I have about a 1 hour commute in the morning, and I listen to Mike & Mike on ESPN radio on my drive. Lately I have heard "Greeny" argue multiple times that he believes there will be a big move in college football in the near future. The theory is that the power-5 conferences have become such a big money maker that they will break from the NCAA and create their own league. Essentially, a minor league for the NFL. This is partially because they don't want the rules of the NCAA, and also because they can make more money through TV contracts and such. This would essentially leave NCAA football with only they mid-major conferences like the MAC. While the NCAA would still have plenty of teams to play, the issue would be money. As Greeny pointed out on the show, many of the mid-major conferences depend on playing 1 or 2 power-5 teams per year to raise money. One of those games can generate as much money as the rest of the season for a mid-major team. The further point made on the show is that many football programs would be dropped by colleges because they no longer would be able to fund they team without those big money making games.

This raises some questions for me. Do you think this is a far fetched idea, or does it hold some merit? If this were to happen, what does it mean for UB? Without the power-5 teams would NCAA football become an entity on the same level as the arena league? Would UB be able to fund a team without those games against Penn St and Ohio St? Does this mean the time is now for UB to try and move up to prevent becoming obsolete?

To be clear, I don't know what to believe on this subject. I just think it brings up some good conversation.