Changes to the NCAA governance structure may necessitate a vote from the entire Division I membership, which could be challenging to achieve. Representatives from the other 28 conferences are concerned about the implications of granting more authority to the Big Ten, SEC, Big 12, and ACC, according to executives from non-football playing and FCS conferences who spoke to Yahoo Sports. The power leagues, notably the Big Ten and SEC, used the threat of a breakaway to secure more revenue during College Football Playoff negotiations last spring. These four conferences also took the lead in negotiating the House settlement, which includes significant financial compensation for former athletes. Some of this compensation will be covered by non-power conferences without their consultation, widening the gap between the wealthiest conferences in college athletics and the rest.
There is growing tension between the power leagues and the rest of the NCAA, with speculation that a split may be inevitable. The likelihood of the NCAA adopting the proposal put forth by the power leagues is uncertain. While some view it as a viable solution, others believe it has little chance of passing in its current form. If the power leagues fail to secure consensus in a full membership vote, they could potentially withdraw from the association. However, this presents a new challenge as the power leagues and NCAA are bound by a 10-year agreement through 2035 as part of the House settlement.
Commissioners from power conferences have started circulating their proposal to school leaders, coinciding with the upcoming NCAA convention in Nashville where key legislative matters will be discussed. The proposal aims to overhaul the governance structure and rules of the NCAA, particularly focusing on creating consistent policies among the four power leagues. The NCAA, with over 300 member schools in Division I alone, has long operated with varying resources and philosophies. With recent legal challenges and changes in athlete compensation rules, the power leagues are pushing for structural reforms to align with a more professionalized model.
In November, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey and the presidents under his jurisdiction conveyed their disappointment to NCAA President Mark Emmert regarding a governance model presented by the NCAA staff during a summer meeting. The letter highlighted the urgent need for the association to afford power conferences significantly more autonomy, not only in matters of governance but also concerning playing rules and championship tournaments.
Sankey has been vocal about his frustrations with the NCAA governance model, citing its sluggish bureaucratic processes and the presence of representatives from lower-tier schools on key policy-making committees. Recently, he, along with fellow commissioners Yormark and Phillips, has been advocating for increased access opportunities for their respective programs in championship events, as well as for representation on NCAA championship selection committees.
Presently, NCAA officials are actively engaged in negotiations with CBS and Warner Bros. Discovery regarding a proposal to potentially expand both the men’s and women’s basketball tournaments by adding either four or eight additional teams.
