I know it’s Clemson-Florida State week, and there is talk about DJ Uiagalelei—the Tigers’ former quarterback—not playing on Saturday. However, something bigger has caught my eye.
What could be bigger than No. 15 Clemson visiting the Seminoles in the DJ Bowl?
How’s the SEC and Big Ten having their own meetings to discuss the future relationship between college football’s two power conferences, otherwise known as the P2.
ESPN’s Heather Dinich reports the Big Ten and the SEC athletic directors are planning to discuss a possible partnership in football scheduling. This is just another step, I think, in the two power leagues flexing their muscle to the rest of the college football world.
The discussions, according to Dinich, will take place in an in-person meeting in Nashville, Tennessee, next week.
Also on the docket, the two parties will discuss “their” preferences for automatic bids in the next iteration of the College Football Playoff.
What does all this mean?
It means Dabo Swinney is about to be proven right.
Forever, the Clemson head coach has said conferences were going to break off and form their own league and have their own playoff and do it with its own governing body.
We are getting close.
This is another case of the SEC and Big Ten wanting more. The alliance, which began back in February, is already making more money from the CFP than any other conferences.
The new CFP contract with ESPN is worth $7.8 billion through the 2031 season and the Big Ten and SEC will split close to 60% of the revenue yearly — about $21 million per school while Big 12 and ACC schools take home $12 million to $13 million per year.
The two conferences already pushed to expand the 12-team playoff to 14 teams, and they wanted four automatic bids. The previous talks discussed a 3-3-2-2-1 model with the ACC and Big 12 each getting two automatic bids and the highest ranked Group of 5 Champion getting the other.
However, it seems like the two super power conferences are once again pushing for four automatic bids to assure their leagues have the best chance to compete in the playoff. The CFP have not determined how the new playoff structure will work beyond the 2026 playoff.
According to Dinich, “Some said they need to know that before making any decisions about future scheduling partnerships.”
What does this future scheduling partnership look like? What does it mean for the ACC and Big 12? What does it mean for Clemson?
We do not know.
However, one thing is certain. It is looking more and more like the SEC and Big 10 have all the power and major college football could become a two-league sport in the near future.
This is one reason why Clemson wants to leave the ACC. It wants a seat at the “Big Boy Table”, but unfortunately it is still at the “Kids Table,” and it might not be able to get up from it.
A limited number of signed replica road signs from Cade Klubnik are available! Visit Clemson Variety & Frame or purchase online!
Local News
Comments / 0