College Football Apocalypse: Supersized Conferences Are About to Ruin the Game

College football is on the verge of a seismic shift, as the landscape of conferences and power structures continues to evolve. The latest development has left many fans and analysts wondering if the sport is headed for a catastrophic implosion.

The Big Ten and SEC have long been the dominant forces in college football, with their teams frequently competing for national championships and producing some of the most talented players in the country. However, recent expansions and realignments have raised concerns that these two conferences are becoming too powerful, leaving other conferences and teams in the dust.

The most recent evidence of this trend is the College Football Playoff selection, which saw the Big Ten and SEC dominate the field. While the selection committee did a commendable job of balancing the teams and their records, the fact remains that these two conferences are exerting an outsized influence over the sport.

Some of the most notable concerns about the growing dominance of the Big Ten and SEC center around the impact on smaller conferences and independent teams. With the two power conferences attracting the most talented players and coaches, it becomes increasingly difficult for other teams to compete. This can lead to a self-reinforcing cycle, where the best teams continue to get better and the weaker teams struggle to keep up.

Another issue with the growing power of the Big Ten and SEC is the lack of diversity in the sport. When only two conferences are consistently competing for championships, it can lead to a stale and predictable environment. Fans and viewers may become disenchanted with the same old matchups and rivalries, leading to decreased interest and viewership.

One of the most surprising omissions from the playoff selection was Alabama, a team that has consistently been one of the top programs in the country. While their exclusion may have been justified based on their record and performance, it highlights the challenges faced by teams outside of the Big Ten and SEC. Even a team with Alabama's pedigree and reputation can struggle to break into the playoff field, especially when they are not part of one of the dominant conferences.

Despite these challenges, there are still opportunities for teams and conferences to break through and compete with the Big Ten and SEC. The rise of the Group of Five conferences, such as the AAC and the Mountain West, has shown that teams outside of the power conferences can still achieve success and compete at the highest levels.

Ultimately, the future of college football will depend on the ability of the sport's leaders to balance the interests of the dominant conferences with the needs of the smaller teams and conferences. By working together and finding ways to promote diversity and competitiveness, college football can continue to thrive and remain one of the most popular sports in the country.