one big problem: there are only four spots. Jared Kamrass says that this means that only the champions of the major conferences have a chance to make the playoffs.
The Shift to Super Conferences
The recent wave of conference realignment has led to the formation of super conferences. These are conferences that have 14 or more teams. The four major conferences (ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, and SEC) are all super conferences. The Pac-12 and the Big Ten are on the verge of becoming super conferences.
Jared Kamrass explains that the formation of super conferences is a major shift in college sports. Historically, there have been two types of conferences:
- The Power Conferences: Power conferences are made up of major athletic programs and have the most money, the best facilities, and the best players.
- Mid-Major Conferences: Mid-major conferences are made up of schools that don’t have the same resources as the major athletic programs.
The formation of super conferences means that there are now three tiers of conferences: the power conferences, the super conferences, and the mid-major conferences. Jared Kamrass reports that this shift could have major implications for the future of college sports.
The Impact of Conference Realignment
The recent wave of conference realignment has led to some major changes in college sports. These changes could have a major impact on the future of the sport:
- The Rise of Super Conferences: The formation of super conferences is a major shift in college sports. This shift could have a major impact on the future of the sport.
- The Decline of Mid-Major Conferences: The formation of super conferences could lead to the decline of mid-major conferences. This could have a major impact on the future of the sport.
- The Impact on Rivalries: The recent wave of conference realignment has led to the breakup of some major rivalries. This could have a major impact on the future of the sport and drive fans away from their favorite teams.
The Bottom Line
The recent wave of conference realignment is a major shift in college sports. These changes will likely have a major impact on the future of the sport by shifting longstanding traditions, driving fans away from their favorite teams, and undermining existing power structures—all for the sake of viewership dollars.
