Forced Independence?!?

August 6, 2026 - editorial

The chaos that is college athletics is quickly drawling close to a major eruption.

Persistent rumors are circulating among college presidents and chancellors regarding a future that makes sense for universities, athletic departments, coaches, staffs and the student-athletes. Not to mention the fans.

The latest genesis for concern is the “Save College Athletics Act” being considered by the U.S. Congress.

Why, you say? Have you ever experienced a situation that got better when congress got involved? Enough said.

The legislation currently being considered has a few stipulations that could ignite political backlash around the country.

The Conference Size Cap:

The first potential sticking point is a conference cap of no more than 19 schools. Anyone who knows college athletics know an odd-number is a scheduling nightmare. It might help to understand the SEC and Big Ten support for the bill. The SEC stands at 16 schools and the Big Ten at 18 schools. Traditionally, revenue is split evenly among member schools, like slicing a pie. The more slice you have to cut, the less money each school get

The 19-school conference would give each conference less of their revenue pie. The number one goal of the SEC and Big Ten is to keep that present revenue gap as large as possible. There is a direct correlation between revenue and competitive results. The SEC and Big Ten want to keep the status quo or as close as possible.

Five-Year Forced Independence:

The second major stumbling block is the provision that will require any current Power Four member school that wants to move to another current Power Four conference must remain an independent for FIVE YEARS. This provision is dead in the water. There is not a Division One school that could survive the incredible loss of revenue. This provision would satisfy the SEC and Big Ten desire to maintain the status quo. Isn’t that interesting?

OPTIONS:

If this legislation passes, member schools in the ACC and Big-12 would have few options but relegation to second tier status in the NCCA. I would not expect these conferences and schools to take it sitting down. Years of judicial challenges would ahead for the ACC and Big-12…

UNLESS… a palace revolt erupts

The ACC and BIG-12 could legally depart from the NCAA and form a new association. No exit fees. No forced limbo. Operate under their own rules, structure and free of antitrust oversight. A total of thirty-three schools would launch this new association that could grow to 40-48 schools. They could operate four division of 12 schools each, with an 11-game division schedule. Media rights could be devised equally with performance revenue from a eight-school championship tournament.

The new association could be organized into four geographic divisions, thus bringing the back to the fans and players.

Example:

North:

1. Boston College

2. UConn

3. Syracuse

4. Pittsburgh

5. West Virginia

6. Navy

7. Army

8. Cincinnati

9. Notre Dame

10. Louisville

11. Memphis

12. Tulane

South:

1. Virginia

2. Virginia Tech

3. North Carolina

4. Duke

5. NC State

6. Wake Forest

7. Clemson

8. Georgia Tech

9. Florida State

10. Central Florida (UCF)

11. South Florida (USF)

12. Miami

Central:

1. SMU

2. TCU

3. Baylor

4. Texas Tech

5. Houston

6. UTSA

7. Oklahoma State

8. Iowa State

9. Kansas

10. Kansas State

11. Colorado

12. Air Force

West:

1. Arizona

2. Arizona State

3. UNLV

4. San Diego State

5. California (CAL)

6. Stanford

7. Washington State

8. Oregon State

9. Boise State

10. BYU

11. Utah

12. New Mexico/?

BOTTOM LINE:

The “Save College Athletics” legislation would sound the death knell for the ACC, BIG-12 and the NCAA. The writing is on the wall. First conference to high-ground will win.

GO CANES!