When I wrote a couple of days ago about what I thought the parameters of realignment in the Protect College Sports Act would be, I did not expect some of those details to start to be released so soon after. One day later, some significant news came out.
The latest negotiations between lawmakers and officials from the SEC/Big Ten is to cap conference membership at 19 schools and require programs that move from one power league to another to operate as an independent for five years, sources tell @YahooSports https://t.co/tNOcNU3f31
— Ross Dellenger (@RossDellenger) July 20, 2026
Well, it’s obvious the independent wording is about Notre Dame. The Big 10 already has 18 teams, and language about independence screams the Irish. That limits the opportunities of invites to non-independent schools without a 5-year waiting period.
For the ACC, it doesn’t guarantee stability, but we continue to trend in the direction of realignment slowing down.
A month ago, when the first details of Protect College Sports Act were first released, we said this.
It’s not up to the schools that want to leave, though. It’s up to 2 parties, the Big 10 and SEC. Everything has a trickle-down effect from what those two conferences do…
…There is one massive holdup to all of this, and I think the odds of realignment in the early 2030s have moved from a near certainty to a 50/50 proposition.
…Remember the SEC and Big 10 don’t need to expand for financial reasons. They are already the highest-paid and highest-rated leagues going. They control the playoffs, and each has a major network backing them
I’ve seen nothing in the last couple of days that has changed my opinion. The odds of realignment in the near future are not as high as they were a few months ago. Simply put, teams may want to leave, but they must have a P2 invite first. With the cap of 19, and one of those spots likely going Notre Dame. The ACC could lose 3 teams max. The conference can still be viable even with some schools leaving eventually, and those non-independent schools still have to wait 5 years if these parameters hold.
One thing I’m positive about: this bill is something to keep a close eye on. Realignment may end up with political layers that simply didn’t exist before.
