Big Ten, SEC urge Congress to reject proposal that would consolidate FBS broadcasting rights
CBS Sports
by
Brandon Marcello
February 26, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
The Big Ten and SEC have submitted a white paper to Congress urging lawmakers to reject a proposal by Saving College Sports (SCS) that would consolidate FBS media rights under federal supervision. They argue that SCS's projections of $6 billion in additional revenue are unsupported and that the plan could destabilize the current conference system. The proposal, backed by billionaire Cody Campbell, seeks to amend the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961 to allow collective negotiation of media rights, claiming it would significantly boost revenue for Olympic and women's sports while creating a single entity to manage scheduling and contracts.
However, the Big Ten and SEC counter that the current conference-driven model is already driving significant growth in media revenue. They note that recent conference renewals have led to a 280% increase in average annual value, matching the NBA's revenue gains. The memo challenges SCS's assertion that aggregation creates value, pointing out that the NBA's success stems from market competition and local agreements rather than consolidation. The conferences also highlight logistical concerns, warning that a federal body overseeing 136 schools, 26 sports, and over 32,000 games annually would be unmanageable and could erode institutional control over scheduling and traditions.
The white paper further argues that existing media contracts, set to expire in 2036, make pooling rights legally risky and potentially costly. It also questions the historical precedent of centralized media models, which have underperformed compared to conference-level deals. For example, the SEC's current deal
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Originally published on CBS Sports on 2/26/2026