Pat Forde reveals top candidates to become next Big Ten commissioner

Sports Illustrated’s Pate Forde has revealed the candidates to replace Kevin Warren as the commissioner of the Big Ten.

Kevin Warren became the Big Ten commissioner in 2020, replacing longtime commissioner Jim Delany. During his time there, Warren dealt with the COVID-19 Pandemic, expanded the conference by adding USC and UCLA, and negotiated the conference’s next media rights deal, which will pay the conference more than $7 billion. He is leaving to become the team president and CEO of the Chicago Bears.

It was during the Paul Finebaum Show when Pat Forde broke down the possible candidates to take over as the next Big Ten commissioner.

“I think there will probably be at least strong consideration for going back to a more traditional commissioner,” Forde said. “A campus guy, so to speak. Whether that’s Gene Smith if he would like to move from Ohio State to the Big Ten office. Whether that’s Illinois athletic director Josh Whitman.”

Another name that Pat Forde says to look out for is Jim Phillips, the ACC commissioner. He was previously the athletic director and Northwestern and may be interested in stepping into the same role with the Big Ten. That is, assuming the Big Ten makes a traditional hire.

“Whether that is Jim Phillips from the ACC. There’s some other possibilities there. Or, if they want to stay outside the norm, a Mark Silverman from Fox Sports who was with the Big Ten Network and certainly knows the league very well. Mark Lazarus, I’m sorry. But, there’s a lot of options.”

On top of all of that, Pat Forde doesn’t think there is going to be a lot of work to do once you’re the Big Ten commissioner because Kevin Warren did that work for you.

“Plenty of options there and it’s not a hard job, I don’t think at this point, because they’ve already taken care of the TV contract and expansion. I think you’re sitting in a pretty plush spot.”

Greg Sankey takes an apparent shot at Kevin Warren

After his decision to leave the Big Ten for the NFL, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey took an apparent shot at Kevin Warren.

“We need leaders today in college football and college sports,” Sankey said.

“Not leaders who make a stop to build a resume and go on to something else, but those who understand the problems ahead are real and demand our attention.”