Paul Finebaum addresses relationship between SEC, Big Ten

The relationship between the SEC and Big Ten is a very unique one, according to Paul Finebaum.

With the ACC trying to fix itself, the big 12 trying to keep up and the Pac-2, we think, is hanging on by a thread, the SEC and Big Ten are the class of college athletics right now. As Finebaum put it, this is the new normal of college athletics.

The SEC meetings, for example, had a much different feeling than the ACC.

“Yeah, I think he addressed it,” Finebaum said on McElroy and Cubelic. “And I think it’s pretty obvious and you just think about what happened last week. And you juxtapose that three weeks ago at Amelia Island with the ACC when it was a scramble. Every question was about the future of the league and the relationships. And what Greg Sankey has laid down with Tony Petitti is the new normal of college athletics.” 

The SEC and Big Ten aren’t necessarily in an alliance, but they kind of are, according to Finebaum. They are the two “super leagues,” if you will, right now.

“At first it seemed like maybe perception, but now it is clearly cemented into reality,” Finebaum said. “And everyone else has coalesced about that. And that’s fine, but it’s necessary and I think you now know why this has to be done. It was because they had to form an alliance to shut the wall up for these lawsuits because of the mismanagement of college athletics for the last ‘forever.’ These leagues felt like they had to protect themselves against a complete collapse in court which they expect.”

SEC, Big Ten relationship could be tested

With lawsuits and questions of the future of the ACC, it’s basically “Who is going to get the top schools in the ACC?” It’s been a talking point since realignment went nuts over the last couple of years.

Finebaum said the college athletics world better brace for the possibility because it’ll continue to be an arms race.

“I think the real concern for everyone in this group is what happens if the ACC starts to implode even more than it currently is,” Finebaum said on McElroy and Cubelic. “And because I mean, there are certain schools that I don’t think either league really wants and then there are those who I think both covet. So I think that’s where it would get really sticky.” 

It’s also no secret that the SEC and Big Ten were in an arms race when it came to expansion. The SEC has Oklahoma and Texas and the Big Ten got USC and UCLA.

When the Pac-12 fell apart, the SEC didn’t pounce like the Big Ten. The latter added Oregon and Washington to the mix.

If the ACC does fall apart, it’d be hard to believe the SEC and Big Ten would just sit on their hands.