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College football super league proposal reportedly an ‘undercurrent’ to pending SEC, Big Ten meeting
By Paul Harvey
Published:
College football continues to move forward in a landscape that is regularly shifting. Now, one super league proposal could receive some interesting discussion during the pending meeting between SEC and Big Ten leaders.
According to Ross Dellenger with Yahoo Sports, former executives at Disney turned into investment professionals have created a concept dubbed “Project Rudy.” Under that plan, a 70-team super league would be created of the programs from the 4 power conferences while expanding the postseason, overhauling scheduling, developing tiers of revenue distribution and infuse as much as $9 billion of private capital into the system.
Dellenger notes the model could be “an unreported undercurrent driving the discussion” that is going to take place between the SEC and Big Ten leaders in Nashville. That historic summit was recently announced as the two power conferences look to work together when it comes to scheduling and shaping the postseason.
A group of investors & ex-Disney executives have met with ADs at 30 power schools with a pitch: a $9 billion infusion as part of a 70-school football league.
Looming over SEC & Big Ten meetings is "Project Rudy."
"The claim is everybody will be saved."https://t.co/GPzmlt3oFP pic.twitter.com/OjoKoRXWVG
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) October 8, 2024
Miami AD Dan Radakovich was supportive of the “Project Rudy” presentation, saying it “makes the most sense” of the ideas he has seen. However, he presides over an ACC program, and it’s unclear if ACC schools feel similarly to the SEC and the Big Ten.
“Of all the ideas I’ve seen, this one makes the most sense,” said Miami athletic director Dan Radakovich, who has seen the presentation. “Conferences are kept intact, commissioners still have an important and valuable role, and there is the ability for schools to make increased money from bigger matchups and more playoff games.”
In the past, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey has been vocal about his belief that the SEC is a super league on its own. He also previously questioned why college programs would cede authority to anyone on the outside when they can make decisions on their own.
“Any of the ideas identified can actually be decided within a conference or a collection of conferences,” said Sankey.
Sankey and Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti declined to comment in the Yahoo story, but Dellenger did cite multiple SEC and Big Ten sources who want to try and reach a consensus without outside input.
“We don’t need a middle man,” said one SEC school athletic director.
“I’d like to go at it to see if we can figure out something ourselves,” said a Big Ten athletic director.
We will see what becomes of this week’s meeting in Nashville, but the landscape of college football appears likely to change yet again in the near future.
Paul Harvey lives in Atlanta and covers SEC football.
