New NCAA 2014 promotion-relegation OD (The Pyramid?) (Xbox 360)

[Kodos]

I've been kicking around the idea of starting a second NCAA football OD (in addition to The Ladder). Wanted to see if there is enough interest out there to reach critical mass. This could be on either the 360 or the PS3. Vote for which one (or both) that you'd be interested in.

Just wanted to see if this was worth pursuing.

[MacroGuru]

Still don't know if I will buy 14, but I would be up to playing in a second one if I did...

[korme]

I have never been in video console online league until this year, been doing it with 2k14 and it's a lot of fun. I would be very interested in a PS3 version.

[Eaglesfan27]

Time constraints prevent me from doing 2 OD dynasties. Otherwise, I'd be all over this

[Kodos]

Originally Posted by Eaglesfan27

Time constraints prevent me from doing 2 OD dynasties. Otherwise, I'd be all over this

That's what has held me back from asking before now. But then I decided that if they were run where the offseason in one league was during the regular season for the other, it could be workable.

[BYU 14]

In for 360

[gstelmack]

Your other option is to migrate The Ladder to NCAA 14. Especially if I'm the lone holdout, I may be hitting a point where I have to back out of that one due to time constraints.

[korme]

I am sure an online NCAA would be fun. I always get bored with CFB dynasties because I can always inevitably turn that 1* program into a powerhouse

[Kodos]

Originally Posted by gstelmack

Your other option is to migrate The Ladder to NCAA 14. Especially if I'm the lone holdout, I may be hitting a point where I have to back out of that one due to time constraints.

I hope you don't need to back out! You're a good owner!

People seem content with 2013, so I was just going to keep the Ladder there. Plus, 14 has one less conference than 13, so that would be a logistical problem.

[CU Tiger]

Still havent bought 14, BUT if you started this I would in a heartbeat.

XBOX360

[General Mike]

I would play PS3

[Kodos]

Bumped for post-Thanksgiving. Right now, PS3 is not looking that viable. 360 is looking a little better. Maybe we could reel SirFozzie in with an armed forces theme...

[SirFozzie]

Heh. I actually play more on PS3 now.. but depending on how time looks going forward, we'll see

[Kodos]

Okay, it appears that a 360 league is marginally more viable, so I'll go with that option. Here is the league structure that I came up with for a promotion-relegation league in NCAA 2014. (I've tentatively dubbed it The Pyramid.)

Teams were assigned to one of three regions (Western, Northeastern, or Southeastern). Within each region, teams were assigned to the East or West side. The armed forces are permanently independent teams, and do not move up or down.

Each winner of their conference championship game moves up, replacing the bottom finisher in the conference above them within their color band. In the All Champions Conference (ACC), there must always be a 2-1 ratio within each geographic region (Western, Northeastern, Southeastern). For instance, if Arizona moved up to the ACC in the Western region, it would replace the lowest finishing team out of Oklahoma and Texas and make the ratio 2 West vs. 1 East team. If Baylor moved up, they would replace the lower finisher of Oklahoma and Texas, and the ratio would remain 2 East vs. 1 West team in the Western region.

Within a region, a team in the bottom level may be shifted from the East to the West or vice versa to accommodate any changes at the top. There are 41 teams in each region, so there will always be 21 teams in one band of the region and 20 teams in the other. The band that has two teams in the ACC will have 21 teams, while the other band in the region will have 20 teams.

Teams in the ACC will play an 8-game round-robin schedule. All other conferences will have a conference championship game (except for the independents).

I haven't decided what to do with the bowls yet. Possibly, they will be all at large.

Human users will start in one of the bottom conferences of their chosen region. Human owners can either chose an existing 1-star team (listed below), or they can use a teambuilder team that uses one of the rosters below as its base. I'll figure out the allowed pitch breakdowns later... The teambuilder squads can be fictional teams, or you can create a 1-star version of a real team. (That team's band will be adjusted accordingly.)

Available Teams
Akron
Army (cannot be chosen, but can be used as a base for a teambuilder team)
Buffalo
Eastern Michigan
FAU
FIU
Georgia State
Idaho
Louisiana Tech
Memphis
Mid Tenn State
New Mexico
New Mexico State
North Texas
Old Dominion
San Jose State
South Alabama
Texas State
Tulane
UAB
UL Lafayette
UMass
UTEP
UTSA
Washington State
Western Kentucky
Western Michigan

Whew. I think that is it for now. Who's in? Just to be upfront, it appears from our similar NCAA 2013 league, that it is easier to build a strong roster if your team is located in a recruiting hotbed like California, Texas, or Florida. Alaska is not as easy.

Edit:

Early requests for teams
cartman - Texas State
CU Tiger - UAB
BYU 14 - San Jose State
Kodos - Florida Atlantic?
Marmel - Buffalo
vex - FIU
Radii - South Alabama
heybrad - Old Dominion

[cartman]

I'm a bit concerned about this part:

"or you can create a 1-star version of a real team."

Because it seems that there is still a hidden prestige rating that allows that team to easily get back to a high star level. If you look at the current NCAA league, Rice and USC have had similar records over the past few seasons, but USC is a 6 star team while Rice is 4 star. So my preference would be to limit it to the list of teams.

And I'm in, and I'd claim Texas State.

[Marmel]

What difficulty/slider settings are used?

[CU Tiger]

I'm in.
And requesting Clemson right now to be reserved.

If this flys I'll finalize on which roster

[BYU 14]

I'll play if we get enough, San Jose State

[Kodos]

Originally Posted by Marmel

What difficulty/slider settings are used?

I was hoping someone would have a suggested set. I was thinking default all-American (2nd highest level, whatever it is called).

[Kodos]

Originally Posted by cartman

I'm a bit concerned about this part:

"or you can create a 1-star version of a real team."

Because it seems that there is still a hidden prestige rating that allows that team to easily get back to a high star level. If you look at the current NCAA league, Rice and USC have had similar records over the past few seasons, but USC is a 6 star team while Rice is 4 star. So my preference would be to limit it to the list of teams.

And I'm in, and I'd claim Texas State.

You may have a good point.

I may roll with a created University of Rochester Lake Monsters squad.

[Marmel]

Originally Posted by Kodos

I was hoping someone would have a suggested set. I was thinking default all-American (2nd highest level, whatever it is called).

Additional questions: When would this start and what happens when two human controlled teams play each other? Do you have to arrange a time to play online?

[vex]

Originally Posted by Marmel

When would this start?

Also what I'm wanting/needing to know.

[Kodos]

Originally Posted by Marmel

Additional questions: When would this start and what happens when two human controlled teams play each other? Do you have to arrange a time to play online?

I'm flexible. What works for you guys?

Humans arrange a time to play. Each game week gets 5-7 real world days to play, and I always give extensions for real life problems if I'm given notice.

[CU Tiger]

Just to chime in. I am in the current '13 version and never seen a more amiable commish than Kodos. Seriously no one gets their panties in a bunch, just a simple "need a couple extra days" and its done.

[Marmel]

Originally Posted by Kodos

I'm flexible. What works for you guys?

Humans arrange a time to play. Each game week gets 5-7 real world days to play, and I always give extensions for real life problems if I'm given notice.

I just want to get a few games in on my own at whatever difficulty level is decided upon to see if I can play at that level. I'll tentatively take Buffalo.

[Kodos]

Okay. I think it is safe to assume that we will play at all-American, not Heisman.

[Kodos]

The Pyramid - Allow high-prestige teams to be rebuilt as 1-star teambuilder teams? - Front Office Football Central

A poll about the possible use of teambuildered versions of high-prestige teams.

[BYU 14]

Originally Posted by Kodos

Okay. I think it is safe to assume that we will play at all-American, not Heisman.

Sliders or default? Only ask because passing is extremely easy on default.

[Kodos]

Originally Posted by BYU 14

Sliders or default? Only ask because passing is extremely easy on default.

I'm very open to suggestions.

[heybrad]

I'm definitely interested in this, but not wanting to be any kind of burden I want to throw out my issues ahead of time and you're free to tell me to buzz off.

1. I haven't played NCAA for a couple of years, so I'd need to get the game. Just confirming this would be 2014, right?
2. Due to number 1, I'm sure I stink at the game and I've learned as I've gotten older, I'm much less of a joystick jockey.
3. I'm taking my family back to California for the holidays for 2.5 weeks, so the reality is that I probably couldn't commit until the after the new year. This one concerns me the most because I don't want to hold you up in any way.

You've got me itching to go out and get the game so I can start practicing before I leave for Cali on Dec 20th.

[gstelmack]

Originally Posted by BYU 14

Sliders or default? Only ask because passing is extremely easy on default.

FWIW, my opinion on this in the Ladder with 13 was to not adjust much of anything. The reason is EA does tuning files periodically, and they can completely throw off your sliders, and you have to redo them. Plus, folks tune sliders to their own style of play, so one set doesn't necessarily match anyone else's.

[Kodos]

Originally Posted by heybrad

I'm definitely interested in this, but not wanting to be any kind of burden I want to throw out my issues ahead of time and you're free to tell me to buzz off.

1. I haven't played NCAA for a couple of years, so I'd need to get the game. Just confirming this would be 2014, right?
2. Due to number 1, I'm sure I stink at the game and I've learned as I've gotten older, I'm much less of a joystick jockey.
3. I'm taking my family back to California for the holidays for 2.5 weeks, so the reality is that I probably couldn't commit until the after the new year. This one concerns me the most because I don't want to hold you up in any way.

You've got me itching to go out and get the game so I can start practicing before I leave for Cali on Dec 20th.

1. NCAA 2014, yes.
2. Not a problem. We're all old guys whose best joystick days are behind them.
3. Depending on when we start, we could schedule your byes for early in the season. You can do recruiting from the web.

[Kodos]

Originally Posted by gstelmack

FWIW, my opinion on this in the Ladder with 13 was to not adjust much of anything. The reason is EA does tuning files periodically, and they can completely throw off your sliders, and you have to redo them. Plus, folks tune sliders to their own style of play, so one set doesn't necessarily match anyone else's.

On the other hand, the NCAA 2014 team has been disbanded, so they probably aren't messing with tuning files much I would guess. Your last point is a good one though.

[vex]

I'll take the mighty FIU Golden Panthers.

[WVUFAN]

I wish this was for the PS3. I don't have an XBox anymore.

[korme]

360.... BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO

[Kodos]

Sorry. It came down to numbers of possible owners, plus I already own the 360 version.

[Radii]

how many teams are you looking for? How fast would things progress and how many games vs human opponents are we aiming for? I might be interested if there's still room.

[Kodos]

Radii. Anything up to 12. Looks like we have 6ish right now, which to me is big enough to move forward. We'll move forward a game week every 5-7 days. I always make sure at least one weekend day is included for people who don't have time to play during the week. Also, if extensions are needed, those are always approved (so long as the person lets me know in advance, rather than just not hitting the deaadline without saying a word).

[heybrad]

Just got the game. I'd be happy to take Old Dominion.

[Radii]

I'm in, I will take South Alabama.

[CU Tiger]

Can we throw out a target start date?

I need to pick up the game still. ANd want to have time to do some trials.

[Kodos]

Would it be easier for people to start after the holidays?

[Radii]

doesn't matter to me, waiting is fine if that works best for others, but I'd be ready to go immediately.

[Marmel]

I'll give it a try. Never tried anything like this, but it sounds fun. I'd be up for starting pretty much anytime, although it would be nice to get a few practice games in this week. I'll stick with Buffalo.

[CU Tiger]

Originally Posted by Kodos

Would it be easier for people to start after the holidays?

Yes for me. But not a deal breaker if before

[BYU 14]

Originally Posted by Kodos

Would it be easier for people to start after the holidays?

Definitely

[Kodos]

Let's plan to start after the holidays. I will set things up and send invitations probably within the next week so people can go in and do things as they have free time over the holidays. If you aren't in the Ladder, let me know what your gamertag is.

[Kodos]

Also, to keep things simple, why don't we drop the teambuilder idea? We'll just pick from the 1-star teams. K.I.S.K.

CU - I'm sorry, I know that will be a little disappointing for you, but it seems to be the right thing to do after thinking about it for a while.

[Kodos]

I think I'll talk FAU.