Rules for moving into a new conference

[lilhook]

What rules do you guys use when you are using a Group of Five team in a dynasty and you want to move them up?

When is the best time to do so? Would love to hear your thoughts

[Skyflame21]

Re: Rules for moving into a new conference

If your are talking about when a team should move from say Conference USA to the ACC. Then I use a 3 year bench mak system. I never move a team into a new conference until I believe they can be successful there. So a team like Boise State. Say they have 3 straight very good years 9+ wins they could be a candidate to join say the PAC-12. However, I will review their recruiting classes. Are they able to draw 2-3 top 100 level recruits. If they have been able to get some then that's another plus. I will also look at geography. A team like Boise is limited in state for top prospects. So they could struggle to attract quality level recruits. But for a team like San Diego State. Would have the California recruiting base and could thrive more due to its fertile recruiting base. The last thing I'll do is see how good their squad should be over the next 2 years. If I think they have a strong squad that can get wins in the new conference that will help recruiting also. But if they have 3 great years but look weak over the next few to graduations or early defections than I won't move them.

I really try to look at whether I believe that school can compete at that level.

[jbrew2411]

Re: Rules for moving into a new conference

I look at a few factors for teams moving up.

1) Value: Does the team in question bring value to the new conference? Using Colorado as a real life example. When they moved from Big-12 to Pac-12 the move was valuable for both team and conference. It brought a new market for the Pac-12 while it opened new recruiting states for the school and a conference that looked to be heading in a better place then the one they were leaving behind.

2) The 5 Year Plan: I look at a 5 year window of success. If a team is owning their conference over a 5 year span, winning the title and win/lose records, then they may have outgrown the conference. In those 5 years I can see the impact of recruiting classes, coaches, and overall strength of the conference. In 5 years recruiting classes will cycle through. Juniors and Seniors are the lifeline for most teams so I can see if teams reload or rebuild. Coaches show me if it is a stopping point for those higher skilled coaches that get fired by the big boys, needing a place to show they can still do the job. I don't move teams that have those 1-2 year HC's. Is the team just good because the rest of the conference is really bad.

3) School Overall: Is the school one that is growing or just a small school? Some schools are growing while others are happy to be a small school. Schools like Boise State or Georgia State are growing schools while the Troy's or Texas State's of the world are not looking to be big boys.

I use this plan but overall it is a video game so everything I stated has little impact on the game. I have moved schools like New Mexico to the Big-12 after a great 5 year run capped off by a national title in my short 3 year run there. They went on to win the Big-12 3 times over the next 5 years and another national title. A better conference can bring better recruits so staying power is not that big of an issue if the team is good enough at time of the move.

[lazytribe]

Re: Rules for moving into a new conference

Rules rules rules

[Cheese2121]

Re: Rules for moving into a new conference

Fantastic post Jbrew. I use a very similar mindset when planning conference realignments and the like. Thank you for the input!

[lilhook]

Re: Rules for moving into a new conference

What about moving user teams?

I'm Toledo currently in a dynasty

[jbrew2411]

Re: Rules for moving into a new conference

What about moving user teams?

I'm Toledo currently in a dynasty

For me I still follow what I posted. The move has check all the boxes. One or two good years is not enough, 5-6 great years is more like it. Toledo to a AAC might work but to the Big-10 I'm not sure would make sense for the Big-10. It has to make sense for both team and conference. Just my thoughts.

[SilverBullet19]

Re: Rules for moving into a new conference

Originally, I made specific success rules. IE to move to a power 5 I had to reach 6* prestige as a mid major, have 2 consecutive conference titles, one undefeated regular season, 3 BCS wins, etc etc. I basically made it hard to reach on purpose.

I, however, had to forgo those rules. In my Sonoma State dynasty, I had 4 consecutive conference titles in the C-USA and Mountain West, and went undefeated in conference for 28 consecutive games. I also had back to back BCS wins. I needed to move for the challenge.

JBrew has excellent guidelines. Realism is the key. Sonoma State moved to the Big 12 and gave them a California market, so the conference got a benefit. Sonoma State got more conference money, and continued the expansion of their successful program, so I got a benefit. Both sides win.

[jayhawkfan11]

Re: Rules for moving into a new conference

Originally, I made specific success rules. IE to move to a power 5 I had to reach 6* prestige as a mid major, have 2 consecutive conference titles, one undefeated regular season, 3 BCS wins, etc etc. I basically made it hard to reach on purpose.

I, however, had to forgo those rules. In my Sonoma State dynasty, I had 4 consecutive conference titles in the C-USA and Mountain West, and went undefeated in conference for 28 consecutive games. I also had back to back BCS wins. I needed to move for the challenge.

JBrew has excellent guidelines. Realism is the key. Sonoma State moved to the Big 12 and gave them a California market, so the conference got a benefit. Sonoma State got more conference money, and continued the expansion of their successful program, so I got a benefit. Both sides win.

As long as you aren't using "Travel Expense" as a criteria I would say this is a great move, gives the Big 12 a coast to coast conference with West Virginia out east.

However, in terms of realism I don't think Big 12 would add a West Coast school due to the geographic distance from the rest of the conference. Pac-12 maybe would have been a better fit, especially if you could make the case for San Diego State or even a Boise State to join to make it the Pac-14.

Honestly not trying to rain on your parade, just offering my suggestions

[SilverBullet19]

Re: Rules for moving into a new conference

As long as you aren't using "Travel Expense" as a criteria I would say this is a great move, gives the Big 12 a coast to coast conference with West Virginia out east.

However, in terms of realism I don't think Big 12 would add a West Coast school due to the geographic distance from the rest of the conference. Pac-12 maybe would have been a better fit, especially if you could make the case for San Diego State or even a Boise State to join to make it the Pac-14.

Honestly not trying to rain on your parade, just offering my suggestions

I considered that, but PAC 12 is all about research institutions, which Sonoma State is not. So I felt that wouldn't have been realistic. On the unrealistic side, I have played quite a few PAC 12 dynasties in the past, and didn't want to face those teams.

As you said, the travel expense was an issue. In my dynasty, Boise State moved with me to the Big 12. San Diego State also has the possibility of moving based on success, which was "written it" for the Sonoma State Big 12 bid to keep some of the traveling closer in the west division. I basically put that in specifically for the travel, as you mention. San Diego State will likely move after the 2020 season (just finished 2019), as they are 5* prestige right now. Down the road, Fresno State could jump too, as they are climbing fast.

As long as there is somewhat of a realistic story to it, it works for me. I know Big 12 is coast to coast, but I will rarely have to travel to West Virginia since they are in the East Division. At worse, that trip would be once every several years. Maybe, was down the road, the PAC 12 will lift the "research institution" idea and I can leap, if I'm tired of the Big 12.

I have possible plans of West Virginia moving to the ACC, and Iowa State going to the Big 10 so they face Iowa every year, and Cincinnati to the Big 10 (who has become a top 10 team). I've never gotten this deep in a dynasty, so I'm starting to shake it up.