Good points - how many people religiously tune in to the minor leagues (outside of those who live in the communities in which they play)?I saw the linked article about Texas while reading the WVU board. Regarding a 20 or so team breakaway, the below outtake captures my thoughts exactly.
This is probably all part of a plan to eventually get a smaller field to a champions league in college football. Maybe it’s not immediately, but sometime, the top 12 or 16 or 24 schools will band together thinking, “We’ll get more money just playing ourselves.” Then eventually they’ll realize that not quite as many people care about watching college football as they once did.
LINK
CFB has been on a steady collision course with professionalism, probably for at least 3 decades. Now that they’re approaching pro status, the sport’s death knell is ringing. The distinction between minor leagues and amateur athletics is a bigger margin than they seem to be banking on. In other words, they’re risking a lot of eyeballs who recognize that college sports are different/better than the bus leagues.