The future of college sports is at a crossroads, and the Big Ten's commissioner, Tony Petitti, is sounding the alarm. He believes that the industry needs help from the nation's capital to navigate the complex landscape of reform. With two major bills, the SAFE Act and the SCORE Act, on the table, the college sports world is abuzz with anticipation and concern. But here's where it gets controversial: the Big Ten commissioner is not just concerned with reform; he's also wary of the potential legal challenges that could arise from the recent House antitrust lawsuit settlement. The new NIL overseer, the College Sports Commission, has the power to reject endorsement deals, which could spark a lawsuit. Despite this, Petitti is accepting the new reality of direct payments to athletes and the CSC to regulate NIL. However, the SAFE Act, which lacks antitrust or athlete employee status provisions, is not a viable option for those in power within the college sports space. So, what's the solution? Petitti believes that the industry needs to help in DC, focusing on getting consistent rules and regulations in place while also protecting the industry to ensure it can operate for at least a little while longer. But the road to reform is not without its challenges. The House settlement has been criticized for potentially causing schools to spend more on football and men's basketball, while cutting back on women's sports and Olympic sports. In the Big Ten, the conference's 18 teams will spend $680 million on athletics, indicating that all sports are being funded, with women's volleyball growing so much that it could secure its own media deal in a few years. Meanwhile, negotiations between the Big Ten and the University of California pension fund over a 10% investment in the conference's commercial assets are underway. But the process is not without its hurdles, as several University of Michigan regents have spoken out against selling equity in the Big Ten. So, what's the right thing to do? Petitti says that the decision will be made at some point, but that point could be a long way off. The future of college sports is uncertain, and the industry needs to navigate the complex landscape of reform with caution and foresight.
