Greg McElroy believes a college football super league would be more than 40 teams

One of the ideas thrown around regarding the future of college football has been a Super League. Maybe similar to the NFL but with a few more teams. Everyone has different opinions but 40 has been the number of teams, split into two divisions — the Big Ten and SEC.

At the current moment, those two conferences have 34 teams, meaning only six more would be added if the number is 40. ESPN’s Greg McElroy believes somewhere around “50, maybe 60” is more realistic when considering programs currently a part of the ACC and Big 12.

“Personally, I think there should be more than 40,” McElroy said. “But if you look at the SEC and Big Ten, that’s comprised of 34 teams right there alone. There are seven or eight from the ACC that I think can play at the highest possible level, maybe more. There are five or six in the Big 12 with the highest resources and opportunity, could elevate as well.”

This is without mentioning Notre Dame, an obviously important part of the college football puzzle. If there is a Super League in the sport, the Fighting Irish will be at the forefront.

Add them in plus McElroy’s rough numbers and we are sitting at 47-49 teams.

Some would argue current Big Ten or SEC schools are not ready to be members of a Super League. Vanderbilt is the example used by McElroy. The Commodores are hardly competitive in the SEC and have won just 12 conference games in the last 10 seasons.

That does not mean they will just be kicked out, though. Every sport has different market sizes, potentially making the gap large from top to bottom.

“I think if you look at the power structure that is, you’re not just going to kick teams out of the league,” McElroy said. “You’re not going to say ‘Well, Vandy doesn’t compete at the highest possible level on a week-to-week basis so they’re out.’ I don’t see it happening like that. If it were to go to the Super League model, I can’t imagine a scenario where a power team was left out.”

More conference realignment is coming in the near future. Lawsuits against the ACC are already taking place with Clemson and Florida State, attempting to get out of the conference’s Grant of Rights.

Exactly how things will look is unknown. Forming a Super League is certainly possible but more teams may be worthy of joining the party than not, at least from McElroy’s perspective.