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Greg Sankey reacts to SEC-Big Ten ‘super’ league talk with Finebaum, says Senate hearing missed mark
Greg Sankey shut down the idea Friday of a “super league” made up of the SEC and Big Ten.
The SEC commissioner made it clear there have been no discussions with his Big Ten counterpart, Tony Petitti, about it.
The “super league” talk was floated this week during a hearing before the Senate Commerce Committee on Wednesday about the Protect Sports Acts.
According to On3, the bipartisan bill introduced by Sen. Ted Cruz (R-Texas) and Sen. Maria Cantwell (D-Wash.) has nothing in it to prevent such a move.
“What seems to be the tipping point in this discussion is this notion – an erroneous notion," Sankey told “The Paul Finebaum Show.” “I want to be clear about that. And then I shared this with Senator Cruz, along with my colleague Tony Petitti. We are not having some conversation about a merger.
“In fact, Paul, I do not want the SEC Network to somehow be confused with the Big Ten Network. Just so you and I are clear. I don’t think our fans want that, I don’t think anybody wants that.
“I think the debate between the fan bases of the two conferences is outstanding. … That’s part of the fodder that’s there. We have not had a conversation about some kind of merger or super league.”
He also pointed out the SEC and Big Ten are being “singled out.”
“I think one of the flaws in the bill is to pick a point in time, which is like the most recent tax filings,” Sankey said. “There are two conferences that had over $1 billion in revenue. And those two conferences are singled out and can’t do certain things. One of my observations is, ‘Hey, you know what? If we can’t do that, make that apply to the ACC and Big 12. Make that apply to the Ohio Valley Conference and my old friends in the Southland Conference.’ We shouldn’t be singled out because we’re not having that conversation.
“On the other side of the coin, we flat know there’s groups like Smash Capital, some of these College Sports Tomorrow groups that have formed. Private equity groups have called me to suggest, ‘Hey, here’s a Super League.’ The bill ought to deal with those as well. If it’s wrong for the SEC and Big Ten to take that course of action, then we shouldn’t be allowing that course of action for anyone. I think those are important elements.”