The ACC, Big Ten, And Pac-12 Formed ‘The Alliance’ Today. What Is It? Let Us Try To Explain
In a nutshell: ¯\_(ツ)_/¯
But let’s try anyway.
New Pac-12 commissioner George Kliavkoff said in a statement: “The historic alliance announced today between the Pac-12, ACC and Big Ten is grounded in a commitment to our student-athletes. We believe that collaborating together we are stronger in our commitment to addressing the broad issues and opportunities facing college athletics.”
Now let me break it down in Layman’s terms: “The historic alliance announced today between the Pac-12, ACC and Big Ten is grounded in a commitment to money. We believe that collaborating together we are stronger in our commitment to making money.”
Because let’s be real. This decision is nothing more than the next domino to fall after Texas and Oklahom decided to bolt for the SEC.
Tuesday’s alliance announcement included widespread football scheduling principles among the three leagues, as many game contracts are set for several years out. There is also a desire to see what a potential expanded CFP model looks like before adopting new scheduling strategies.
via ESPN.com
So essentially the Alliance will become an actual thing whenever current contracts are expired. When is that? We don’t know.
How do we know it will hold up? Are there contracts in place to assure this will hold together until then?
Ahhh, yes. The ol’ pinky promise approach. There’s no signed contracts. Just a bunch of gentlemen’s agreements. Pretty smart approach, especially in an industry like college football. Because things always stay in place with strong eye-contact and a handshaken promise. If this whole thing feels like it was thrown together at the last minute before today’s press conference, that’s because it probably was.
This whole press conference today felt like when the Lost Boys in Hook started eating food that wasn’t there.
The freaking Babysitters Club had more regimented rules and guidelines than the Alliance does right now. Look am I against the idea? Not at all. But right now, it doesn’t feel like it’s anything more than an idea. So guys, why don’t you go back to the drawing boards and actually draw something up this time and get back to us.
Meanwhile, the Big 12 is still sitting around like:
