Frustrations are bubbling over in the world of college sports, with a prominent athletic director from the Big 12 Conference calling for a bold move: a break-away from the SEC and Big Ten. Jamie Pollard, the athletic director at Iowa State, has had enough of the power-play politics and governance issues that seem to be plaguing these conferences. In a recent interview, he expressed his exasperation, suggesting that the Big 12 should consider going their own way if the SEC and Big Ten continue to flout the rules.
"Let them go, but they have to go in all their sports and see how fun it is to play baseball and softball and track when it's just the 20 of you," Pollard said. This statement hints at a deeper issue: the imbalance of power and the potential for smaller conferences to be left behind in the pursuit of revenue and prestige.
Pollard's frustration is not isolated. The College Sports Commission (CSC), an entity created to regulate and oversee college sports, has seen its rulings ignored by the SEC and Big Ten. A high-profile case involving Nebraska athletes and their NIL deals worth $7.5 million was denied by the CSC, with an independent arbiter ruling in favor of the Commission. This has left many questioning the purpose and effectiveness of the CSC if its rulings are not universally respected.
"Why did we spend the money [on creating the CSC] if you didn't want rules?" Pollard asks. It's a valid question that highlights the underlying tension between the desire for rules and the willingness to adhere to them, especially when it comes to revenue-related matters.
The numbers released by the CSC further emphasize the scale of the issue. Between June 2025 and April 2026, the CSC cleared deals worth over $242 million, but it also denied deals worth $56 million. The limbo status of other deals, primarily from Big Ten and SEC schools, suggests a lack of unity and a potential power struggle within the college sports landscape.
While Iowa's athletic director, Beth Goetz, declined to comment on Pollard's barbs, she did acknowledge the challenges within the existing system. "We're putting our deals in, and we all recognize that right now there's some challenges within the system that was created for a variety of reasons," she said. This statement hints at a desire for unity and a sustainable financial model, which seems to be lacking in the current climate.
The potential for a breakaway is not just a hypothetical scenario. Administrators from the ACC have voiced concerns about the enforcement of revenue-sharing caps, with Louisville's athletic director, Josh Heird, stating, "If reality deviates from your expectations, then it's difficult to reconcile those at times." This sentiment is shared by athletic officials from the Big Ten, who have expressed their own frustrations at league meetings.
The Big Ten, however, is not ready to throw in the towel just yet. They are keeping their options open, exploring ways to work within the existing governance structure while also considering potential pivots if the situation demands it. "The discussion has to start within, in our case, the Big Ten," said Maryland's athletic director, Jim Smith.
As the college sports landscape continues to evolve, with the potential for further fragmentation, one thing is clear: the power dynamics and governance issues will continue to shape the future of these conferences and the athletes they represent. The question remains: can a sustainable and equitable solution be found, or will we see a break-away movement gain momentum?
