Are the Miami Hurricanes about to start the surge of college football teams going independent?

The expansion to a 24-team college football playoff may render conference championship games meaningless, prompting discussions about the continued necessity of conference structures. University of Miami president Joe Echevarria has openly considered the possibility of the Hurricanes becoming an independent program, citing economic disadvantages within the ACC compared to the Big Ten and SEC. While independence offers potential financial and scheduling advantages for football, it presents scheduling difficulties for other collegiate sports.

• The 24-team College Football Playoff may diminish the importance of conference championship games.
• This could lead major programs to question the value of conference affiliation and consider independence.
• Miami’s president, Joe Echevarria, expressed interest in leaving the ACC for independence due to economic disparities.
• Independence offers football scheduling flexibility and potential revenue but complicates scheduling for other sports.
• The shift could potentially lead to a breakaway league of top programs, further altering the college sports landscape.