The SEC and Big 10 are the Evil Empire of college football.
Essentially, they want this universe all to themselves.
Ironically, in that situation the game would be reduced to the level of a minor league.
Link: https://x.com/SEC/status/2061930866507383180
Replies to: “The SEC and Big 10 are the Evil Empire of college football.”
After all these years, people still don't understand the core issue. It's amazing.
But not terribly surprising considering we are still referencing things from more than 30 years ago.
The SEC and Big 10 are the strongest conferences, yes, but they are doing this because they know they are weak in the long-term. They are petrified that the power teams (e.g., OSU, Michigan, Texas, GA, AL, etc.) will leave the conference and get paid directly like ND when the current conference media deals are up. Therefore, they need to make their conference position as strong as possible to either convince those teams to stay or make it economically punitive to leave.
They have done so much damage
Of course they are opposed any federal legislation - just weeks after running to the White House to beg for federal legislation. They care nothing about the state of college football and are only concerned with their own interests.
Saban sees where this leads.
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Link: https://x.com/On3/status/2062189318127448348
Problem is...it replaced an illegal arms race...which he didn't acknowledge...and won't...since
...he benefitted during those days...
The new system IS more honest (in one sense, though it is not even actual "NIL")...but Saban is correct in his assessment that it is not sustainable and is destructive to the viability and appeal of the sport.
They're not done. Not by a long shot...
All colleges (an many others) bear some blame for what is taking place...but they are the worst of the lot.
A lot of people say all this started when a school left the CFA and negotiated their own deal with
NBC
A lot of people...are hell bent on vilifying Notre Dame...
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Poppycock
That's the beauty of independence - Notre Dame's allegiance is to Notre Dame - period. When schools pledge allegiance to conferences instead of their own missions, conference interest takes precedence. Conferences exist to maximize media value and power, so decisions about realignment, scheduling, and access are driven by inventory and leverage instead of rivalries, geography, or tradition. Notre Dame’s loyalty is to Notre Dame and we don't hide from or apologize for that. Conference loyalty undermines the broader sport. Schools are pressured to chase conference payouts, tolerate incoherent coast‑to‑coast leagues, and surrender control over who they play and when.
We were on national radio back in the 30's and our media rights have never paid players,
And there was no NIL and no portal when the NBC deal was signed.
It's lazy argument driven by envy.
Consent Management