The nicest thing to say about the Big Ten and SEC dictating the terms of college football’s future is the two conferences want only what’s best for the sport and its athletes.
The next nicest thing to say is that both conferences need to call the shots because that’s the best way to increase income for all parties.
After that, the next sort of nice thing to say is that upcoming revenue sharing and the increasing demands of name, image and likeness mean the Big Ten and SEC should speak for the “little man,” i.e. every other conference. Because, well, everyone knows the Big Ten and SEC are smarter and more popular than the rest.
The not-so-nice thing to say is the Big Ten and SEC are looking out for No. 1, or 1 and 1a, whichever way you choose to see it. The two conferences are flexing for the cameras, Ahnold style, to show everyone who’s the boss. Or bosses.
Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti and SEC commish Greg Sankey expect the rest of college football to get in line behind them. Petitti and Sankey each want four automatic qualifiers into the College Football Playoff, beginning as early as next season. Any such guarantee likely would not happen until at least 2026, if at all, but that is not stopping the twin towers from pushing their agenda to make it happen ASAP.
Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti talks to reporters at a press conference in Rosemont, Illinois.
Finally, the ugly yet most accurate thing to say is that with unbridled power comes increased corruption, not necessarily in the legal sense – no one is accusing the Big Ten and SEC of nefarious action … yet – but in the debasement and decay of the common good, that which is best for the sport as a whole.
Abuse of power is not unique to college football. The NCAA bullied its benefactors for decades, strong-arming college athletes and their…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/article/uh-oh-big-ten-sec-110752342.html
Author : The Columbus Dispatch
Publish date : 2025-02-27 11:07:00
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