Everyone knows that the SEC and Big 10 run college football. It takes watching ESPN or FOX Sports for one hour to realize this. They make the most money, have the biggest brands, and the most championships. Yet, up to this point, nothing in writing says they hold all the power.
That could all change very soon.
The new 14-team College Football Playoff format that is being proposed would completely change how the power in college football is actually run, not just perceived to be run.
College Football Has No Governing Leader
College Football falls under the NCAA, while at the same time, it doesn’t. The bowl games and National Championship, including the Playoff, are not run by the NCAA, which makes things interesting since it is the playoff and post-season teams play for in the first place. The truth is, nobody runs college football. Instead, a committee makes decisions and runs things, but these leaders are random and not elected or permanent positions.
Until now, college football has been run under Power Five rule, or leaders of the ACC, Big 12, Big 10, Pac 12, and SEC. While everyone knows that when push comes to shove, the SEC and Big 10 get their way, in terms of actual power, all five have had an equal seat at the table. With the Pac 12 dissolving and their teams going to the Big 10 and Big 12, and with Texas and Oklahoma bolting from the Big 12 to the SEC, everything has been thrown into limbo, and the Big 10 and SEC appear to be making their first move in showing who now runs the sport.
SEC and Big 10 Would Get Unequal Revenue Share
Under the current (which technically it hasn’t even started) 12-team format, the College Football Playoff would consist of the top five conference champions and seven at-large spots. The SEC and Big 10 would likely get three teams in this format, with the Big 12 and ACC hoping for two and the G5 settling for one. Again, technically, there is nothing in writing that says that would have to happen. TECHNICALLY, the Big 12 could get five teams in, and the SEC only one. Again, everyone knows that wouldn’t happen and that SEC and Big 10 would get any tie-breakers for a final at-large spot over any other conference, but it isn’t in writing or official.
This is no longer the case under the new format. In the proposed 14-team playoff, the Big 10 and SEC would each get three teams automatically, the Big 12 and ACC would each get two teams, and the G5 would get one team guaranteed. From there, an additional three at-large spots would be open.
Additionally, the Big 10 and SEC would each make 29% of the revenue (about $21 million/school), while the ACC would get 17%, the Big 12 would get 15%, and the G5 would get 9%.
Sources: Unanimous vote from FBS leagues + ND approving new CFP contract for 2026 on. No expansion yet.
B1G/SEC: 29% each (>$21m per school)
ACC: 17% ($13m)
B12: 15% ($12m)
G5: 9% ($1.8m)
ND: $12m+ $6m bonus for making fieldhttps://t.co/Bliuw8vWZOhttps://t.co/Bliuw8vWZO— Chris Vannini (@ChrisVannini) March 15, 2024
This would mean that the SEC and the Big 10 now have more power and say in any matter than at any other conference. It would no longer be a hypothetical or obvious, but unwritten conclusion. Doing this will set a precedent that these two conferences run everything and call all of the shots, and this time it would be in writing.
Why Are Conferences Agreeing To This?
Unfortunately, if you are a fan of a Big 12, ACC, or G5 team, the answer to this question is not what you want to hear. They had to agree to it or get left behind. Again, there is no governing leader in college football, so if the Big 10 and SEC don’t get what they want, they could decide to start their league and leave everyone else behind.
It feels like they are doing that anyway.
The P2, or a league with only the SEC and Big 10, seems inevitable, but nothing is impossible. If college football has taught us anything these past two years, it’s that nothing is impossible. It may seem like a century ago, but just five years ago, the Pac 12 was one of the three best conferences, NIL and the transfer portal weren’t a thing, BYU, SMU, Cincinnati, UCF, and Houston were all G5 schools and an expanded playoff was just a dream.
For all of these other teams, agreeing to these terms isn’t because they feel it’s fair; It’s because it buys time. And right now, time is the best thing they have going for them.
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