The Big Ten and SEC announced Friday they are banding together to form a joint advisory group with the goal of addressing the “significant challenges” facing college sports. The move comes as the NCAA struggles to govern intercollegiate athletics amid a sea of change that has imperiled the longstanding amateur model.
“The Big Ten and the SEC have substantial investment in the NCAA and there is no question that the voices of our two conferences are integral to governance and other reform efforts,” Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti said. “We recognize the similarity in our circumstances, as well as the urgency to address the common challenges we face.”
Participants in the advisory group will include university presidents, chancellors and athletic directors. Athletes and “other constituencies” will be included as necessary, according to the announcement. Specific members of the advisory group have not been determined. Among the challenges the leagues cited in the formation of their partnership are “recent court decisions, pending litigation, a patchwork of state laws, and complex governance proposals.”
“There are similar cultural and social impacts on our student-athletes, our institutions, and our communities because of the new collegiate athletics environment,” SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said. “We do not have predetermined answers to the myriad questions facing us. We do not expect to agree on everything but enhancing interaction between our conferences will help to focus efforts on common sense solutions.”
Friday’s announcement clarified the body “will have no authority to act independently and will only serve as a consulting body.” Still, this marks the latest move by the nation’s two most powerful conferences to take an active…
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