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Big Ten, SEC didn’t lose control — they’re setting the trap | Opinion
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- Big Ten, SEC didn’t lose control — they’re setting the trap | Opinion
Let's all take a deep breath, and invite truth and common sense to the conversation.
Instead of hoping the federal government will make all our problems disappear .
In these strange and surreal times, it's best to start at the beginning to unpack everyone has an angle .
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The Big Ten and SEC begged Congress for years to get involved and set "guardrails" — remember that overused cliche? — on an unchecked NIL environment of their own making. A mess that, no matter what reactive (surely not proactive) move the Big Ten and SEC made, it didn't work.
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But the last thing the Big Ten and SEC wanted was the federal government getting under the hood of the money-making machine and asking questions. They only wanted anti-trust protection to place limits on player earning and movement — and not have local judges torpedo their every move .
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Now that President Trump and Congress are deep in the weeds of this unruly mess and trying to find answers — that's not necessarily a good thing, folks — the Big Ten and SEC (who can't agree on anything) released a joint statement saying they're not on board with the Saving College Sports bill currently being debated in Washington D.C.
You with me so far? OK, buckle up.
The Big Ten and SEC argument is simple: We have the product the public and television/streaming sites want. Why should we financially supplement those who don't?
Here's where you must stop watching the shell game the Big Ten and SEC are playing, stop chasing that fuzzy red ball at all cost. Think, and use common sense.
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The Big Ten and SEC asked Congress for help (see: guardrails) because they knew the remaining FBS and FCS athletic programs in college sports needed the same help — no matter how much money each earns through media rights deals. Millions or billions, more of it is going out the window each year without basic enforcement.
This isn't so much about making money as it is controlling it. If you don't believe that, take a look at the Saving College Sports bill.
Pooling of media rights — long seen as the way for college sports to make more money for all involved — isn't mandatory. Translation: The SEC and Big Ten could agree to the bill, and still keep their media rights billions.
So why wouldn't they just do that, you ask? Well, everyone, there's the rub.
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Because by agreeing to the bill, the SEC and Big Ten are agreeing to a mandate within the bill that stipulates the end of conference expansion, and forbids the Big Ten and SEC to break away from the rest of college sports to form a super league.
Suddenly, this thing is coming into focus.
By agreeing to the bill — and this is a biggie, too — the Big Ten and SEC are agreeing to the federal government becoming part of the decision-making process moving forward. I ask you, who in their right mind wants that tribal, dysfunctional body that can't even agree on who speaks when, at the head of the table when timely decisions must be made?
Do you really blame the Big Ten and SEC for wanting out of this deal?
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This, of course, leads us to the little guy not named SEC and Big Ten. The lovable losers inevitably embraced by the chuckleheads in Congress, who use those on the short end as props but never, ever find a way to make them whole.
We tried, but the system is what it is. If only I had a little more campaign cash to fight, fight, fight!!
At the end of the day, the Big Ten and SEC are in a no-lose situation. If the bill passes, they opt out of pooling media rights, and go along their merry way — with their billions and with limited antitrust that could control player earning and movement. They'd just be at the whims of the federal government in the process.
If the bill fails, the Big Ten and SEC will act quickly to do what they've always wanted: Break away and form their own association — with their own rules and regulations and enforcement. Take a select few teams from the ACC and Big 12, and walk away.
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Before, that is, Congress can put together another do-nothing committee that may or may not finally connect and rein in the two super conferences.
Forget about the Big Ten and SEC public bluster with the farce of a joint statement. While it's utterly laughable, it's completely on point.
Frankly, it's both diabolical and brilliant.
The public and media have made Saving College Sports about sharing media rights revenue, when nothing could be further from the truth. The opt out proves it.
The Big Ten and SEC don't want the bill to pass because it prevents them from further expansion and a breakaway.
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There's your truth and common sense.
Matt Hayes is the senior national college football writer for USA TODAY Sports Network. Follow him on X at @MattHayesCFB .
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Why Big Ten, SEC reject federal oversight in new Congress bill
