Part 6/7:
As programs begin to identify themselves within this framework, notable schools, including Notre Dame and Stanford, may shift their affiliations to join one of these prominent conferences. The last thing the NCAA wants is a system overrun by unequal competition—that reality is fast approaching as the financial disparities grow.
Conclusion: Navigating the Shift
As the college football landscape continues to evolve, the Big Ten’s financial advantage and recruitment strategies may reshape how we view competition within the sport. While the SEC has long been the gold standard of college football, recent trends suggest that the Big Ten is poised to challenge this legacy hard.