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Iowa State AD: "We should break away from them..."
- Thread starter Jason Svoboda
- Start date
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DyedBlue
The All-MVC Level
A universal agreement not to play them has been my wish for a long time. Truly, take the pro league money and run off to set up your own system and rules.
That's only 34 teams... they'd need to add another 2 dozen to get the "numbers right" for most of their desired post-seasons...
they would need CONTENT to run their own system and omitting 2 teams is workable but they'd lack the content they enjoy today with the NCAA umbrella
DyedBlue
The All-MVC Level
I expect the two leagues could cherry-pick the best of the rest. 24 good ones in FB and Basketball might be tough. The top of the ACC and several Big12 teams would be of interest. Really, I was thinking of the 4 Power FB leagues running off, not just the big two. That would be more than enough. Some schools will remain underfunded punching bags and you need those guys to beat every year and pad the record.
Sorry, but I don't know the definition of CONTENT nor what you mean by omitting two teams. I guess I am dense on that. Could you please explain it to me?
Sorry, but I don't know the definition of CONTENT nor what you mean by omitting two teams. I guess I am dense on that. Could you please explain it to me?
I am in agreement with the Iowa State A.D.. Let them go, take all of your sports and do your thing. Let the rest of the schools compete under some sane NCAA guided rules. No NIL, transfer policy’s that work, 4 years of eligibility, scholarships, training tables, tutors if needed. More than enough athletic perks , but not the insane money some of these athletes are supposed to be getting.
Big Ten + $ec is 34 teams (currently), no "legit" tourney is going to be 34 teams, drop the 2 weak sisters and 32 is a easy tourney.
Pre-NIL, there were approx 64 current teams in the Power 4 that have the $$$ to fully fund scholies in most of the NCAA sports.
Today, who the hell knows, no rules, no idea.
Content... product, games, sh*t the conferences stages for viewing
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the majority of TV $$$, TV eyes will follow the BIG eighTEeN and $ec, the remaining schools will be another version of the NAIA
Yeah… I don’t agree with the A.D. here. Structurally, you can poke holes in the analogy, but since I follow professional bass fishing closely, I’m leaning into it.
Back in 2019, the BASSMASTER Elite Series was the undisputed top circuit. Top anglers were there much like elite NCAA D1 football players today—especially with NIL, revenue sharing, and the transfer portal making athletes more like individual contractors who can chase better opportunities.
A group of top anglers, backed by strong financial support, formed Major League Fishing and launched the Bass Pro Tour (BPT). When it started, a huge chunk of the Elite Series talent (~80-85% of the very best) jumped ship. Today, both tours are healthy but distinct. Of the top 50 anglers across both, it’s roughly 60% BPT / 40% BASS (with plenty of crossover potential). BPT has streamlined to a 51-angler field focused on high-production, every-fish-counts format, big payouts, and live scoring. BASS kept its tradition, the Classic, and broader access. Think B10/SEC as two unified leagues coming together as one - lesser teams doesn't immediately mean a worse product.
As an avid fan, I think the split has been mixed for the sport overall. The BPT/MLF product is often better produced, has cleaner rules for TV/streaming, and features more of the absolute top talent right now—so that’s where I gravitate. Meanwhile, some traditional fans stuck with B.A.S.S., bash the new league, and refuse to give credit where it’s due. It became tribal: less about the fishing, more about loyalty to the organization.
I see the same risk in college football. A Big Ten/SEC breakaway wouldn’t stay focused on athletes or performance—it would quickly turn into brand warfare between the new super league and the “old” NCAA remnant. Fans would pick sides, schedules would fragment, and rivalries could suffer.
It’s also telling that these ADs (like Jamie Pollard) suddenly want to hand power back to the NCAA after that organization failed for years to adapt to NIL, revenue realities, and antitrust pressures. They had chances to evolve proactively instead of fighting change. Wanting the Power conferences to break away in football only—while keeping Olympic sports under the NCAA umbrella—is convenient and shortsighted.
I get it - us mid major fans have a hard time surrendering the nostalgia of the NCAA that was 10 to 15 years ago... Something that gets us back close to that seems like a better place than where we are today. But Pollard isn't right here and I wouldn't be so quick to trust any AD at a P5 conference or the NCAA to get this right. You must be able to form your own conclusions and push back. Sitting back and agreeing with AD's like this is what got us here in the first place.
I do agree with one component of his argument - if you are going to split take all the sports. I would have to imagine it would put an unbelievable strain on all sports not named football and basketball. Wouldn't the most elite athletes gravitate toward all of the other conferences/schools within the larger framework. Seems like the greater opportunity, exposure and competition (at-large) would be at the non B10 SEC institutions as it would force those intuitions to invest more heavily in sports other than bball and football. Maybe... I need to give this part a little more thought.
Be interested to hear some additional thoughts?
Back in 2019, the BASSMASTER Elite Series was the undisputed top circuit. Top anglers were there much like elite NCAA D1 football players today—especially with NIL, revenue sharing, and the transfer portal making athletes more like individual contractors who can chase better opportunities.
A group of top anglers, backed by strong financial support, formed Major League Fishing and launched the Bass Pro Tour (BPT). When it started, a huge chunk of the Elite Series talent (~80-85% of the very best) jumped ship. Today, both tours are healthy but distinct. Of the top 50 anglers across both, it’s roughly 60% BPT / 40% BASS (with plenty of crossover potential). BPT has streamlined to a 51-angler field focused on high-production, every-fish-counts format, big payouts, and live scoring. BASS kept its tradition, the Classic, and broader access. Think B10/SEC as two unified leagues coming together as one - lesser teams doesn't immediately mean a worse product.
As an avid fan, I think the split has been mixed for the sport overall. The BPT/MLF product is often better produced, has cleaner rules for TV/streaming, and features more of the absolute top talent right now—so that’s where I gravitate. Meanwhile, some traditional fans stuck with B.A.S.S., bash the new league, and refuse to give credit where it’s due. It became tribal: less about the fishing, more about loyalty to the organization.
I see the same risk in college football. A Big Ten/SEC breakaway wouldn’t stay focused on athletes or performance—it would quickly turn into brand warfare between the new super league and the “old” NCAA remnant. Fans would pick sides, schedules would fragment, and rivalries could suffer.
It’s also telling that these ADs (like Jamie Pollard) suddenly want to hand power back to the NCAA after that organization failed for years to adapt to NIL, revenue realities, and antitrust pressures. They had chances to evolve proactively instead of fighting change. Wanting the Power conferences to break away in football only—while keeping Olympic sports under the NCAA umbrella—is convenient and shortsighted.
I get it - us mid major fans have a hard time surrendering the nostalgia of the NCAA that was 10 to 15 years ago... Something that gets us back close to that seems like a better place than where we are today. But Pollard isn't right here and I wouldn't be so quick to trust any AD at a P5 conference or the NCAA to get this right. You must be able to form your own conclusions and push back. Sitting back and agreeing with AD's like this is what got us here in the first place.
I do agree with one component of his argument - if you are going to split take all the sports. I would have to imagine it would put an unbelievable strain on all sports not named football and basketball. Wouldn't the most elite athletes gravitate toward all of the other conferences/schools within the larger framework. Seems like the greater opportunity, exposure and competition (at-large) would be at the non B10 SEC institutions as it would force those intuitions to invest more heavily in sports other than bball and football. Maybe... I need to give this part a little more thought.
Be interested to hear some additional thoughts?
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I think everything you said makes sense but the one counterpoint I could levy is LIV Golf was pay-for-play (very similar to what's happening in college sports) to compete against the PGA Tour and is now effectively collapsing as Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund has decided to quit subsidizing it. In 4 years, they burned through like $5-8 billion IIRC and the Saudi PIF is one of (if not the) richest funds on the planet.
I think these chucklefucks breaking off would be similar because they would be viewed as a professional sports league and competing against the actual pro sports leagues doesn't bode well as they'd likely get the same brand warfare phenomenon you mentioned happening to them that they do to us by those pro sports, especially if they tried to land a new media deal outside of the signed NCAA long term deals. Only so much media money to distribute.
The problem is they will not cede power back to the organizational level so I honestly don't see any other alternative except doing nothing and just hoping they burn their own supporters down?
PGA Tour vs. LIV Golf is a more relatable example for a lot of people. LIV landed some big names with massive money, but it wasn’t the 80/20 talent exodus we saw when Major League Fishing launched the Bass Pro Tour. Back then, 80% of the very best Elite Series anglers jumped to BPT. Today it’s closer to a 60/40 split favoring BPT among the top 50, with healthy crossover. People follow names, and LIV didn’t pull enough to dominate like that. Bryson, Rahm, Reed, Brooks (the most self centered names imaginable) and pretty much no other big names left.
Format-wise, BPT made real improvements for fans and accessibility: every fish counts, catch-weigh-release with officials in every boat, streamlined 51-angler fields, and big payouts. It made tournament fishing more accessible. LIV went the other way and shotgun starts were entertaining for some I suppose… I never hated on LIV, but I never gave it much of a chance either because of the players involved, the product, and the access issues. BPT/MLF has been different for me I gravitated to the better production and top talent. Feel like a lot of fringe fans (not many of us here) could do the same.
A Big Ten/SEC breakaway could go either way, just like these splits. You can’t automatically assume they’d get it wrong. They might figure out a way to deliver a cleaner, higher-quality product with better rules, compensation, and production especially since athletes are already operating like individual contractors under NIL/revenue sharing/portal. Think Big Ten/SEC unifying as one powerhouse—fewer teams doesn’t automatically mean a worse product if talent and execution rise.
LIV is definitely an example of how they could fail and fall flat. MLF/BPT is an example of how they could certainly get it right. It’s easily to believe Jamie Pollard as a reputable AD standing up against the B10 and SEC…. but as Lee Corso would say “not so fast”.
I personally feel like a split would be the biggest blow to the entire framework of college atheltics as we know. The frustration and divide (blame) would shift toward B10 and SEC schools and that would honestly be misguided. It lets the NCAA and our own Presidents and AD’s massively off the fucking hook for letting it come to this.
Format-wise, BPT made real improvements for fans and accessibility: every fish counts, catch-weigh-release with officials in every boat, streamlined 51-angler fields, and big payouts. It made tournament fishing more accessible. LIV went the other way and shotgun starts were entertaining for some I suppose… I never hated on LIV, but I never gave it much of a chance either because of the players involved, the product, and the access issues. BPT/MLF has been different for me I gravitated to the better production and top talent. Feel like a lot of fringe fans (not many of us here) could do the same.
A Big Ten/SEC breakaway could go either way, just like these splits. You can’t automatically assume they’d get it wrong. They might figure out a way to deliver a cleaner, higher-quality product with better rules, compensation, and production especially since athletes are already operating like individual contractors under NIL/revenue sharing/portal. Think Big Ten/SEC unifying as one powerhouse—fewer teams doesn’t automatically mean a worse product if talent and execution rise.
LIV is definitely an example of how they could fail and fall flat. MLF/BPT is an example of how they could certainly get it right. It’s easily to believe Jamie Pollard as a reputable AD standing up against the B10 and SEC…. but as Lee Corso would say “not so fast”.
I personally feel like a split would be the biggest blow to the entire framework of college atheltics as we know. The frustration and divide (blame) would shift toward B10 and SEC schools and that would honestly be misguided. It lets the NCAA and our own Presidents and AD’s massively off the fucking hook for letting it come to this.
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Another example is American Open Wheel Racing... from 1994 - 2008, you had fans in both camps, CART and IndyCar/IRL; it took over 10 years but the sport re-aligned, some of the same issues still exist, $$$, dominant teams, how many weeks teams spend at The Speedway... how many oval vs. street vs. road courses but after Sunday's HISTORIC, Classic finish, I imagine sales will go up - at least at the signature events... this summer's race in Washington DC will be... interesting
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I’d bet a billion dollars I don’t have that little bitch-ass Jamie Pollard has never even considered the three breakaway examples cited here. These ignorant-ass people live in a box—they think they know everything and can’t humble themselves enough to actually look at real-life examples. Three different examples cited by three different forum members, not a single collaborative effort amongst us.
These are the things these ADs and presidents spit out for a quick sound bite to go viral, but they haven’t really given it enough thought. They’re surrounded by a bunch of cucks who just agree with them to agree. This guy thought he was having a moment telling B10 and SEC we going to do our own thing. Just wow.
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Nobody thinks it is in College athletics best interest for those conferences to break away. It would destroy non revenue sports. The Big 10 tournament in wrestling would essentially become the national championship for example. But, who cares, enough is enough. The Big 10 and the SEC can take their pompous asses out and do their own thing. But, let’s be real, it’s not gonna happen. Instead college athletics will continue to spin out of control and be the demise of college athletics as we once knew it. .One thing I would strongly disagree with is that AD’s like Iowa State have not given this issue enough thought. I’m betting that this issue consumes the majority of their days. I’d do believe that we are all one the same of this issue, but we blame the problem on different people.
A bill was introduced by a bipartisan group of senators led by Ted Cruz and Maria Cantwell and it’s designed to bring some structure and rule enforcement back to college sports.
I could see a Big10/SEC split working really well and also failing miserably. The advantage that they would have over, say, LIV Golf is that those schools have already established traditions and rivalries. LIV tried to manufacture excitement and be bold with their formatting, but it fell short because they tried to do to much. I went to a LIV event in Dallas, and it was one of the most boring days of my life. Even the players didn't seem to really want to be there.
College football already has the passionate fans that'll follow their schools regardless, so they have an advantage there. What they will miss out on is the tradition of the bowl games, rivalries outside of those two conferences, and the nostalgia factor that comes with being part of the NCAA. I could see it failing over time because it's future will require future generations to care as much as the current generations do now. Is that possible without everything else outside of those two conferences, maybe, but also probably not.
I think the schools that stay with the NCAA will ultimately be rewarded in the long run, similar to the players that stayed on the PGA Tour. While we all may take a step back initially, over time I think it holds strong and flourishes as a more "pure" amateur sport viewing experience.
College football already has the passionate fans that'll follow their schools regardless, so they have an advantage there. What they will miss out on is the tradition of the bowl games, rivalries outside of those two conferences, and the nostalgia factor that comes with being part of the NCAA. I could see it failing over time because it's future will require future generations to care as much as the current generations do now. Is that possible without everything else outside of those two conferences, maybe, but also probably not.
I think the schools that stay with the NCAA will ultimately be rewarded in the long run, similar to the players that stayed on the PGA Tour. While we all may take a step back initially, over time I think it holds strong and flourishes as a more "pure" amateur sport viewing experience.
Good shit by everyone. Mainly I was looking at LIV solely through the expense piece and it being heavily subsidized like college sports. I always come back to the simple fact that resources are finite. You can keep spending but at some point the bill comes due and you could argue that college sports is on the downside of the mountain with enrollment dropping on average, inflation continuing to wreck the economy, and declining spectator interest on average.
That said, everything comes down to asking what can realistically be done at this point? The NCAA is a powerless organization that is run by the inmates, and when they try to enforce the rules said inmates created, their peers sue and have seemed to win the majority of the suits. So essentially, at this point, it is nothing more than a shell corporation that serves as a economic pass through entity.
That said, everything comes down to asking what can realistically be done at this point? The NCAA is a powerless organization that is run by the inmates, and when they try to enforce the rules said inmates created, their peers sue and have seemed to win the majority of the suits. So essentially, at this point, it is nothing more than a shell corporation that serves as a economic pass through entity.
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Big Ten HC cited for hypocrisy
https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/ot...d=6a1c3bfe38ac4fe0ae6e4de9b2be7c2a&ocid=hpmsn
https://www.msn.com/en-us/sports/ot...d=6a1c3bfe38ac4fe0ae6e4de9b2be7c2a&ocid=hpmsn