The Big Ten and SEC are taking a stand against a proposed overhaul of college sports media rights. They've sent a detailed report to Congress, urging lawmakers to dismiss a plan that would centralize media rights under federal supervision. The conferences argue this move could destabilize the current system rather than deliver the expected revenue boost.
The proposal, put forward by Saving College Sports (SCS) last fall, suggests pooling the media rights of all 136 Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) programs into a single entity. The idea is to optimize schedules and negotiate collectively, with projections claiming this could generate an additional $6 billion. However, the Big Ten and SEC are pushing back, stating that these claims lack empirical backing and that the proposed structure is fraught with legal and operational challenges.
Billionaire Texas Tech booster Cody Campbell, who commissioned the SCS plan, aims to amend the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961. This would allow FBS schools to negotiate media rights collectively, with a federally appointed body managing contracts and scheduling. Proponents believe this could significantly boost revenue, especially for Olympic and women's sports, by more than 67%.
But the Big Ten and SEC have a different perspective. They highlight that media revenue is already growing under the current model, with recent conference renewals seeing a 2.8-fold increase in average annual value. They argue that college football media revenue is on track to surpass SCS's forecasts by 2033 without needing to pool rights or involve federal oversight.
The report also challenges the notion that the NBA's recent financial success supports aggregation. Instead, it credits market competition and diverse distribution strategies for the league's gains.
The Big Ten and SEC question how a 14-person committee could effectively manage negotiations, scheduling, and revenue distribution across 136 schools and 26 sports, describing it as unworkable. They also express concerns about losing institutional control over scheduling and traditions.
Existing contracts pose another hurdle. Current media deals extend through 2036, and altering these agreements could lead to legal disputes and disrupt long-term investments in the sport. The conferences point out that past centralized models have underperformed, citing the NCAA's pooled rights arrangement, which was struck down by the Supreme Court in 1984, and the College Football Association's less lucrative deals.
Under current agreements, the SEC and Big Ten are thriving. The SEC's deal with ESPN brings in nearly $1 billion annually through 2034, while the Big Ten's multi-network agreement nets about $1.1 billion per year until 2030. These two conferences are projected to double the revenue of the ACC and Big 12 over the next decade.
Despite this, SCS supporters believe reform is necessary. American Athletic Conference commissioner Tim Pernetti commissioned a study showing that bundling FBS rights could more than double the current media value of around $3.5 billion annually. Pernetti emphasizes that the goal isn't to disadvantage certain conferences but to create a larger revenue pool.
Cody Campbell, appointed by President Donald Trump to lead the Commission on College Sports, has been vocal about the need for change. He argues that the current system is flawed and that those benefiting from it resist necessary reforms. Campbell has directly addressed Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti and SEC commissioner Greg Sankey, urging collaboration to prioritize student-athletes and preserve college sports.
The Sports Broadcasting Act currently prevents colleges from pooling media rights. While there's been some traction in Washington to amend this law, no hearings have been scheduled.
Federal involvement in college sports has been growing, with leaders lobbying for reforms, including antitrust protections. The proposed SAFE Act would allow collective media negotiations, and the SCORE Act aims to establish a national framework for NIL regulation and athlete compensation.