Modest Proposal

[onceacat]

Great story on fixing the problems with unbalanced scheduling-he wrote it about unbalanced leagues like the Big 10, but it would work for the BSC too.

http://fivethirtyeight.com/features/mak ... eat-again/

Basically, stop scheduling games a year in advance. You pair the best against the best as the season goes on, so no more SUUs making it into the playoffs without playing the top teams in their conferences...

[MTCowpoke22]

This is a really great idea, and would definitely settle a lot of arguments, but I don't think it'll happen any time soon. It'd take a huge leap of faith from schools, conferences, and networks. It'd be a big challenge to change the thinking, planning, and scheduling processes in place now. Schools are going to struggle with travel arrangements and ticket sales if they don't know who, when, and where they are playing. Networks will be left scrambling over which games they get to broadcast each weekend. One downside for the schools, but a positive for TV fans, is that the poorer schools are going to get less TV time than they do now, which generally isn't much to begin with. Schools always want more exposure, not less.

[GavinDonos]

This is a really great idea, and would definitely settle a lot of arguments, but I don't think it'll happen any time soon. It'd take a huge leap of faith from schools, conferences, and networks. It'd be a big challenge to change the thinking, planning, and scheduling processes in place now. Schools are going to struggle with travel arrangements and ticket sales if they don't know who, when, and where they are playing. Networks will be left scrambling over which games they get to broadcast each weekend. One downside for the schools, but a positive for TV fans, is that the poorer schools are going to get less TV time than they do now, which generally isn't much to begin with. Schools always want more exposure, not less.

I agree, this would be an awesome idea if the cost allowed for it. Truth be told, however, the logistics would be a nightmare. This would work well for the millennial e-sports crowd, but is wholly unfeasible for a cadre of 100+ personnel with full equipment... until we invent teleportation. Not to mention tv personnel, last-minute site staffing, and so on. Great idea in theory... hard to execute in reality. On par for the 538 Blog.


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[AlphaGriz1]

If we added 9 more teams we would have the kind of balance people only dream about in dreams

[onceacat]

This is a really great idea, and would definitely settle a lot of arguments, but I don't think it'll happen any time soon. It'd take a huge leap of faith from schools, conferences, and networks. It'd be a big challenge to change the thinking, planning, and scheduling processes in place now. Schools are going to struggle with travel arrangements and ticket sales if they don't know who, when, and where they are playing. Networks will be left scrambling over which games they get to broadcast each weekend. One downside for the schools, but a positive for TV fans, is that the poorer schools are going to get less TV time than they do now, which generally isn't much to begin with. Schools always want more exposure, not less.

I agree, this would be an awesome idea if the cost allowed for it. Truth be told, however, the logistics would be a nightmare. This would work well for the millennial e-sports crowd, but is wholly unfeasible for a cadre of 100+ personnel with full equipment... until we invent teleportation. Not to mention tv personnel, last-minute site staffing, and so on. Great idea in theory... hard to execute in reality. On par for the 538 Blog.


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I agree that it isn't likely, but neither was a real championship, let alone a 4 team playoff in Division 1-A back in the 90s. I actually think there is more exposure because the games will be more interesting. And I think you are totally wrong about the logistics. While its harder for fans, because you don't know where to plan for away games, it wouldn't matter in the slightest for ADs & teams. They do it every year for the playoffs already.