SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey isn't a fan of the amendments under the Protect College Sports Act, especially those that fall under Title II. The new bill proposes to make changes that restrict conference expansion and impose structural limits on the SEC and Big Ten.

Sankey voiced his disapproval of the decision as he spoke to CBS Sports. Especially when it looks to freeze Power Four memberships.

"When I first read it, it's like, 'Why is that even in there?" SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said Monday, "... There are interests that have introduced those issues. We have three or four changes there, if Title II remains, that are critically important to us."

Not just the freezing aspect, but the new edits as reported by Brandon Marcello of CBS Sports also look to curtail the powers of the conferences. The new rule bars any conference reporting $700 million or more in revenue from merging with, acquiring, or absorbing another conference or its membership. 

Moreover, there is also a provision in the pending bill that mandates the Power Four programs to spend five years as an independent if they wish to switch conferences.

The main idea behind the waiting period is to slow down conference switches. One of the changes is limiting the cap number of teams in the Power Four conferences to 19 or 20.

Sankey and the SEC are not onboard with the idea. As such, the SEC has demanded some modifications in accordance with their 10 suggestions.

"Those 10 concepts are not SEC issues," Sankey said. "Those are changes that we believe benefit all of college athletics in providing a national solution."

So unless and until that happens, both the SEC and Big Ten wouldn't give their consent and wouldn't back the legislation. That puts the Protect College Sports Act in jeopardy.

The Protect College Sports Act's future hangs in the balance

The Protect College Sports Act passed the Senate Commerce Committee on a 19-9 bipartisan vote back in June.

So far, it has received support from 24 conferences, 267 colleges and universities, and the NFL. Yet the ultimate lack of backing from the SEC and Big Ten could prove to be decisive.

As per the same CBS report by Brandon Marcello, the bill was drafted by Sens. Ted Cruz and Maria Cantwell and is looking at an uncertain future. The SEC and Big Ten's major concern lies in the fact that the new rule exposes them to lawsuits. That, in turn, will leave them no option but to get into a pooling structure.

The SEC and Big Ten aren't pushing back without reason. Their biggest concerns revolve around potential legal liabilities and how broadcast revenue would be pooled.

However, the proposed media-rights structure is aimed at preventing the rise of an exclusive college football "Super League" before it ever becomes reality.

In addition, they could also become vulnerable to lawsuits from athletes. Any infractions or violations of NIL rights will make them susceptible to legal charges.

As such, Greg Sankey and the team are taking a cautionary approach. If the modifications suggested are not acknowledged by the committee, this might just fall through.

Do you think the decision-makers will make revisions to the bill under pressure? Let us know through your comments.

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Written by

Sourav Ganguly

Edited by

Aadesh Dhote