Explanation of the 12 Million base revenue cap

[Harry]

Non-BCS commissioners are in discussions to cap per-conference base revenue at $12 million per year in the playoff era, multiple sources have told CBSSports.com.

The so-called Group of Five -- MAC, Conference USA, Mountain West, American Athletic Conference, Sun Belt -- continues to finalize the distribution of their annual $86.5 million slice of the playoff pie. CBSSports.com reported the details of the split in January.

What's new is the $12 million base that essentially caps per-school distribution at $1 million per year. Any Group of Five conference with fewer than 12 members would get only $1 million per school. (10 schools = $10 million, 11 schools = $11 million, etc.)

However, no Group of Five conference is expected to be at fewer than 12 members when the leagues are fully realigned in 2015. The playoff era begins in 2014.

Group of 5 members in 2015

CONFERENCE SCHOOLS

Conference USA 14

Mid-American 13

American Athletic 12

Mountain West 12

Sun Belt 12

The idea, essentially, is to get better, not necessarily bigger. The conference with the team that snags the playoff bowl spot reserved for the No. 1 Group of Five school could max out at $25 million to $26 million in any given year.

Read more: http://www.mwcboard.com/index.php?s=a026d832663b14f8fb30dbd9fa651f0a&showtopic=47314

[JesseMartin]

I do like that they are all hammering things out together. I wouldn't expect nearly as much progress and competition with the BCS conferences as I do if they weren't trying to unify. We can't expect them to encroach upon the field of power held by the other conferences until full parity looms nearer, but it is essential to strengthen the coalition in order to move forward towards that goal. If the others hold their front in order to keep others out, then those wanting to break that hold must become an equally strong faction, regardless of the disparity in resources.