Penn State athletic director Sandy Barbour said Saturday that “the Big Ten feels like it’s in a really good place,” as the conference explores an alliance with the ACC and the Pac-12, but that it continues to pay attention. to that which brings value beyond money.
“I think there are conferences that could add value from a monetary standpoint, especially talking about our television contract and our television revenue,” Barbour said. “… The Big Ten is really proud to be more than just an athletics conference; in terms of meeting our provosts, we share some library resources and other academic resources.”
Barbour said 40% of the Association of American Universities (a group of leading research schools) belongs to the Pac-12, Big Ten and ACC conferences.
“I’m not trying to downplay the importance of value when it comes to increasing our revenue (that’s certainly important), but that’s not the only reason,” Barbour said. “And I think there are some reasons around the similar mindset that would be very valuable to the conference.”
After Texas and Oklahoma announced their intention to leave the Big 12 for the SEC last month, the Big Ten, ACC and Pac-12 formed an “alliance committee” that includes sporting directors from each conference, together with the three commissioners, to determine how they could work together moving forward.
Sources told ESPN that they are expected to have a call soon, but there is still much uncertainty within the group about what details an alliance would entail beyond the abstract academic common ground. Scheduling will be a part of the debate, but sources told ESPN that the motivations and schedules for each league are different.
Discussions are taking place as the entire NCAA is in the midst of a self-assessment of its structure and governance. Barbour is one of 23 members appointed to the NCAA’s constitution committee.
He said they had their first virtual meeting on Tuesday as the group begins its task of proposing a new governance model.
“I don’t think that’s going to sting around the edges,” Barbour said. “I think he’ll be bold. I hope I don’t have to retract that statement.”