I thought I could get 4-20 team leagues. However, once I started positioning teams, I realized unless there is a commitment by the four conferences to each have 20 teams, I don't see conferences having much legitimate choices. In fact, when I looked at 4-18 team conferences, I struggled a little to because it was forcing a couple of conferences to take schools I know they wouldn't choose. I can see adding a few, but like you said, there are a few possibilities of being downgraded. I know Wake has been thrown around a little. I think one that sneaks in is if the Big 12 implodes - I can't see anyone really taking Iowa State. The Big Ten would be their only shot, but there would have to be some type of agreement for that to happen. Kansas State would try to piggy-back to wherever Kansas goes. However, I think if the Big 12 is gone, the state of Kansas would at least be happy to get Kansas in one of the top 4. They wouldn't have any clout of one of the big 4 conferences to take Kansas State.

In my 72-team league, I didn't include any of the service academies. I know they want to be big time for commercial reasons, but there is too much competition for these teams to compete in many sports on the tier 1 level. I could see 65 expand to 68 or 70 - maybe have the ACC and Big Ten at 18 - SEC & Pac 12 at 16. The only way it goes more than 72 is if the Big 12 stays and adds 6 more teams - that would get us to 71. I could see the ACC adding two more. That would be 73.

Maybe we will whittle to 56 years down the road (4 14-team leagues). Maybe I will try to lay that out.