It's all predicated on how many regular season games each school will play
So let's stick with 12 for the sake of our discussion.
Make a Western Division (13 teams) and Eastern Division (13 teams). Everyone plays 12 games in their division. Winner of the divisions meets in the national championship game. That's 12 high-quality games per week for ESPN across all time zones. Moreover, if promotion was available for Tier 2, those games would be of great interest to viewers as well. Ditto in reverse for relegation. No one might care to watch two teams with terrible records late in the season, but if the loser was going to be relegated, plenty more would watch.
I am not satisfied with ESPN picking permanent winners and losers here. So if 40 teams are picked, how does #41 ever get their chance for the big time? If you build relegation and promotion in, it just makes so much more sense in dollars, fairness and competition.
Also, the salary cap idea that you bring up is interesting. But I am afraid we will run into the same problem as we have now. Some people will want to spend MORE and will find ways to do it. So if this cheating isn't being stopped now, I don't see it being stopped in the future. Although, if found out, they should be punished in real time in the standings.
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In response to this post by Synaesthesia)
Posted: 04/09/2022 at 3:15PM