Jamie Pollard
Iowa State Athletic Director Jamie Pollard foresees a problematic future for college football. Speaking at a Cyclone Tailgate Tour event in West Des Moines, Pollard criticized the College Football Playoff format, highlighting the sport’s chaotic state. He warned that the Big Ten and SEC are distancing themselves from other conferences, shaping policies to their advantage and harming the rest of college football.
Pollard accused the Big Ten and SEC of attempting to consume the ACC and Big 12. He also issued a cryptic warning that the SEC and Big Ten would eventually “eat their own.” Pollard emphasized that “those who have all the gold make all the rules” and suggested that schools in the Big Ten and SEC should be wary, as “the top of the SEC is not going to want the bottom of the SEC.”
Pollard’s concerns are valid. Clemson, Florida State, and North Carolina are desperate to leave the ACC, prompting discussions about ousting low-revenue ACC schools to secure higher payments for marquee members. College football is increasingly cutthroat.
Pollard compared the current situation to the 1970 merger of the AFL and NFL, predicting that the future will not need two $6 million-a-year commissioners and will see the Big Ten and SEC turning on each other. He reminded everyone that the demise of the Pac-12 was once unimaginable but has occurred, suggesting it could happen again.
Pollard’s theories are grounded in financial realities. The Big Ten and SEC will receive nearly $1 billion annually, while the Big 12 will get $700 million. These two leagues will claim 29% of the College Football Playoff revenue, with the ACC and Big 12 receiving just 15%. This financial disparity is causing significant tension and potential realignment within college football.
Pollard’s comments also touched on the possibility of the Big Ten and SEC merging, which could exclude programs like Northwestern, Vanderbilt, Mississippi State, or Rutgers due to financial considerations. There is also talk in the ACC of restructuring to protect its top brands and secure a new TV deal, potentially downsizing the league.
Pollard highlighted the disparity in investments and attention between schools like Northwestern and Vanderbilt compared to power programs. Northwestern is building a new stadium, while Vanderbilt has made minimal investments in football.
Ultimately, Pollard believes college football is on a collision course, with the Big Ten and SEC likely to dominate at the expense of smaller programs. This trajectory may bring in billions but at the cost of the game’s soul, risking the future of passionate programs like Kansas State, Iowa State, Utah, Oklahoma State, and Texas Tech. College football may need to consume itself to save itself, prioritizing revenue over tradition.
