Big Ten, SEC unite to keep private equity out of college sports

After an "unprecedented" meeting between the SEC and Big Ten on Thursday, the commissioners of both super-conferences firmly rejected recent proposals from private equity groups to assist in covering the anticipated higher expenses stemming from the NCAA's pending House settlement.

"... The notion that college football is broken -- what we do is broken -- is just not right." - Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti

In February, the SEC and Big Ten announced the formation of a joint advisory group. This one-day meeting at the Grand Hyatt was a continuation of that announcement. Legal counsel was present to ensure that both conferences were not crossing any lines that could be seen as collusion.

Despite the optics of Thursday's meeting and the written guarantee of separation in both power and wealth in the newest CFP contract , Sankey said the perception that the SEC and Big Ten are pulling away from everyone else in college athletics with this partnership is untrue.

He acknowledged the outside commentary about the meeting between the two, but he reiterated that both leagues are taking the leadership role.

"We talk regularly with our other two colleagues in the autonomy groups," he said, referencing Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark and ACC commissioner Jim Phillips. "Do we bring everybody together? It was hard enough to schedule two conferences of athletics directors. I can't imagine trying to schedule four.

SEC and Big Ten working together regardless of College Football Playoff's future

The two conferences, which include a total of 34 athletic directors, have already begun to create a plan for more non-conference games between the two leagues. Texas, now representing the SEC, made a trip to Ann Arbor to take on Michigan, a staple of the Big Ten. Texas came out on top, but it was one of the most anticipated games of the season.

Excluding private equity from college athletics may seem noble, but how long will this nobility last? For decades, the NCAA did its best to prevent players from receiving compensation. Now, especially due to the money being invested in the NIL programs, student-athletes are walking on campus as millionaires.