Discussions around conference realignment “have accelerated” given the “anti-expansion provision” in the Protect College Sports Act, according to sources cited by Ross Dellenger of YAHOO SPORTS. Intermediaries and third parties -- “perhaps even school executives themselves -- remain embroiled in dialogue with conferences that they most wish to join.” Dellenger: “Are they accelerating to a place of imminent action? No.” But the bill would “apply immediately on the date” in which President Trump signs, “freezing conference membership for an indeterminate amount of time (no sunset provision).” It creates a “quasi-deadline now on realignment.” Conferences earning at least $700M in revenue would be “prohibited from merging with one another or acquiring new members.” This means the SEC, Big Ten, ACC and Big 12 would “no longer be able to add membership.” Not only does the concept “freeze in place the current membership of the power leagues -- most notably locking in restless ACC schools like Clemson, FSU, Miami and North Carolina -- but it prevents schools in the Group of Six conferences, such as the Sun Belt, Mountain West or American, from joining the big leagues.” In crystallizing current league membership, the bill has “caught the attention of college administrators who have in turn conveyed their feelings to their own state lawmakers” (YAHOO SPORTS, 6/24).
Report: Realignment talks ‘accelerated’ in response to college sports bill
