Summer School Q&A: Conference realignment

Q: Why are schools allowed to choose whatever conference they want? Isn’t the whole point that conferences are regional?

A: Currently, there are no regional restrictions on conference membership — the previous regional-based conference system was mostly a result of convenience and tradition. Ultimately, the only thing stopping, say, a tiny Division I school in Alaska from joining the ACC is convincing the ACC to invite them in.

• However, the National College Players Association called on Congress to limit conferences’ geographical reach and number of schools last fall. It’s a long shot — Congress has bigger NCAA fish to fry, and they don’t seem particularly eager to start cooking.

• Some predict that, eventually, the most elite football programs will break with the NCAA to create a College Football Super League with regionalized divisions — essentially rolling this conference chaos back to square one. This is exhausting, you know?

Q: Could another conference buy the name “Pacific-12 Conference” and use it? How would that work?

A: It’s possible, but if aforementioned commissioner Teresa Gould has her way, the zombie Pac-12 will resurrect within the next two years by absorbing teams from other groups like the West Coast Conference and Mountain West Conference — not the other way around.

• Regardless, if, for example, the Mountain West bought the “Pac-12” name from the existing org, the old Pac-12’s prestige and brand appeal wouldn’t magically transfer with it. It would still be the Mountain West…just with a new lewk.