For years, summer has been known as college football’s “chat season.” But the last two summers have also been a season of plunder, with major expansions for the Southeastern Conference and Big Ten at the expense of the Big 12 and Pac-12. That in turn influenced the nature of Talking Season.
These days, a conference commissioner’s speech is expected, scrutinized, and put on the backburner than a coach’s. With all-time highest earnings and all-time lowest cohesiveness, boardroom drama is more compelling than the actual game. The direction of the entire collegiate track and field business hinges on balance. This is more important than which team had the best offseason in the weight room.
We have now reached a restructuring lull. All conference commissioners have voiced their appreciation for the landscape. We’ve seen changes from SEC’s Greg Sankey and Big Ten’s Kevin Warren. We heard from Brett Jormak, the new Commissioner of the Big 12, about the brass tack business. There was a wistful, weak to some critics, pushback and perspective from ACC boss Jim Phillips. was given.
With chatter season over and poaching season on pause, where do we stand in college sports? Where will restructuring take us and where will we head in the future? The roundtable will address six issues.
Illustrated by Michael Byers
What are the Power 5 Power Rankings? Who is Best of the Rest?
At this point, and I don’t know how long that moment will last, I’d rank them as follows.
1 second. Big Ten Could Earn A Little More From Media Rights Deal, But Both SECs Are Rich When Win all soccer championships. There are currently no field comparisons. And the schools that the SEC adds (Texas and Oklahoma) carry a little more weight than the schools that the Big Ten adds (USC When UCLA).
2. Big Ten. In the new Power 2 landscape, the first Coast-to-Coast League is positioned to keep its distance from everyone but the SEC. A long way to go to 3rd place.
3.ACC. Paradoxically, the conference is held collectively and weighed down by endless media rights deals for 2035-36. While the exorbitant cost of breaking league entitlement agreements has arguably kept some schools out of the restructuring market, it has also created some fears about restricted income. Is there a move for even revenue sharing? Phillips pares his job when it comes to finding creative solutions.
4. Big 12. This could be a fourth draw with Pac-12, but the draw is the cops. The Big 12 have already shown they can withstand top program poaching with some smart additions for 2023 (BYU, Central Florida, Cincinnati, Houston). There aren’t really A-listers in the league, but the B-list is long, balanced, and not upwardly mobile, offering a strange level of comfort. I’m here. Can he back it up with some strong moves to consolidate his league standing?
5. Pac-12. An early sign is that the conference could prevent a split between the current 10 members, but that solidarity may be as strong as the Big Ten’s desire for further expansion. ‘s major media market and late-night show niche, which are good.
6. Mountain West. With the American Athletic Conference set to lose the top three schools next year, the path for MWC to move up the pecking order to Best of the Rest is clear. It is the only Southern California program belonging to the conference. Boise State University is a long-time contender, but several other programs have had 10-win seasons in recent years. —Pat Ford
Which schools will be the most powerful in the future, and which programs will determine what happens next?
The Fighting Irish were temporarily part of the ACC during the COVID 19-shortened 2020 season.
Greg Nelson/Sports Illustrated
1. Notre Dame. Fighting Irish A lever that turns everything or strengthens the status quo. The stubbornly proud independent Blueblood is clearly a top target for him in the Big Ten, but the Irishman hopes he can make good money from his next media rights deal with NBC. (even confident). ancient times. If Notre Dame goes to the Big Ten, Stanford may follow as the preferred plus-one, which could hasten the demise of Pac-12. Everyone’s eyes are on the Golden Dome.
2. Oregon and Washington. They will be seen as the leaders of the Pac-12 going forward, but could jump into the Big Ten as soon as the opportunity presents itself. Big Ten and Fox Sports appetite for the Pacific Northwest pair is low at this point, which could pose problems for the legislature in terms of separating from Oregon and Washington. The deals they may ask of the Pac-12 in their new media rights package (such as the Big Ten’s no penalty out) say a lot about their true intentions.
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3. Stanford. The marketability of its independent athletics is debatable.The apathetic fanbase and reliance on Notre Dame show the limits.But the educational background and ties to Silicon Valley have expanded the college president’s student base. To do. Cardinals could be the wild card for all of these.
4. ACC top dog. This could be 10 years from now, with significantly reduced penalties for leaving, but some schools in this league may eventually be ready to move. The Big Ten and the SEC are believed to have potential interest in North Carolina. North Carolina is a glamorous brand that attracts audiences in a populous state currently not in either league. Virginia also has some attractions. From a pure football perspective, Clemson, Florida, and Miami have the most cash (as dated as the Seminoles and Hurricanes).
5. San Diego. If you have a Group 5 school that might meet your Power 5 needs, the Aztecs and the Pac-12 could be a convenient relationship. or not. —PF
Who will lose the most in this reorganization chaos?
1. Oregon and Washington. The people of Corvallis and Pullman are getting away from much of the restructuring gossip. There are no reports linking the Beavers and Cougars to the Big Ten, Big 12, or any other league. These two universities are two of the least resourced in the Power 5, are located in small media markets and have little historical success in football. If the Pac-12 implodes, the OSU and WSU could tumble to Mountain West.
2. Fivesome. With each wave of reorganization, Power 5 grows in size and power. The move of Oklahoma and Texas to the SEC caused a domino effect, with UCF, Cincinnati, BYU and Houston moving into the Power 5 League. What is the replacement for G5? It’s FCS Jacksonville State University and Sam Houston State University, both participating in Conference USA. USC and UCLA’s shift to the Big Ten could spark more such moves. The gap between the haves (Power 5) and the have-nots (Group of 5) continues to grow. Heck, the gap inside the Power 5 is now a rift. As one administrator recently speculated, “It’s become Big 2 (SEC, Big Ten), Other 1 (ACC), and Group of 7.”
3. Athlete’s Fans and Families. The conference was originally created for its location. They connected like-minded colleges with similar finances that exist on the same cultural and geographic footprint. They also offered fans and families a fairly easy and affordable trip to see the teams and kids compete on the road. Tripp, and honestly just destroyed the fun.USC is now in the same league as Rutgers. UCF plays at the conference, whose headquarters (Dallas) is 1,100 miles away from him. And New Mexico is in the same league as Virginia-based Liberty.Ross Delanger
Which network has the upper hand, Fox or ESPN?
Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren is in the midst of negotiating a new media rights deal for the league.
Robert Goddin/USA TODAYSports
Moving on, it’s definitely Fox. ESPN is the biggest chip on the SEC’s board (especially if it gets exclusivity in 2024), but Fox is perfectly positioned to regain some of its locus of control from the four-letter network. You’ve got Los Angeles in your pocket, but you could also have a seat at the table if the college football playoffs expand after this current TV deal expires. It is clear that TV partners want to be involved in negotiations. —Richard Johnson
What’s the best rumor of the last month?
Reorganization is ridiculous season on steroids. Everyone who covers college football eventually misses. There is probably no time when people throw more stuff at the wall than when teams move leagues. I somehow missed a truly outrageous day on Twitter that included rumors that , Florida, and Clemson were jumping on the SEC. It came with an additional “scoop” that ESPN was trying to void its 20-year contract with ACC.RJ
What’s the next big move?
Currently, the reorganization appears to be on hold, but it is unlikely that it will continue. Does that mean the Big Ten tomorrow he’ll add two more teams, or that the Big 12 will pull out half the Pac-12 by the end of next week?No, but in the next three to five years, the Power More movement within 5 is certain.
The Pac-12’s two remaining biggest brands, Washington and Oregon, are unlikely to sign any kind of long-term deal to stay in the league. Three years? perhaps. 6 years? No way. If negotiations on Pac-12’s new TV deal don’t go as planned, especially if (1) the Big Ten declines the invitation or (2) he’s more attractive in his TV negotiations two years after the Big 12 revenue figures.
Either way, the Big Ten appear willing to expand again eventually, which means the SEC may respond with another expansion of its own, granting rights in exchange for spot on spot. It could reward interest from the herd of ACC teams that might challenge the . One of the big two. By 2028, the sport could be a 40-team, two-conference structure, possibly functioning as a semi-professional entity. —RD
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