To Summarize, Mandel's theory is the top 24 fan & TV-friendly programs would band together in one Super Conference. We can all quibble with his selections and exclusions (ahem!)... here is his model (and the conferences they currently reside in):

SEC(8): Bama, Auburn, Arkansas, Florida, Georgia, LSU, Tennessee, aTm
ACC(3): Clemson, FSU, Miami
B1G(6): Michigan, MSU, Nebraska, Ohio State, Penn State, Wisconsin
B12(2): Texas, Oklahoma
PAC(4): USC, UCLA, Oregon, Stanford
IND(1): Notre Dame

His argument is that every game would be a "blockbuster" by today's standards and fans would fork over big bucks to see it. I would counter that argument with my own theories:

1) While fans of the chosen programs would cough up the cash... I think fans of these programs are already paying the freight for big-time football. How much more do you think you will get from them?

2) There are some "second tier" programs in there... like Arkansas, Stanford and a few others who would fall behind in that arms race (Tenn, PSU possibly?). How happy will these programs be in the top division when they go 3-9 every year? Will they still pay out the bucks?

3) Do you really think VT fans will pay ANYTHING to watch this? Or WVU, South Carolina, North Carolina, GT, OK State, and the other 50 programs left behind? I would not pay a cent, nor would I pay much attention until the final playoffs.

4) Conference pride and loyalty is killed. Mandel claims that games like OSU v. Michigan will be so much more important in the new system. I say, they will draw LESS viewers. Because that game will be competing against other blockbusters... AND today, fans of lesser B1G programs tune in to see the best teams in their conference (and maybe root against some big, bad rivals). Cutting off the other 50 programs is reducing interested viewership.

5) Mandel also assumes that these super teams stay in their conferences for all other sports. BWAHAHAHA! Yea, right! The other schools are just gonna let that happen? No way.

What would the rest of college football look like? Well... the SEC would be DECIMATED and the B1G would lose all of their star power as well.

ACC(11): VT, Virginia, UNC, NCSU, Duke, Wake, GT, BC, Cuse, Pitt, Louisville
PAC(8): Cal, Arizona, ASU, Utah, Washington, WSU, Oregon State, Colorado
B1G(8): Minn, Iowa, Illinois, Purdue, Indiana, Maryland, Rutgers, NW
Big12(8): Ok State, Texas Tech, TCU, Baylor, Kansas, KState, Iowa State, WVU
SEC(6): Miss, MSU, Vandy, Kentucky, South Carolina, Mizzou

One of those conferences would be absorbed into others, emphasizing regional matchups... and there is still plenty of good football there. Good enough for these fans to flip the bird to the Super Elite idea :)