The landscape of college football is undergoing significant changes, driven by the desire of schools and conferences to increase revenue. The concept of conference realignment has gained momentum, particularly because institutions such as USC and UCLA found themselves financially lagging behind peers in the Big Ten and SEC.

The topic of expanding the College Football Playoff continues to be actively discussed. This initiative is partly spearheaded by the Big Ten and SEC, where leaders view the inclusion of more games and teams as an opportunity to increase profits. However, a more profound conversation revolves around the NCAA’s role and the current structure of college football.

Big Ten Conference Commissioner Tony Petitti addressed these issues during the 2025 Big Ten Football Media Days in Las Vegas. Prominent voices in the sport are considering the benefits of forming a league separate from the NCAA. For instance, Kirk Herbstreit has articulated a vision where the Power Four conferences could govern themselves independently. He suggests that this could resolve issues surrounding name, image, and likeness (NIL) agreements through a collective bargaining agreement with players.

I think the Power Four needs to break away, create their own world, and establish a new governing body. Allow the Group of Four to form their own league, with separate playoffs, much like other divisions in college sports. A new level, a new governing structure, perhaps even a commissioner, and if necessary, player unionization to align with legal considerations.

Further proposals include a potential alliance between the successful Big Ten and SEC. Some, including a notable athletic director from the Big 12, advocate for such a division. Iowa State Cyclones’ AD, Jamie Pollard, has publicly suggested that these conferences should separate entirely, taking all sports along.

Jamie Pollard remarked, They should break away, but they must take all sports, not just football. Let’s stop the discussions and let them go through with it if that’s the intention.

Such statements underscore the tension between dominant conferences and the rest of the Power Four. There is a shared dependence, indicating the need for collaboration despite differences. While the Big Ten and SEC hold substantial influence, they provide value that is intertwined with other conferences, including the Big 12 and ACC.

The idea of a complete separation of the Big Ten and SEC is extraordinary, yet the possibility of the Power Four leaving the NCAA seems to grow steadily. Observers anticipate changes that redefine college football’s governing structure in the near future.