Bill Connelly has a crazy idea: The Big 12 expanding to 24 teams and adopting intra-conference relegation.

http://www.sbnation.com/college-football/2016/5/9/1163884...


Won't happen, but it's fun to think about.

Not one mention of Ohio. Ugh. We don't even show up at all while many others do. Shows where we are on outsiders thoughts.

I agree with you about our antiquated stadium. Not sure at all about football popularity having peaked. What's that based on. Not arguing, just asking. Is it the injury thing?

Seriously, did you even read the article?
Look it over to see if all the teams mentioned are perennial powers.
Crawl back into your hole.

The thing I've always found interesting about this expansion era is that geographically the Big 12 was almost in the best position of anyone to expand. Remember back when TCU, BYU and Utah were all in the Mountain West and Boise State was poised to join them? How about just recruiting those four to the Big 12 right off the bat? The Big 12 could have owned 1/3 of the country.

I'm with Mark on this. I dearly love football but I am skeptical about its future.

Wondering if either soccer or lacrosse could eventually command the fan interest and use the facilities built during the football arms race?

I'm skeptical about football's future because of the injury thing leading to fewer kids playing the kid in the long run, and therefore fewer kids watching the game at all.

The greed and money issues have to play a part on some people as well. The length of the game getting close to four hours (from 3 hours only 10-15 years ago), and lengthy delays during the game also have to play a part. I can, without question, tell you they've changed my interest in the game, and how I watch football in general. I watch NFL games on "tape delay" with the DVR almost every Sunday, starting about 30-40 minutes late. By the time the second half starts, I'm almost caught up without missing any game play.

Also, soccer will continue to gain ground as one of the spectator sports of choice. Whether it takes from football or baseball is a matter of differing opinions. The reasons why are simple: 1) I'm the first generation who played the game, who got excited about the World Cup in 1994 in the US. I think it would have grown even faster if the multitude of games on TV were available back then. 2) We're consistently becoming a more global society, and football, not American Football, is the global game. American football, while popular in North America, is not nearly as popular as soccer worldwide.

My opinion only, but I feel like 25 years from now soccer will have gained ground, while football and baseball will have lost ground. Basketball, because it's a globally played game as well, will continue to be popular, if not more popular. And I didn't even mention Lacrosse, Hockey, or any other sport. Yeah, I think football will decline a little, and some of it's just because of the expanded options compared to 20+ years ago.

Good question! It wouldn't shock me to see soccer played at Peden Stadium instead of football within 2 generations, if Peden Stadium's still there in two generations.

You never know. It's a bad example, but Cincy FC is playing at Nippert now.

Just realized my views on MAC expansion are similar to Trump's "views" on immigration.

1. Deport EMU
2. Build wall to keep out low attendance schools.
3. Make low attendance schools pay for wall.
4. Win

Trump always talks about how smart Mexico's leaders are. I feel the same about EMU. They are taking advantage of us and we're too dumb to put a stop to it.

MAKE THE MAC GREAT AGAIN!

Football's future will be based on the liability schools have for player injuries, especially concussions. Settlements, like the one BGSU recently agreed to, could lead to the downfall of the sport if legal action continues to grow.

Just heard a guy on Sirius say that lacross is the only youth sport increasing in participation. Don't know about that but could be a viable option they're saying.

This is the best laugh of the afternoon for me so far. Nicely done!