No idea, no matter how wacky it sounds appears to be off limits for Power Five Conferences. Here are some wild ideas for conferences to consider. As this realignment period drifts to a nonsensical point.

The Atlantic Coast Conference drops the Atlantic and goes global.

As the Pac-12 Conference crumbles, other Power Five Conferences are circling around the remaining four Pac-12 schools. Oregon State, Washington State, Stanford and California-Berkley. Even the Atlantic Coast Conference is reportedly interested in those schools. Perhaps the ACC could add schools along the coasts of all the world’s oceans. Paving the way for Clemson Football playing the University of Western Australia.

Conferences get to lease their names to corporations.

It would be harder to imagine the Pac-12 withering if it were the Amazon or Apple conference. The Big Ten could embrace its rust belt roots by becoming the Ford or General Motors conference. Imagine all of the oil, coal or renewable energy companies that would bid for the Big 12’s naming rights. Along with the bidding war between KFC, Chick-fil-A and Zaxby’s for the Southeastern Conference’s naming rights. If college sports are going to devolve into a crass pursuit of money; then why not have a conference lease itself to a bunch of tycoons.

Rose Bowl Game opponents are determined through a chariot race.

If this realignment period leads to the dismantling of many traditional rivalries. Perhaps the Rose Bowl could reach back into its historical roots. By having its opponents determined through a chariot racing tournament. Instead of inviting the Big Ten and Pac-12 champions. A tradition strained by the Rose Bowl’s inclusion in the BCS and College Football Playoff.

Chariot racing would be a nod to a period from 1904-1915. When the Tournament of Roses Parade culminated with chariot racing instead of football. One would figure with Kentucky’s horse racing reputation. We could have Ohio State take on Louisville or Kentucky in the Rose Bowl. Or the closest university to Santa Anita. Along with this, perhaps overtime could be decided through a quiz bowl. This is a competition between colleges after all.

Conferences realign based on their university’s academic reputations.

Now here’s a plan that could put the student back in student-athlete. If geographic considerations are going to be brushed aside by conferences. Then perhaps it’s time to conferences formed along academic lines. Imagine Cincinnati and Purdue as part of a conference featuring only Midwestern universities with famed engineering schools. Or Syracuse, Northwestern, Missouri and Ohio University joining together. To become part of a conference exclusively featuring prominent journalism schools. That conference shouldn’t have much trouble putting a broadcasting deal together.

Public universities can be disqualified from the CFP or March Madness due to state funding cuts.

This could pave the way for a massive public investment in education. In an era when colleges are facing public scrutiny due to high tuition. While many colleges deal with years of budget cuts. Imagine if Alabama faced disqualification from the CFP due to public education funding cuts. That could lead to Alabama having America’s most well-funded public education system.

Schools and conferences get more creative with their broadcasting deals.

It would be cool if more schools or conferences pursued a broadcasting deal. Akin to the deal Notre Dame Football has with NBC. The University of Notre Dame utilizes that deal to broadcast home and some neutral site games their advantage. By having a platform to promote the university. Notre Dame furnishes the “What Would You Fight For” segment during their NBC halftime shows. The segment highlights the academic and charitable pursuits of students, faculty and alumni. It’s a nice showcase of Notre Dame and its overall mission.

That kind of showcase is rare to see on other national college sports broadcasts. Which is why it would be nice to see more program or sports specific broadcasting deals. Including deals to broadcast prominent programs in non-revenue generating sports. Suppose a prominent Big Ten wrestling team moved their games off of the Big Ten Network. For a more lucrative deal with a different broadcaster.

The Pac-12 would’ve been wise to pursue a non-traditional broadcasting deal. That would’ve highlighted its strength in Olympic sports. Imagine if the Pac-12 Swimming or Track and Field Championships were broadcast by Olympic broadcaster NBC. Or SEC Baseball tournament games on World Series broadcaster FOX. While Jim Nantz is calling a conference golf tournament on CBS.

There are all kinds of serious ideas colleges and conferences should consider. To bring common sense back to college sports. In the wild west style landscape schools and conferences are dealing with. If common sense doesn’t win out here. Then college sports could descend into being a national joke, instead of being a national asset.