This week, rumors have been all over the place about a College Football “Super League”. It is evident that with massive realignment incoming to conferences for the 2024 season, one that will feature the Big 10 and SEC adding on new schools to bring both to a combined total of 34 different schools, 16 for the SEC and an astonishing 18 for the Big 10.
The Pac-12, meanwhile, suffered the most and will cease to exist for at least the next few seasons. The ACC also added schools, but rumors are already circulating that some schools may seek to leave the conference in the coming years.
These major moves leave the idea of a Super League for College Athletics, especially football, closer than ever. But is a Super League truly going to form any time soon?
What is The Super League Rumor?
A group that includes several college presidents among other executives has proposed the radical idea of “College Sports Tomorrow”. This potential new model for College Football would bring seventy of college football’s current 130 teams together in one league. Among other things, ideas such as instituting a draft system–much like the NFL–and a salary cap would be parts of this league as well.
The league would be split into seven divisions of 10, and College Football Playoff eligibility would follow the NFL’s model. But what have some coaches been saying about the model proposed?
What Has This SEC Coach Said About the Super League?
Although this coach chose to remain anonymous, he spoke to his Athletic Director about the proposal. Pete Nakos of On3 Sports reported that the AD told the coach the following:
“It’s nothing,” the coach said. “My AD told me that it’s DOA. There’s no way the SEC will go with the idea.”
With the SEC remaining at the top of its game in the hierarchy of college football, a Super League would be the last thing the conference would want to have to take on.
Is the Idea Realistic?
To follow in this SEC coach’s stead, the idea is not very likely to actually happen. At least, not in the format that is being currently presented as of April of 2024. As it is, college football is already preparing for its most radical change in a very long time as the Pac-12 Conference has officially gone under, and according to Syracuse Chancellor Kent Syverud, more may soon follow:
“I really think conferences in the NCAA are at a very significant likelihood of going bankrupt in the near future because of the lawsuits, both the ones that are going to trial soon and those that will follow.”
As further realignment awaits for 2025 and beyond, these Presidents will only further tweak a format that may not sit well with fans, but remains inevitable if College Football is to be “saved”.
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