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Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti and SEC commissioner Greg Sankey are not in favor of the two new super-league proposals involving private equity in college football.
The commissioners shared their thoughts with a group of reporters Thursday, following a two-day meeting in Nashville. The rendezvous—a first of its kind between the two richest and most powerful leagues in college sports—was an extension of a joint advisory committee formed by the Big Ten and SEC in February. The commissioners, athletic directors, and legal counsel were in attendance.
Nothing was decided, they told reporters, though the commissioners made it clear they have no interest in exploring Project Rudy and the College Student Football League, the two proposals made public over the last two weeks. Both would involve private equity firms and bring outside stakeholders into the college football governance structure.
“I have yet to see a single thing in any plan that I’ve learned details about that contains things that we couldn’t do ourselves and our [Power 4] colleagues as well,” Petitti said. “At the end of the day, there’s a strong commitment that you have the ability to do all of this ourselves.”
If Petitti and Sankey aren’t on board, the projects probably have no legs.
The leagues also discussed other major issues facing college sports, including NCAA governance, the looming House v. NCAA settlement, and a potential scheduling partnership.
Sankey has insisted the summit between the Big Ten and SEC is not an indication the two leagues are trying to make unilateral decisions for the future of college sports without involving other colleagues, especially those in the Big 12 and ACC.
When Front Office Sports asked Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark about the meetings, and specifically about a potential scheduling partnership, he seemed unconcerned. “I don’t wake up thinking about the Big Ten and the SEC,” he said.
