Report: 70-Team CFB Super League Concept Pitched to ADs; Would Infuse $9B into Sport

As college football tries to navigate the widening financial gap between the top conferences and everyone else, one group is trying to get the biggest programs in the country to break off into their own league.

Per Yahoo Sports' Ross Dellenger, a group led by former Disney executives-turned-investment professionals has proposed a 70-team super league featuring schools from the four power conferences that would infuse up to $9 billion in private capital cash into the sport.

Dellenger noted that athletic directors at more than 25 power conference programs have seen the presentation—called "Project Rudy"—thus far.

Dellenger previously reported on Sept. 26 that leaders from the Big Ten and SEC were preparing for a "historic" meeting in Nashville, Tennessee, with a variety of topics on the docket that includes the future of the Playoff format and a regular-season and postseason scheduling arrangement.

Tuesday's report from Dellenger noted that meeting is scheduled to take place on Wednesday and Thursday, with Project Rudy said to be an "unreported undercurrent driving the discussion" between the two powerhouse conferences.

Miami athletic director Dan Radakovich, who is among those to have seen the presentation, told Dellenger he believes Project Rudy looks to be an effective model.

"Of all the ideas I've seen, this one makes the most sense," Radakovich said. "Conferences are kept intact, commissioners still have an important and valuable role, and there is the ability for schools to make increased money from bigger matchups and more playoff games."

The main concepts of the project, according to Dellenger, would arrange for more games between power conference teams by eliminating all games against Group of Five and FCS opponents, while expanding the Playoff field and have traditional powerhouse programs play head-to-head more often.

It would also consolidate the media rights deals for the 70 schools into one single agreement, as opposed to the current structure where each conference and Notre Dame has its own deal.

Under the current model, the Big Ten is making $1.15 billion annually on its television contracts with Fox, CBS, NBC and the Big Ten Network; the SEC is making $740 million annually through its deal with ESPN/ABC.

By comparison, the Big 12, ACC and Pac-12 combined will make $710 million this season. That figure will go up by $160 million when the Big 12's new deal kicks in starting with the 2025-26 season.

It's not even clear what the future of the Pac-12 is Oregon State and Washington State the only current members. Boise State, Colorado State, Fresno State, Utah State and San Diego State will join the conference in 2026, but its media rights deal expires after this season with no future agreement in place.

Per Dellenger, the presentation notes that proposed changes "will result in an increase of media and sponsorship revenue of about $15 billion over a 12-year period" with a $5.3 billion upfront infusion in private capital borrowed from future media revenues.

The revenues would not be divided equally among all the teams, but rather divided into three different tiers ranging from $130 million per school in year four to $250 million in year 12 for the top earners to $60-110 million for the teams in tier two and $30-60 million for teams in tier three.

There are different proposals for how to determine the tiers, including using the previous season's results or an aggregate model over a period of multiple years. It would also include a relegation and promotion system, though there is one model that "suggests having eight 'permanent' members of Tier 1, a move presumably to placate the biggest brands in the sport."

There's no potential timetable for this system to be implemented if it were to be agreed on by all the necessary parties. Dellenger noted Congress would have to get involved because the proposed models would not be able to consolidate all of the media rights deals without changing the Sports Broadcasting Act of 1961.

One executive at an SEC school did tell Dellenger that the system will "eventually" come to be.