Enough is enough.
It is time for the ACC, Big 12 and the remaining FBS Conferences to call the SEC's and Ben Ten's Bluff.
Earlier this week, reports surfaced that the SEC and Big Ten have partnered to gain control of the College Football Playoff. In doing so, the two leagues finagled their way into creating four automatic spots for their conferences when the CFP's new deal with ESPN begins in 2026.
The two leagues also gained control of the CFP Committee and will change the way the playoff is seeded in either a 14- or 16-team format.
Despite that most of these details were ironed out in the spring when the SEC and Big Ten threatened to leave the CFP and start their own playoff, the two richest conferences in the sport are still whining that No. 9 ranked Boise State and No. 12 Arizona State earned automatic byes in last year's playoff as two of the four-highest ranked conference champions.
They felt No. 5 Texas and No. 6 Penn State deserved to have the byes, though everyone involved already agreed to the current format for the 2024 and 2025 seasons.
On Wednesday, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey and Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti agreed that the way teams are seeded in the current 12-team CFP should change this fall. This comes after the two league's athletic directors had a joint meeting in New Orleans.
For there to be any changes in the current CFP structure, there has to be a unanimous vote between the 10 FBS Commissioners and Notre Dame Athletic Director Pete Bevacqua.
But do not be surprised if it does happen. It seems like every time someone tries to stand up to the Big Ten and SEC, they cry and threaten to take their football and go play someplace else.
Maybe enough is enough. Maybe ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips and Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark should call Sankey's and Petitti's bluff. I understand the Big Ten and SEC might go do their own thing but is that so bad.
Earlier this week, ACC commissioner Jim Phillips told Yahoo Sports the ACC has not cemented a position on a format but "there needs to be fairness and access to the championship," he said. "It needs to be a true championship, not artificial and not an invitational."
This is not the first time there has been a power struggle in football. Remember the AFL?
After the NFL refused to expand its league in the late 1950s, a group of businessmen got together and formed a new league, one that could compete with the NFL.
They based their teams in Dallas, Oakland, Los Angeles, Buffalo, New York, Boston, Denver and Houston. The AFL marketed itself as an exciting new league that would play with a different style and flare than the NFL.
They cut a deal with NBC and by 1960 they were competing with the NFL for players and viewership.
Guess what happened?
It worked.
By 1967, after the two leagues went in and out of the courts, they decided to merge, realizing they needed each other in order to survive. By 1970, the merger was complete, and the NFL has become the power league everyone around the world looks up to.
This is what the ACC, Big 12 and the other conferences can do to the SEC and Big Ten. Call their bluff. Then go to Netflix, NBC, Hulu, YouTube TV or whomever and get them to sign a deal broadcasting their games and broadcasting their playoffs.
Go take those viewers away from the SEC and Big Ten. Go show them they need you, as well.
Here is where college football is different than the NFL. The NFL is a privately owned business with 32 teams who are owned and run by businessmen.
College football is still about the schools. It is run by the schools and those fan bases are driven by its alumni.
No matter what, Clemson fans will want to watch their Tigers, no matter what conference they play in. The same can be said for North Carolina, NC State and Florida State alumni.
I am sure a lot of you out there are tired of the SEC and the Big Ten dictating how the game is going to be played. I am sure you are tired of them bullying everyone to get what they want.
I know you are tired of hearing all the ESPN propaganda.
Let's do something about it.
Let's call their bluff.