Dude, College Football Might Get a Billion-Dollar Makeover!

Hey fellow college football fans, guess what? There’s this crazy talk going around about a new conference being created with a whopping $1 billion investment! Can you believe it? Let’s dive into what’s happening.

The Billion-Dollar Idea

So, back in December 2022, some super-rich folks were sitting around a table, probably sipping on some fancy drinks, and they started talking about college athletics. They were like, “Hey, what if we could actually buy a conference?” And after some back-and-forth, they agreed that $1 billion would do the trick.

This idea isn’t just a fantasy. Patrick Crakes, a media consultant who used to work at Fox Sports, was the one chatting with these investors. He’s thinking about taking $1 billion and creating a new conference with the best teams. Imagine grabbing a few teams from the Pac-12, Big 12, ACC, and maybe even the Big Ten. Boom! You’ve got a conference.

Is This Even Possible?

I know, I know, it sounds like something out of a movie, but it’s not entirely far-fetched. It might not happen for another 3-5 years, but it’s a sign of how things are changing in college athletics.

Crakes thinks there are only a few people in the country who could pull this off. It’s not just about having the money; it’s about having the vision and the guts to do something unprecedented.

CBS Sports even found out that a major private equity firm is interested in funding a conference structure. So, this isn’t just idle chatter; it’s a real possibility.

What Does This Mean for College Athletics?

This kind of deal would be a game-changer. College sports have always been kind of closed off, with sponsors and NIL, but this would bring third-party ownership into the mix.

Disney’s CEO, Bob Iger, shook things up recently when he talked about selling equity stakes in ESPN. And there are more examples of big money getting involved in sports, like Saudi Arabia’s Public Investment Fund getting into professional golf.

The Future of College Football

This whole idea of third-party ownership might seem wild, but it’s part of a growing trend. The Big Ten and SEC are becoming like super conferences, and there’s talk of the Big 12 expanding to 16 teams as well.

The next big thing to watch is the new College Football Playoff (CFP) media rights deal. Some people think it could be worth more than $2 billion annually! How the CFP negotiations play out could really shake things up.

The Big Questions

So, what’s going to happen? Will someone actually buy a college team? What’s the return on investment in college sports? Is it about winning championships, making money, or both?

The landscape of college sports is changing fast, and it’s not just about teams switching conferences. It’s about owning the process and maybe even buying the conferences themselves.

The Big Ten is thinking about bringing USC and UCLA across the country, and the Big 12 is looking to be the first Power Five conference with teams in four time zones. It’s like a whole new world out there.

The Pac-12 Conference’s Struggle: The Pac-12 is a group of college sports teams that play against each other. Recently, Colorado left this group to join another one called the Big 12. This has put the Pac-12 in a tough spot, and they’re struggling to keep the remaining teams together. Think of it like a popular club at school losing members to a rival club. If they lose too many members, the club might have to shut down.

The Future of Arizona and Other Teams: Arizona, another team in the Pac-12, is being asked to join the Big 12 too. If they leave, other teams like Arizona State and Utah might follow. It’s like a group of friends deciding to leave one social group for another. If they all leave, it could spell the end for the original group. The Pac-12 is trying to prevent this by possibly adding new teams and making new deals.

The Big Ten’s Interest: Another group called the Big Ten is watching all of this closely. They’re interested in some of the Pac-12’s teams but don’t want to be the reason the Pac-12 falls apart. It’s like waiting to see if a group of friends will break up on their own before inviting them to join your group. If they do join the Big Ten, they might get more money, but the Big Ten doesn’t want to seem like the bad guy in the situation.

In summary, the Pac-12 is like a club at school that’s in danger of falling apart. They’re trying to keep their members, while other groups are watching and waiting to see what happens. It’s a big game of alliances, interests, and money, and everyone’s waiting to see how it plays out.

Imagine the Big Ten Conference as a popular restaurant chain. They’re thinking about opening up new locations, and they’re looking at Oregon and Washington as potential spots. Some of the top managers (university presidents) had a virtual meeting to discuss whether they should expand by adding two or four new locations.

Now, Washington’s management team is having a special meeting, possibly to discuss legal matters related to this expansion. It’s all very early in the planning stages, and they might decide not to expand at all. They’re also considering other locations like Cal and Stanford.

The Big Ten chain is still working on integrating two recent additions (USC and UCLA), kind of like opening new branches and making sure they fit in with the rest of the chain. They’re also keeping an eye on what’s happening with other restaurant chains (Big 12 and Pac-12) because they don’t want to be the reason another chain goes out of business.

In short, it’s like the Big Ten restaurant chain is considering opening new branches, but they’re being cautious and keeping an eye on the competition. They’re in the early stages of planning, and they’re keeping everyone in the loop as they explore their options.

Final Thoughts

As a college student and a football fan, all of this is mind-blowing. The idea of a billion-dollar investment reshaping college football is wild, but it’s also kind of exciting.

Who knows what the future holds? All I know is that I’ll be watching closely, cheering on my team, and waiting to see what happens next. It’s a crazy time to be a college football fan, and I’m here for it! 🏈