Conference Realignment Topic

I just checked and of the 324 HD D-1 schools:
4 have dropped out of D-1
106 D-1 teams are not in their correct current conferences
214 D-1 teams are in the correct conferences

Plus 36 new teams have joined D-1 in real life

3/22/2021 6:26 PM
Just think what a new player to this game (especially one under 30 years old) thinks when they look at D1 teams and what
conference they are in. There is no way to make the conferences look exactly like they are today but for this game to be
taken seriously by newcomers the new programmers need to let it be known that a conference realignment is coming and then
shortly after do just that. Coaches who have been at teams affected by these changes have to realize that these changes will be for the overall
good of the game. Then it needs to be known that after every 5 seasons or so after that--they will realigned again to meet the current alignment
as much as possible.

Some would be easy--Notre Dame to the ACC and Maryland to the Big 10. Others would take an extra step: Colorado from the Big 12 to the Pac 10, Fresno St from the Pac 10 to the Mountain West and TCU from the Mountain West to the Big 12. I think I remember somebody on these forums a few years back spent a good chunk of time putting out a good realignment plan. It might have been in GD though. Maybe somebody bookmarked it.
3/23/2021 8:38 AM
If I recall, the code the game is built on requires 12-team conferences. Hypothetically that could be changed, but it gets very complicated, and has potential to damage the entire game, so if I understand it, it’s pretty much a no-go, at least I think that is how it’s been talked about in the past. How realistic can realignment be, adhering to a 12-team per conference rule? Is there really much benefit to that effort? Like how do you make the current “Big 10” (LOL) look realistic with 12 teams? Which 12 get in, and where do the others go?

That’s why I think the best idea is to keep the current game as is, and as they have discussed with GD, perhaps a new version, or entirely new game can be rolled out (aspirational) at some point, if that ever makes sense to WIS.
3/23/2021 1:54 PM
Even if they don’t realign the conferences to include the correct teams, they could at least update the names of the conferences (i.e. Carolinas-Virginia Conference is now Conference Carolinas). It’s not a huge deal, but it does make a difference and should be an easy fix.
3/23/2021 8:25 PM
a draft of 10 of the top conferences.
Adding the American Athletic, dropping WAC. 7 of 9 current WAC teams are not D-1 in HD.
*** edit **** dropping the Summit. Only 3 of the 12 teams in HD Summit are still in real life Summit


ACC
keep 11 existing
Maryland: ACC > BigTen
Notre Dame: BigTen > ACC
results in 12 of 15 current
missing: Louisville, Syracuse, PITT is 3rd team missing

SEC
keep 12 existing
results in 12 of 14 current
missing: Missouri, Texas A&M

BIG TEN
keep 11 existing
Maryland: ACC > BigTen
Notre Dame: BigTen > ACC
results in 12 of 14 current
missing: Nebraska, Rutgers

PAC 12
keep 10 existing
Colorado: Big 12 > PAC 12
Utah: MWC > PAC 12
Fresno State: Pac 12 > MWC
Hawaii: PAC 12 > Big West
results in 12 of 12 current

BIG 12
keep 11 existing
West Virginia: Big East > Big 12
results in 9 of 10 current
missing: TCU
extra: Missouri, Nebraska, Texas A&M

BIG EAST
keep 7 existing
Butler: Horizon > Big East
DePaul: Horizon > Big East
Marquette: Horizon > Big East
Xavier: A-10 > Big East
Creighton: MVC > Big East
results in 11 of 11 current
extra: Syracuse

MOUNTAIN WEST
keep 7 existing
Fresno St: PAC 12 > MWC
Boise State: West Coast > MWC
Nevada: West Coast > MWC
San Jose St: West Coast > MWC
Utah State: Big West > MWC
results in 11 of 11 current
extra: TCU

ATLANTIC 10
keep 9 existing
Davidson: Southern > A-1O
Rutgers: Big East > A-10
Pitt: Big East > A-10
results in 10 of 14 current
extra: Pitt, Rutgers
missing: Duquesne, Fordham, George Mason, VCU

MID-AMERICAN
keep all 12 existing
results in 12 of 12 current

AMERICAN (add conf, delete WAC)
Temple: A-10 > American
Cincinnati: A-10 > American
Central Florida: C-USA > American
East Carolina: C-USA > American
Houston: C-USA > American
Memphis: C-USA > American
SMU: C-USA > American
Tulane: C-USA > American
Tulsa: C-USA > American
Wichita St: MVC > American
South Florida: Sun Belt > American
Louisville: Big East > American
results in 11 of 11 current
extra: Louisville
3/24/2021 2:37 PM (edited)
The WAC is not currently in HD, right?
8.7.1
3/23/2021 11:57 PM
Posted by oldwarrior on 3/23/2021 10:03:00 PM (view original):
a draft of 10 of the top conferences.
Adding the American Athletic, dropping WAC. 7 of 9 current WAC teams are not D-1 in HD.


ACC
keep 11 existing
Maryland: ACC > BigTen
Notre Dame: BigTen > ACC
results in 12 of 15 current
missing: Louisville, Rutgers, Syracuse

SEC
keep 12 existing
results in 12 of 14 current
missing: Missouri, Texas A&M

BIG TEN
keep 11 existing
Maryland: ACC > BigTen
Notre Dame: BigTen > ACC
results in 12 of 14 current
missing: Nebraska, Rutgers

PAC 12
keep 10 existing
Colorado: Big 12 > PAC 12
Utah: MWC > PAC 12
Fresno State: Pac 12 > MWC
Hawaii: PAC 12 > Big West
results in 12 of 12 current

BIG 12
keep 11 existing
West Virginia: Big East > Big 12
results in 9 of 10 current
missing: TCU
extra: Missouri, Nebraska, Texas A&M

BIG EAST
keep 7 existing
Butler: Horizon > Big East
DePaul: Horizon > Big East
Marquette: Horizon > Big East
Xavier: A-10 > Big East
Creighton: MVC > Big East
results in 11 of 11 current
extra: Syracuse

MOUNTAIN WEST
keep 7 existing
Fresno St: PAC 12 > MWC
Boise State: West Coast > MWC
Nevada: West Coast > MWC
San Jose St: West Coast > MWC
Utah State: Big West > MWC
results in 11 of 11 current
extra: TCU

ATLANTIC 10
keep 9 existing
Davidson: Southern > A-1O
Rutgers: Big East > A-10
Pitt: Big East > A-10
results in 10 of 14 current
extra: Pitt, Rutgers
missing: Duquesne, Fordham, George Mason, VCU

MID-AMERICAN
keep all 12 existing
results in 12 of 12 current

AMERICAN (add conf, delete WAC)
Temple: A-10 > American
Cincinnati: A-10 > American
Central Florida: C-USA > American
East Carolina: C-USA > American
Houston: C-USA > American
Memphis: C-USA > American
SMU: C-USA > American
Tulane: C-USA > American
Tulsa: C-USA > American
Wichita St: MVC > American
South Florida: Sun Belt > American
Louisville: Big East > American
results in 11 of 11 current
extra: Louisville
This is really good IMO
8.7.1
3/24/2021 12:00 AM
That's really interesting, although the Big East would get a lot weaker considering the current baseline prestiges. They'd lose several A- schools (Louisville, Cinci, Pitt) and get back some mid-majors (Butler, Depaul, Marquette, Creighton, Xavier).

Otherwise most P6 conferences are just swapping out 1 or 2 teams, which is very viable. I'd hate to be a coach at Fresno or Hawaii though. Conversely, I'd love to be a Utah coach.
3/24/2021 10:42 AM
Posted by oldwarrior on 3/23/2021 10:03:00 PM (view original):
a draft of 10 of the top conferences.
Adding the American Athletic, dropping WAC. 7 of 9 current WAC teams are not D-1 in HD.


ACC
keep 11 existing
Maryland: ACC > BigTen
Notre Dame: BigTen > ACC
results in 12 of 15 current
missing: Louisville, Rutgers, Syracuse

SEC
keep 12 existing
results in 12 of 14 current
missing: Missouri, Texas A&M

BIG TEN
keep 11 existing
Maryland: ACC > BigTen
Notre Dame: BigTen > ACC
results in 12 of 14 current
missing: Nebraska, Rutgers

PAC 12
keep 10 existing
Colorado: Big 12 > PAC 12
Utah: MWC > PAC 12
Fresno State: Pac 12 > MWC
Hawaii: PAC 12 > Big West
results in 12 of 12 current

BIG 12
keep 11 existing
West Virginia: Big East > Big 12
results in 9 of 10 current
missing: TCU
extra: Missouri, Nebraska, Texas A&M

BIG EAST
keep 7 existing
Butler: Horizon > Big East
DePaul: Horizon > Big East
Marquette: Horizon > Big East
Xavier: A-10 > Big East
Creighton: MVC > Big East
results in 11 of 11 current
extra: Syracuse

MOUNTAIN WEST
keep 7 existing
Fresno St: PAC 12 > MWC
Boise State: West Coast > MWC
Nevada: West Coast > MWC
San Jose St: West Coast > MWC
Utah State: Big West > MWC
results in 11 of 11 current
extra: TCU

ATLANTIC 10
keep 9 existing
Davidson: Southern > A-1O
Rutgers: Big East > A-10
Pitt: Big East > A-10
results in 10 of 14 current
extra: Pitt, Rutgers
missing: Duquesne, Fordham, George Mason, VCU

MID-AMERICAN
keep all 12 existing
results in 12 of 12 current

AMERICAN (add conf, delete WAC)
Temple: A-10 > American
Cincinnati: A-10 > American
Central Florida: C-USA > American
East Carolina: C-USA > American
Houston: C-USA > American
Memphis: C-USA > American
SMU: C-USA > American
Tulane: C-USA > American
Tulsa: C-USA > American
Wichita St: MVC > American
South Florida: Sun Belt > American
Louisville: Big East > American
results in 11 of 11 current
extra: Louisville
Thanks oldwarrior for taking the time on putting out this post. This would be a huge improvement to HD.
3/24/2021 11:05 AM
Posted by texashick on 3/22/2021 6:11:00 PM (view original):
About a year ago, someone had a thread with how to realign the the major conferences in as few steps as possible and keep 12 per conference. I couldn't immediately find it on my search. With 12, its obviously wasn't perfect but I remember thinking it was better than I expected. That said, I also am mostly in the camp that it causes more issues than its worth. I think you will upset existing owners that get moved for a purely cosmetic reason. If they did make a new world, I would be pro some subtle shifts to make it better, but still prefer all 12 team conferences in the interest of fairness with respect to NT bids.
That was me! Thanks!
It had a few quick adjustments.


3/24/2021 7:08 PM
Hey i just started a 2021 HD Realignment Thread. Enjoy and please share your opinions.

Also, i browsed this thread... i love OldWarriors ideas!!!:
Notre Dame stays in B1G.
Nebraska to Big-12.
TCU to Mountain West.
New Mexico State wherever.


Plus we connected with dumping LaSalle out of the A10 (Metro Atlantic is perfect) and Fordham can stay out of the A-10 (Patriot is perfect).

Man, i'm really excited about the possibilities here, and think msjor realignment is possible and would be outstanding.
3/24/2021 7:29 PM (edited)
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