Two months ago, we theorized what the New World Order of college football would look like here. Today, that reality is much closer than anyone ever expected with the events of the past week. With expansion talk accelerating at a rapid pace around the country, and the walls of Troy coming down in Los Angeles, this is one of the biggest weeks in college football history. Let's take a look at each story and it's ramifications.
*The Hammer Comes Down on USC
-Wow. I don't know if anybody expected this. A 2 year bowl ban, the loss of 20 scholarships, and the likely removal of their 2004 national championship. The penalties handed down by the NCAA are the biggest in recent memory to be handed down to a national program - at least since 1993 and Auburn went 11-0 with a postseason and TV ban. But, USC, the darling of ESPN and Hollywood, looks like it might have to start over. Everyone was so enamored with how cool USC was and turned a blind eye to what was going on behind the scenes. I'm sure Colin Cowherd will brush it off, but I can't see how a program can keep the wagons rolling with a legendary head coach leaving for the NFL, a 2 year ban, and the loss of that many scholarships.
Obviously, this hurts USC going forward - no chance at a national title the next two seasons, and Lane Kiffin won't be able to handle the loss of 20 scholarships well. But, even more damaging is the stain left on the USC brand and the Pete Carroll Era. Carroll now looks like a coach on the Calipari level that left when the going got tough and leaves a wasteland behind him. Carroll's reputation gets flushed in this because he ran to the pros before he could clean up the mess he created. (By the way, I think I called that in January) The USC of the 2000s was the A-list program, contained the supposed greatest team of all-time, won 3 Heisman Trophies, and what was 2 National Championships - but now looks like just 1.
Clearly, there were major violations here and the NCAA is in the business of making an example out of USC with these penalties. It's going to be an interesting two years to see how Lane Kiffin deals with this adversity. Now with the Pac 10 looking like it's going to 16 teams and adding the Texas and Oklahoma juggernauts, USC's time at the top may be over.
*Nebraska Hits The Red Button
-Tom Osborne and Nebraska made the decision that dissolved the Big 12. Nebraska leaving the Big 12 for the Big 10 is the move that starts all of the other dominoes falling. It's somewhat sad to see the Big 8/Big 12 tradition go poof, but it is a fantastic move for the Cornhuskers. Yes, the Big 10 Network and all the extra money is nice, but Nebraska is a perfect fit for the Big 10 as far as football tradition in the Midwest. The folks in Lincoln will fit right in with the ones in Columbus, Ann Arbor, Madison, and Iowa City. Going to the New Big 10 opens doors to Nebraska for new rivalries and gives them a chance to continue to rebuild the program in a conference that lacks the depth of other major players. Give credit to Osborne and Nebraska, in this situation universities need to be proactive instead of reactive, and Nebraska leaving for the Big 10 does just that.
*The Pac 10 Annexes The Big 12
-Being proactive is just what new Pac 10 commissioner Larry Scott is doing. Today, Colorado appears to be the first school to move west from the Big 12 to the Pac 10. Basically, the Big 12 South now becomes the Pac 10 East - with Texas, Texas A&M, Texas Tech, Oklahoma, and Oklahoma State joining Colorado in going west. The Pac 10 might emerge as the big winner in all of the reshuffling because of the additions of Oklahoma and most importantly Texas. Texas (maybe even more so than Notre Dame) is the prized recruit in the apocalypse. The Pac 10 instantly becomes a rival to the SEC for best football conference in the nation, and they become the first league to reach the 16 Team Superconference plateau.
*Remaining Questions
What About Missouri? - Missouri looks more and more likely to be the school that's left without a dance partner. All along, Mizzou was thought to be joining Nebraska in going to the Big 10, but the vibes coming out recently make it seem like that is becoming less likely. Perhaps the Big 10 doesn't want stuck with 13 teams at the moment and they'll come in later... or it's time for Tiger fans to start to worry. With no Big 12, the Big 10 is clearly the best fit for Missouri, but they may be stranded with Kansas, Kansas St., Iowa St., and Baylor as the Big 12's casualties. Hello Mountain West?
Does Notre Dame Get In? - Notre Dame has held out with CFB independence for so long, and has found it very fruitful... but now might be the time to get in. Notre Dame does not want to be left out of the party if 4-5 Megaconferences bolt from the NCAA and leave ND and NBC with games against Army and Syracuse. The Big 10 and the rest of college football might force the hand of the Irish to join the league that has sought them for so long. But, now, the pressure might shift from the conference to Notre Dame to make their move.
Who Makes The Next Move? - Assuming the Nebraska and Pac 10 moves happen, the next move may be the most crucial. Does the Big 10 try to reach 16? Does the Mountain West try to shoehorn themselves in by getting Boise, Kansas, and Mizzou? Do the Eastern schools finally get in on the action with the SEC or the ACC poaching from the Big East to begin its downfall? The college football apocalypse is now upon us folks, get ready for a wild ride and a vastly different and possibly soon to be irrelevant NCAA.
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