Rumors of some of the country's biggest football names bolting their own conferences for supposedly greener pastures are doing some serious circulating at the College Football Association's convention in Dallas.
Also, there is concern that an investigation by the FCC into the CFA's national TV package could seriously damage the CFA or even cause it to be dissolved, Val Hale, assistant to the athletic director at Brigham Young University, said Tuesday morning.Apparently, Notre Dame's television deal with ABC earlier this year and Penn State's move to the Big Ten (which was formally approved Monday) have set talks in motion that may result in a major overhaul of the nation's football conferences.
Schools and conferences seem to be scrambling to do what's best for themselves regardless of what happens to those around them. That's the impression Hale is getting.
Hale told the Deseret News Tuesday morning that these are some of the things being talked about and written about by the Dallas-area press:
- Arkansas, Texas and Texas A&M leaving the Southwest Conference and joining the Southeastern Conference.
- Oklahoma and Nebraska leaving the Big Eight, Oklahoma going to the Southeastern Conference and Nebraska the Big Ten.
- Independents Miami, Florida State and South Carolina also joining the Southeastern Conference with that conference and possibly others splitting into two divisions.
- Academic powers but athletic weaklings like Northwestern of the Big Ten and Vanderbilt of the SEC being told basically to take a hike.
"What all this means for the WAC remains to be seen. I don't know what the situation would be with the WAC or CFA if all this transpires," Hale said.
One thing that has been talked about in the past and is being talked about again in Dallas, Hale said, is the eventual establishment of three or four mega-conferences.
"If you're not in one of those mega conferences you're out in the cold when it comes to TV revenue."
Regarding the FCC investigation into the CFA's television package, Hale said there's a fear of some administrators that the FCC will find that it's illegal for the CFA to put together something nationwide and must do so on an individual or conference basis, "which would basically nullify the CFA if that happens."
One has to wonder about the future of the Southwest Conference if Arkansas, Texas and Texas A&M leave and the Big Eight if it loses its two marquee schools, Nebraska and Oklahoma. The ramifications would be major. The Cotton Bowl undoubtedly would not want to stay tied to the SWC for its host school nor the Orange Bowl to the Big Eight for its.