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The 4 College Football Super-Leagues fans deserve

By Craig Williams

Jul 18, 2019; Chicago, IL, USA; Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delaney speaks during the Big Ten Football Media Days event at Hilton Chicago. Mandatory Credit: Jim Young-USA TODAY Sports
Jul 18, 2019; Chicago, IL, USA; Big Ten Commissioner Jim Delaney speaks during the Big Ten Football Media Days event at Hilton Chicago. Mandatory Credit: Jim Young-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Midwest League /

College Football Super-Leagues: The Midwest League

Tier I

Southwest Division

  • Texas, (30)
  • LSU, (36)
  • Oklahoma, (44)
  • Texas A&M, (34)
  • Memphis, (34)
  • Louisiana, (41)

North Division

  • Notre Dame, (44)
  • Minnesota, (30)
  • Oklahoma State, (35)
  • Wisconsin, (31)
  • Iowa State, (31)
  • Iowa, (35)

Tier II

Southwest Division

  • Kansas State, (25)
  • Tulane, (22/8)
  • Arkansas, (16/12)
  • Missouri, (25)
  • Houston, (27)
  • Louisiana Tech, (26)

North Division

  • Illinois, (17/7)
  • Purdue, (21)
  • Western Kentucky, (26)
  • Indiana, (21)
  • Northwestern, (22)
  • Ball State, (22/13)

Tier III

  • Kansas, (8)
  • Arkansas State, (22/6)
  • North Texas, (23/10)
  • Nebraska, (15)
  • Northern Illinois, (21/9)
  • Louisiana-Monroe, (15)
  • Tulsa, (20)
  • Rice, (11)
  • Sam Houston State (joining for 2023)

Saved for last, this is the most fascinating (and perhaps controversial) region. Sandwiched in the middle of the country, I split the state of Texas in half. I also included Memphis and Western Kentucky, two schools on the East side of the Mississippi River, to bring the region’s total to 33 teams.

Intriguing rivalries in this region abound: Arkansas against Texas and A&M,
Texas/A&M, Nebraska/Oklahoma restored, Arkansas/LSU, Northwestern/Illinois, Kansas State/Nebraska restored, Kansas/Kansas State, Iowa/Iowa State, Nebraska/Kansas restored, Purdue/Indiana, Memphis/Arkansas State, Missouri/Kansas restored, Houston/Rice, Minnesota/Wisconsin, and the list goes on!

LSU would miss playing Ole Miss and Alabama as conference foes but the Tigers get to keep rivals Arkansas and A&M. LSU/Texas also carries promise as a rivalry game.

Notre Dame would miss being independent with rivalry games from coast to coast. In this region, Notre Dame continues playing for The Shillelagh Trophy against rival Purdue, and also has Northwestern as a rival. LSU and Nebraska both have intriguing histories with Notre Dame, as well.

In a straightforward selection, Texas and Minnesota were the last schools in the top conference with 30 wins apiece over the past four seasons.

Tulane earned the last spot in Tier II due to a harder schedule than Northern Illinois and North Texas. Arkansas and Illinois, despite poor records, both land in Tier II by virtue of their difficult schedules.

My predictions for the Midwest Region if played this season: I would call Texas beating Notre Dame to get a four seed in the playoff. I would take Kansas State to beat Illinois and move up to Tier I (replacing Louisiana). And finally, a rare winning Kansas team would move up to Tier II, replacing Ball State.

If the NCAA still had control over realignment decisions, I could pass my structure along and we could all continue our debates for regional bragging rights, a college football tradition that used to truly matter. If this fantasy could become reality, fairness of play would be leveled. Money would roll in for the TV networks, and at long last, the musical chairs of college football realignment would be over!

Next. General Booty's Soldiers: Best names in College Football. dark

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