I know CFB fans are tired of hearing the word “Conference Realignment”, but I have devised a plan that could end the need for teams to constantly change conferences as one giant shift would certainly be the best and the last. Using all 335 NCAA programs that are eligible for the NCAA tournament, one giant shift would effectively keep rivalries in tact while resurrecting old rivalries and creating new ones as well. With this plan the NIT would become relevant by expanding to 64 teams, and CFB would do away with bowl games for good. Here is my proposition for 8 FBS conferences and 14 mid major conferences.

How Basketball Works: Each of the FBS conference will all have 18 game conference season and will play each other once, or twice depending on the conference. For example, Kansas in the big 16 would play all the teams in their conference once, (15 Games) but for their top 3 rivals (KSU, Nebraska, Missouri) would play them home and away annually to make up 18. In a conference that has 18 teams like the ACC, North Carolina has only one home and away series with Duke (2 games) plus the other 16 teams in the conference to make up 18 games. The FCS is similar in the facts that they too have home and away rival series as well.

How Football Works: each team will play every team in their own division for 8 or 7 seven games (depending on the conference) and play 2 random teams from the other division in their conference plus 3 non conference game to make up a 12 game regular season schedule.

Example of football schedule for Kansas:

1. Middle Tennessee State 2. Youngstown State 3. Southern University

4. KSU 5. Nebraska 6. Ohio State 7. Wisconsin 8. Iowa 9. Indiana 10. Minn

11. Iowa State 12. Missouri (the first 3 are non conference, Indiana & Ohio State are in the eastern division and the other 7 are in Kansas’ division, the east)

Example of Basketball Schedule for Kansas:

1. LIU 2. University of South Dakota 3. SMU 4. Utah 5. UT Martin 6. Louisville 7. Navy 8. Butler 9. Gonzaga 10. Longwood 11. Cleveland State 12. UCLA 13. Syracuse

14. @ KSU 15. VS Illinois 16. @ Nebraska 17. @ Iowa State 18. VS Ohio State 19. VS KSU 20. @ Northwestern 21. @ Notre Dame 22. VS Iowa State 23. @ Missouri 24. @ Michigan 25. VS Missouri 26. VS Nebraska 27. @ Wisconsin 28. VS Purdue 29. VS Michigan State 30. @ Minnesota 31. VS Indiana

(I did not clarify VS or @ for the first 13 non conference Games).

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The FBS Conferences:

The Big 16 Conference Overview: One major change to the big 10, beside the fact that it has 16 teams now, is that Penn State is no longer a part of the conference. The reasoning behind that is Penn State doesn’t bring much to the table in terms of Basketball, and the whole “Sandusky Scandal” looms over the university’s football program and gives the Big 10 a black eye. I think that PSU would have an easy time transitioning back to their formal state, independency, and being apart of the Big 10 for 20 years or so won’t seem like that much of a loss, compared to Mizzou leaving a conference they were a apart of for over 100 years. Four of the five new members come from the Big 12 Conference in Kansas, KSU, ISU, and Missouri. They fit into the geographical area quite well and rekindle with former Big 12 member Nebraska, and all bring excellent football & Basketball tradition along with them. Notre Dame is the last member of the Big 10 and finally losses it’s indecency and moves in familiar territory and will play foe’s it plays on a daily basis.

West:

Kansas (KSU, Nebraska, Missouri)

KSU (KU, Iowa State, Nebraska)

Iowa State (KSU, Iowa, Missouri)

Iowa (Iowa State, Minnesota, Wisconsin)

Missouri (Nebraska, KU, ISU)

Nebraska (KSU, KU, Mizzouri)

Wisconsin (Minnesota, Iowa, Ohio State)

Minnesota (Iowa, Wisconsin, Northwestern)

East:

Northwestern (Minnesota, Illinois, Purdue)

Illinois (Ohio State, Northwestern, Indiana)

Indiana (Illinois, Purdue, Michigan State)

Purdue (Notre Dame, Indiana, Northwestern)

Michigan (Ohio State, Michigan State, Notre Dame)

Michigan State (Indiana, Michigan, Notre Dame)

Ohio State (Michigan, Illinois, Wisconsin)

Notre Dame (Michigan State, Purdue, Michigan)

* The teams in the parentheses represent the teams that each team will play home and away every year in order to make up 18 game conference schedule. EX: Northwestern would play every team in the Big 16 once (15 Games) plus and additional 3 games with their closest rivals (Minn, Illinois, Purdue) to add up to 18 games. AKA Rivalries games mean home and away each year.

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ACC Conference Overview: The ACC gains 4 new Football teams, all of which are from the Big East and two “Olympic Sports Only” members. The ACC is one of the weaker football conferences as they typically struggle in off season BCS bowl games, adding four teams from the Big East doesn’t necessarily make their football any more “powerful” than it already is, but it’s basketball becomes even greater than it already is. UConn, West Virginia, Syracuse, and Pitt exit the Big East and land into the north division of the ACC. The ACC also adds former Big 10 member Penn State in basketball that already has a “rivalry” with Maryland and is very close to the Pitt campus. St. Johns enters the ACC as the most valuable Big East Basketball School without a football program. The Pittsburgh, New York, and Hartford metro areas should fit in with the other ACC markets.

North:

West Virginia (Pitt)

Syracuse (Uconn)

Pitt (West Virginia)

Uconn (Syracuse)

Maryland (Penn State)

Boston College (St. Johns)

Virginia Tech (Virginia)

Virginia (Virginia Tech)

South:

UNC (Duke)

Duke (UNC)

NCSU (Wake Forest)

Wake Forest (NCSU)

Clemson (Georgia Tech)

Georgia Tech (Clemson)

Miami (FSU)

FSU (Miami)

Penn State* (Maryland)

St. Johns* (Boston College)

* Penn State & St. Johns only participate in Olympics sports with the ACC.

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SEC Conference Overview: The SEC is already the best football conference in all of the NCAA no question. When you add Texas, Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and Louisville it takes SEC football to a whole new level. I have heard many saying that Texas or Oklahoma will never go to the SEC, though I beg to differ. Texas, OSU, and Oklahoma bring great Football, Basketball, Baseball, and geographical location to the SEC while Louisville is already rivals with SEC foe Kentucky and brings a great heritage in Basketball and Baseball. If this realignment were to happen, you could make the argument that the SEC would be the best conference in football, basketball, and baseball, plus think of all the money the SEC would be making.

West:

Oklahoma (OSU, Texas, Arkansas)

Oklahoma State (Texas, OU, Arkansas)

Texas (OSU, OU, LSU)

Louisville (Kentucky, Vanderbilt, Mississippi State)

LSU (Ole’ Miss, Texas, Arkansas)

Arkansas (LSU, OU, OSU)

Mississippi State (Ole’ Miss, Vanderbilt, Alabama)

Ole’ Miss (LSU, Mississippi State, Louisville)

East:

Kentucky (Louisville, Florida, Tennessee)

Florida (Kentucky, Georgia, Tennessee)

South Carolina (Auburn, Georgia, Alabama)

Georgia (Florida, Auburn, South Carolina)

Alabama (Mississippi State, Auburn, South Carolina)

Auburn (Alabama, Georgia, South Carolina)

Tennessee (Vanderbilt, Florida, Kentucky)

Vanderbilt (Ole’ Miss, Louisville, Tennessee)

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Pac 16 Conference Overview: The Pac 12 Grows into the Pac 16 with the additions of Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Baylor, and Boise State. Baylor had a golden year in Baseball, Football, Men’s & Women’s Basketball in the 2011 academic year and looks to continue that success and would be a valuable asset for the Pac 12. Texas Tech was “supposedly” ready to leave for the Pac 16 so they fit in to the western culture, as they are located in far west Texas. Texas A&M is the last member of the Big 12 and leaves with Baylor and Texas Tech and should help bolster the football culture. Boise State has proven it’s worth in the realm of the BCS and should get a shot at solidifying their place in football history by entering the Pac 16.

North:

Washington (Washington State, Oregon, Oregon State)

Washington State (Washington, Oregon, Oregon State)

Oregon: (Washington, Oregon State, Washington State)

Oregon State: (Washington State, Washington, Oregon)

Utah (Boise State, Colorado, Arizona State)

Boise State (Utah, Colorado, Arizona State)

California: (USC, Stanford, UCLA)

Stanford: (USC, Cal, UCLA)

South:

Colorado (Utah, Baylor, Boise State)

Texas A&M: (Baylor, Texas Tech, Arizona)

Texas Tech: (Texas A&M, Baylor, Arizona)

Baylor: (Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Colorado)

Arizona: (Texas A&M, Arizona State, Texas Tech)

Arizona State: (Arizona, Boise State, Utah)

UCLA (Cal, Stanford, USC)

USC (UCLA, Stanford, Cal)

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Conference USA:

West:

SMU (TCU)

TCU (SMU)

Houston (Tulsa)

Tulsa (Houston)

Southern Miss (Tulane)

Tulane (Southern Miss)

UAB (Memphis)

Memphis (Tulane)

East:

UCF (USF)

USF (UCF)

Villanova (Georgetown)

Georgetown (Villanova)

Rutgers (Cincinnati)

Cincinnati (Rutgers)

ECU (Marshall)

Marshall (ECU)

Marquette (DePaul) Olympic Sports Only

DePaul (Marquette) Olympic Sports Only

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Mountain West Conference

West:

San Jose State (Fresno State, Nevada, UNLV)

SDSU (Fresno State, BYU, UNLV)

Hawaii: (Fresno State, BYU, Utah State)

Fresno State (Hawaii, San Diego State, San Jose State)

Nevada (UNLV, San Jose State, Utah State)

UNLV (San Diego State, Nevada, San Jose State)

BYU (Utah State, San Diego State, Hawaii)

Utah State (BYU, Hawaii, Nevada)

East:

Montana (Idaho, Wyoming, UTEP)

Idaho (Montana, Wyoming, UTEP)

Wyoming (Colorado State, Montana, Idaho)

UTEP (New Mexico State, Idaho, Montana)

Colorado State (Wyoming, Air Force, New Mexico)

Air Force (Colorado State, New Mexico, New Mexico State)

New Mexico State (UTEP, New Mexico, Air Force Academy)

New Mexico (New Mexico State, Air Force Academy, Colorado State)

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MAC:

West:

Ball State

NIU

Central Michigan

Eastern Michigan

Western Michigan

Kent State

Bowling Green

Toledo

East:

Youngstown State

Akron

Ohio

Miami (OH)

Buffalo

Army

Temple

UMass

Seton Hall, Providence, Navy (Olympic Sports Only)

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Sun Belt:

East:

Middle Tennessee (WKU, Troy, FIU)

WKU (Troy, MTSU, Old Dominion)

FAU (FIU, USA, Troy)

FIU (FAU, Georgia State, USA)

Troy (MTSU, WKU, FAU)

Georgia State (Old Dominion, FIU, USA)

South Alabama (Georgia State, Tory, Old Dominon)

Old Dominion (Georgia State, WKU, USA)

West:

UTSA (Texas State, North Texas, Rice)

Texas State (UTSA, Rice, North Texas)

North Texas (Texas State, Rice UTSA)

Rice (Texas State, UTSA, North Texas)

Louisiana Lafayette (Louisiana Monroe, Louisiana Tech, Arkansas State)

Louisiana Monroe (Louisiana Tech, Arkansas State, Louisiana Lafayette)

Louisiana Tech (Louisiana Monroe, Arkansas State, Louisiana Lafayette)

Arkansas State (Louisiana Monroe, Louisiana Tech, Louisiana Lafayette)

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Independents:

Penn State

Navy

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FCS Conferences and Basketball

West Coast Conference:

Gonzaga

Portland

LBSU

Cal State Fullerton

UC Santa Barbara

UC Riverside

UC Irvine

Pacific

Cal State Northridge

Saint Mary’s College

Loyola Marymount

San Francisco

Pepperdine

Santa Clara

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American 16:

Denver

Wichita State

Creighton

Oral Roberts

UT Arlington

Saint Louis

UMKC

Texas A&M CC

Milwaukee

Chicago Illinois

IUPUI

Detroit

Xavier

VCU

Belmont

Little Rock

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Midwestern Conference:

Green Bay

Loyola (IL)

Evansville

Bradley

Southern Illinois Edwardsville

IPFW

Oakland

Cleveland State

Wright State

American University

UMBC

George Mason

George Washington

Loyola (MD)

Drexel

St. Joseph

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Atlantic: Sun

Eastern Tennessee

Liscomb

North Florida

Florida Gulf Coast

Stetson

Radford

USC Upstate

Winthrop

Co of Charleston

UNC Asheville

Highpoint

UNC Wilmingotn

UNC Greensboro

Mercer

Kennesaw State

Longwood

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Metro Atlantic:

Coppin State

Maryland East Shore

Farleigh Dickenson

Mount St. Mary’s

St. Peters

Rider

Hartford

Fairfield

Quinnipiac

St. Bonaventure

Northeastern

Hofstra

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North Atlantic:

LIU Brooklyn

Canisius

Siena

Binghamton

La Salle

Manhattan

Niagara

Boston University

Vermont

Football Conferences:

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Big Sky:

Eastern Washington

Portland State

Idaho State

Montana State

South Dakota

SDSU

NDSU

North Dakota

Northern Colorado

Northern Arizona

Southern Utah

Weber State

Cal Poly

San Diego

UC Davis

Sacramento State

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Southland:

Arkansas Pine Bluff

Central Arkansas

Prairie View A&M

Texas Southern

Stephen F. Austin

Lamar

Sam Houston State

Alcorn State

Jackson State

MVSU

Grambling State

Southern

McNeese State

Nicholas State

North Western

South East Louisiana

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Missouri Valley:

Northern Iowa

Drake

Missouri State

Illinois State

Eastern Illinois

Western Illinois

Southern Illinois

South East Missouri State

Morehead State

Tennessee State

Murray State

Eastern Kentucky

Indiana State

Butler

Valparaiso

Dayton

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Southeast Atlantic:

Austin Peay

Davidson

Tennessee Tech

Tennessee Martin

Chattanooga

Jacksonville State

Sanford

Alabama A&M

Alabama State

Bethune Cookman

Florida A&M

Jacksonville

Savannah State

Georgia Southern

Furman

Citadel

(Stetson & Mercer in football only in 2013)

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Carolina Athletic Association:

South Carolina State

Wofford

Gardner Webb

Charleston Southern

Coastal Carolina

Presbyterian

Western Carolina

Campbell

Elon

North Carolina Central

Appalachian State

North Carolina A&T

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Colonial Athletic Association:

Liberty

VMI

James Madison

Norfolk State

Howard

Hampton

Richmond

William & Mary

Towson

Morgan State

Delaware

Delaware State

Bucknell

Lafayette

Lehigh

Charlotte

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Northeastern Conference:

Wagner

Duquesne

Robert Morris

St. Francis (NY)

Monmouth

Central Connecticut State

Sacred Heart

Bryant

Rhode Island

Holy Cross

New Hampshire

Maine

Albany

Stony Brook

Marist

Fordham

Colgate

St. Francis (PA)

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Ivy League:

Penn

Harvard

Princeton

Dartmouth

Cornell

Yale

Brown

Columbia

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Post Season Basketball:

The NCAA Tournament stays the same with 68 teams (22 auto bids), all other post season tournaments are now rendered useless except for the NIT, which will grow to a field of 64 with no auto, bids. The locations for the NCAA tournament will remain the same, though the NIT will use the locations used by the NCAA tournament the previous year.

Post Season Baseball:

The NCAA Tournament stays the same.

Post Season Football: Bowl games will be no more and be instead replaced by play off brackets. The NCAA tournament will consist of 16 teams, 8 auto bids and will consist of the top teams in the AP top 25. The locations of the games will be held in the locations of the top bowl games (Cotton, Rose, ETC.) The 2nd tournament will be the NIT football and also consist of 16 teams, claiming the rest of the top 25 in their bracket. The locations of the NIT will be held at the next best bowl game locations. There will also be 3 other 12 team brackets using the rest of the teams that would be in bowl games normally.