Overview
- The FTI Consulting analysis commissioned by the SEC and Big Ten concludes a national pooling of media rights would yield less revenue than the current conference-by-conference system and labels the concept dangerously unworkable.
- The white paper argues media revenue is already climbing under decentralized deals and projects that conference rights growth would surpass Saving College Sports’ forecast by 2033 without consolidation.
- The report challenges comparisons to the NFL and NBA, noting the far greater number of college programs and citing 1980s joint packaging that produced $43.6 million versus $69.7 million under the prior NCAA model.
- Legal and logistical barriers highlighted include the Sports Broadcasting Act’s prohibition on collective selling, staggered contracts running as far as 2036, and what the paper deems an unmanageable federal committee overseeing scheduling and distribution.
- Saving College Sports, led by Texas Tech regent Cody Campbell, maintains pooling could add roughly $6–7 billion through optimized scheduling, and Campbell criticized commissioners Greg Sankey and Tony Petitti as the congressional debate over potential SAFE Act changes continues.