The Changing Landscape of College Football

The landscape of college football is changing as schools and conferences seek to increase their revenue. The drive for more money has triggered a wave of conference realignments. Financial pressures have especially impacted schools like USC and UCLA, which lagged behind financially compared to rivals in the Big Ten and SEC.

One driving force behind these changes is the ongoing discussion over expanding the College Football Playoff. Leaders from key conferences believe that adding more games and teams could enhance profitability. But these conversations extend beyond simple financial considerations.

More fundamentally, the role of the NCAA and the current structure of college football are under scrutiny. Big Ten Conference Commissioner Tony Petitti discussed this during the 2025 Big Ten Football Media Days held in Las Vegas. Some suggest the Power Four conferences should break away from the NCAA to form an independent league with a new organizational structure.

Kirk Herbstreit expressed this sentiment in 2026, noting that issues like name, image, and likeness (NIL) could improve through a collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between players and conferences in this new entity. In an interview with Front Office Sports, he said, “I think the Power Four needs to break away. Create their own world, create their own governing body.” He suggested a model similar to FCS, Division II, and III, proposing an organized system led by a commissioner and potentially unionizing players to navigate antitrust laws.

Let them break away. We should break away from them,” said Iowa State AD Jamie Pollard to reporters.

Additionally, there’s a proposal for the Big Ten and SEC to establish their own arrangement due to their success. Jamie Pollard, the athletic director for the Iowa State Cyclones in the Big 12, also shared his perspective. During a game against Baylor, he told reporters, “Let them break away. We should break away from them. But they have to go in all their sports.”

Pollard’s comments reflect the tension between dominant conferences and others. SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey echoed similar sentiments. Despite the Big Ten and SEC’s dominance, Pollard emphasized the interconnectedness of all conferences. While they bring immense value, programs in the Big 12 and ACC also contribute significantly.

There will undoubtedly be disagreements as each entity vies for a larger piece of the revenue pie. Yet, a complete separation of the Big Ten and SEC remains unlikely. However, the likelihood of the Power Four breaking away from the NCAA seems to grow, signaling a potential shift in college football’s future.