Jeffrey Brown/Icon Sportswire via Getty ImagesUpheaval has been the defining theme of college sports in recent years, especially on the football side, and the idea of super leagues has gained traction in some corners ahead of the potential implementation of revenue sharing with athletes starting with the 2025-26 school year as part of the House v. NCAA settlement.
Ralph D. Russo of The Athletic reported Wednesday that Linda Livingstone, who is Baylor’s president and the serving chair of the NCAA’s Board of Governors, invited university leaders from the Big Ten, SEC and ACC to a December summit with the purpose of hearing pitches for such super leagues.
As Russo explained, there are two super league models that have made the rounds among conference commissioners and athletic directors that could, in theory, generate more revenue for schools with a professional-style approach to football.
One is being pitched by the group College Sports Tomorrow, while the other is known as Project Rudy and was designed by a group of former Disney executives.
In October, Nicole Auerbach of NBC Sports noted College Sports Tomorrow’s proposal was to create the College Student Football League consisting of the top 72 FBS schools in one tier and the other 64 schools in a second tier with promotion possible.
It would just focus on football and be run by a centralized governing body that pays players.
Nicole Auerbach @NicoleAuerbachInbox: A press release from the group called College Sports Tomorrow proposing the formation of the College Student Football League — the top 72 FBS schools would be in it.
You might remember hearing about this group in the spring/summer. They were pitching schools/leagues. pic.twitter.com/48BHtJqDFY
Nicole Auerbach @NicoleAuerbachHere are the names of the CST members and their “supportive ambassadors” — pic.twitter.com/XDZC9Uaq4t
Dennis Dodd of CBS Sports reported on Project Rudy in October and noted it would feature a group of 70 teams that just faced each other and eliminated games against Group of Five and FCS teams. It would be funded by private equity, expand the postseason and include tiered revenue distribution.
While Livingstone sent out the invite, Russo reported neither the Big Ten nor SEC has shown any interest in either plan to this point.
That is particularly important because they are the richest two conferences that generate the most revenue and have largely consolidated power in the college football world through conference realignment and expansion.
Many of the sport’s biggest powerhouses play in the two leagues, and Ross Dellenger of Yahoo Sports reported in September that leaders from the conferences met to discuss topics such as the future of the College Football Playoff, the House v. NCAA settlement and even a regular-season scheduling arrangement.
It is difficult to envision any sweeping changes going into effect in the college football world without the support of either the Big Ten or SEC, although the opportunity to pitch the super leagues in person could help the respective groups convince others.
Source : Bleacher Report