There remains consternation that the ACC, Big East and, who knows, even the NCAA itself is in danger – real or imagined – following last week's news that the SEC and Big 12 were creating a new bowl game in 2014.

At its most terrified, the speculation has power being consolidated into just four conferences, which can/will expand, leaving everyone else with second-class citizenship and dwindling shares of revenue. It could even lead to major schools splintering from the NCAA itself. Or so the talk goes.

From here, that seems overdone. We're talking about the private ownership of a second-tier bowl – something akin to the Outback or Cotton. It's a move that doesn't bode well for the bowl industry, but not one that will automatically trigger Florida State and Notre Dame to leap to the Big 12.

I could be wrong, though. I could be completely wrong. I'll concede that the ACC and Big East are primed to be plucked. I'll acknowledge the trend toward bigger being better (true or not). I'll agree that even if this isn't a giant step toward four super leagues, it is a step nonetheless.