The Atlantic Coast Conference, Big Ten and Pac-12 announced an alliance Tuesday that will work together “on a collaborative approach surrounding the future evolution of college athletics and scheduling” with a clear eye on the growing power of the SEC.
Conference officials have been discussing the idea for weeks, but commissioners Kevin Warren of the Big Ten, Jim Phillips of the ACC and George Kliavkoff of the Pac-12 — all relatively new to their positions — acknowledged the plan publicly for the first time.
The move comes less than a month after the Southeastern Conference invited Texas and Oklahoma to join the league and create a 16-school league by 2025. The move sent shockwaves through college athletics and will leave the Big 12 without its two premier schools in the paydirt sport of football.
The ACC, Big Ten and Pac-12 hope its alliance of 41 schools that span from Miami to Seattle leads to stability at the top of big-time college sports and thwarts future realignment.
The alliance is also being formed as the NCAA begins the process of handing off more responsibility to conferences and schools to run college sports, and with a proposal to expand the College Football Playoff in the pipeline.
The scheduling piece could lead to multiple nonconference football games per season between the league members, creating new and valuable television inventory.
Just how soon that might happen wasn’t clear: Nonconference football schedules are typically made years in advance and many schools already have mostly full slates in the coming seasons.
For example, Ohio State has a home-and-home series with Alabama set for 2027 and 2028. It is unclear how an ACC-Big Ten-Pac-12 alliance would account for future games already in place and traditional ACC-SEC rivalries such as Clemson-South Carolina and Georgia-Georgia Tech.
An alliance involving the conferences could impact basketball scheduling more immediately, where schedules are usually made months, instead of years, in advance.
NEW YORK — A controlling R. Kelly barred his live-in girlfriends from watching a documentary series that portrayed him as a sexual predator and kept watch over them during an interview with Gayle King, one of the women testified Tuesday at the R&B singer’s sex-trafficking trial.
If “Surviving R. Kelly” came on TV, “we were to immediately change the channel,” said the witness, who’s testifying as a “Jane Doe” in federal court in Brooklyn.
Kelly was there in the shadows when she and another live-in girlfriend spoke to King for a “CBS This Morning” segment in 2019 she said. She described how he would cough as a signal to keep them on script, backing up his denials, she said.
“He was letting us know he was in the room with us,” she said of the cough.
Kelly, 54, has repeatedly denied accusations that he preyed on several alleged victims during a 30-year career highlighted by his 1996 mega hit “I Believe I Can Fly.” His lawyers have portrayed the accusers as groupies seeking to take advantage of his fame.
The trial is unfolding under coronavirus precautions restricting the press and the public to overflow courtrooms with video feeds. That’s made it difficult to gauge the reactions of Kelly, who has been jailed since his federal indictment was announced in 2019.
The interview with King, which aired a couple weeks after his initial arrest on sex abuse charges, became immediately infamous for Kelly’s demeanor. The singer ranted, cried and shouted at King, who remained stoic even as he leapt up in anger: “Robert, we have to have a conversation,” she said. “I don’t want you just ranting at the camera.”
That interview was also the first time he directly addressed the allegations made in the Lifetime documentary.
New to the R. Kelly case?
Need a refresher on what’s happened so far?
Check out these links for everything you need to know about Kelly’s federal trial in Brooklyn.
Jurors have so far heard from two women who claimed Kelly began sexually degrading them when they were still teenagers. They said he used his stardom to lure them into an insular world where he watched their every move and doled out perverse punishments, spanking them and isolating them in hotel rooms if they broke a vow to never speak about him to anyone else.
In her second day on the witness stand, the latest witness described an episode where Kelly ordered her to have sex with a man nicknamed “Nephew” as one of her punishments. She said Kelly was in the room watching the encounter.
Speaking of “Nephew,” Kelly told her he “had been grooming him since he was young, like me,” she said. Prosecutors have alleged that Kelly exploited at least two “John Does,” along with several women expected to testify at his trial.
The witness originally began what turned out to be a five-year relationship with Kelly’s assurances he would promote her own music career. Asked what steps he took to help during that time, she had a one-word answer: “None.”
The Bears need to play quarterback Justin Fields the second he’s ready.
Instead, coach Matt Nagy is tying the rookie’s playing time to the play of Andy Dalton, whose last winning season as a starter came when Fields was a high school sophomore.
In reiterating on Tuesday that Dalton will be the Week 1 starter against the Rams, Nagy made a subtle tweak to the team’s messaging, which had been otherwise consistent since they traded up to draft the Ohio State rookie. Dalton’s play will impact when Fields plays during the regular season, Nagy said.
That makes sense — the Bears are starting Dalton because they think he gives their veteran-heavy roster the best chance to win in Week 1 — but Nagy finally said out loud what had been long presumed: Dalton will have to play well to keep the job.
That wasn’t necessarily the case a month ago. Fields is developing quickly and the Bears believe he would be ready if called upon.
“Big-picture, when we talked about this from the very start, we said: ‘Whoever is going to be best for the Chicago Bears,” Nagy said. “And that’s going to obviously deal with production and wins, right? So when you look at this thing you want to make sure we all support each other with one common goal to win, and offensively to score touchdowns. And Andy knows that, Andy is well aware of that. Andy’s excited for the opportunity to show what he can do with these starters and in this offense. And then we’ve just got to, every day we have to evaluate and we have to see where we’re at every single day.”
Let the scorekeeping begin, then. Starting in Week 1.
Nagy, of course, benched Mitch Trubisky — who was 2-0 as the starter — after 10 quarters and three plays last season. It’s fair to wonder: will wins be the metric Nagy uses in evaluating Dalton? Touchdowns? Quarterback production? The mood of the locker room?
“Again, it all comes down to the whys, it all does,” Nagy said. “It’s a feel thing.”
Nagy has maintained that any question about his job status — or that of general manager Ryan Pace — won’t have anything to do with Fields’ timeline. That’s hard to believe, though: it would be human nature for Nagy’s “feel” to be influenced by the obvious jolt of adrenaline Fields would give the locker room, the fan base and to Nagy’s Q-rating — especially if the Bears start the season slowly.
Fields was dynamic in his first preseason game and more ordinary in Week 2. He’ll start the third preseason game Saturday so the Bears can evaluate him — but also because Dalton will sit out along with most of the other starters.
“As long as we’re open and honest in this thing …” Nagy said. “Andy knows that we want to win, we want to score a lot of points, we want to be smart with the football. And he’s a leader, and he’s done that. And he’s worked hard throughout this whole OTA’s and training camp to get to this point right now. And everyone has done their job.”
Fields included. Nagy said that “he passed the test,” compared to where other rookies are expected to be in their first training camp.
Dalton has been sharp in practice, too. He’s struggled to move the ball through the first two preseason games, albeit with few fellow starters on the field.
“You’ve got guys that are just playing great at the quarterback position, now you’ve got to take it into the games and you’ve got to produce,” Nagy said. “You have to produce. And we all have to produce.
“So that’s part of the evaluation process, that’s part of us understanding, ‘OK, here’s where we’re at. Now here come the live bullets. And where are we going to be at?'”
Make the most of your Chicago summer by exploring some of the best events of the season happening through September. Seltzer shops, an opening with ThinkFoodGroup’s Pigtail, and sporting events are all happening next month. You won’t want to miss these top things to do in Chicago this September, especially since summer is coming to an end!
Andros Taverna’s Week-long Wine and Seafood Event – Aug. 17-25
Travel through the Greek Islands via Chicago with a trip to Andros Taverna August 17-25 for their week-long wine and seafood spectacular. Experience Wine Director Kristin Franceso’s special selection of Greek wines paired with top-quality seafood prepared by Chef Doug Psaltis including lobsters, blue mussels, razor clams, crystal blue prawns, langoustines and jumbo scallops in the shell. Take a peek at the specially selected wines for the event:
ThinkFoodGroup is opening Pigtail, a new speakeasy, directly beneath the recently opened Jaleo this September. Pigtail will offer a complementary new experience to Jaleo, which differs from all the other locations throughout America. Diners will enjoy bespoke cocktail experiences and bar menus unique to Pigtail and their wishes.
St. George Spirits Master Distiller Lance Winters visits Sepia in Chicago for an exclusive one-night-only dinner and discussion on September 22. Chefs Andrew Zimmerman and Kyle Cottle have collaborated with Sepia’s Keith Meicher, head bartender, to create a four-course cocktail-paired dinner that highlights the complex flavors of St. George’s spirits. Meicher will craft a cocktail for each course, playing with unique flavors such as basil, peach and chanterelle mushrooms. Winters will be on hand to discuss his passion for creative imaginative artisan spirits while guests enjoy their meal. Tickets are available, but selling fast on Tock.
Drink and Donate to The Greater Chicago Food Depository – Sept. 15-19
Bar Roma, located in Andersonville, will celebrate Negroni Week with a trio of craft cocktails, available September 15-19. Mixologist Devin Colloton’s libations include Blonde Negroni, Boulevardier and Sbagliato ($13 each). A portion of the proceeds from each drink will benefit The Greater Chicago Food Depository. Pair your Negroni with Chef Fred Ramos’ Italian cuisine, including summer squash bruschetta, manzo meatballs, baked eggplant parmesan, classic cacio e pepe, veal milanese and more. The complete menu may be viewed here.
Bar Roma is open Sunday, Wednesday and Thursday, 5-10 p.m.; Friday and Saturday, 5-11 p.m. For table reservations, visit BarRomaChicago.com.
Kick It Down in Bridgeview for Chicago House Athletic Club Home Match No. 3 and No. 4
7000 S Harlem Ave, Bridgeview, IL 60455
Chicago House Athletic Club’s inaugural fall season continues on into September with four total matches, including two at home at SeatGeek Stadium in Bridgeview. Head down Harlem Ave for the following live sporting events with Chicago’s hottest new sports team:
The House started their season with a loss at Detroit City FC but bounced back strong against Stump Town AC with a 1-0 victory and the first three points in team history. Follow UrbanMatter Chicago for more information, stories, and interviews with Chicago House AC players, coaches, and front office personnel.
Cincinnati Bengals @ Chicago Bears | 2021 Home Opener at Soldier Field
High anticipation for a Chicago Bears season is something this city hasn’t been used to in recent years. However, with the arrival of Justin Fields, the city is buzzing. Now whether or not Fields is on the, well, field, come Week 3 when the Bears host the Cincinnati Bengals in their home opener remains to be seen one thing is for certain, Soldier Field is the place to be on September 19th.
Even if you just head down to the South Lot to tailgate, the Bears home opener is a must-attend September activity for all Chicagoans. For more on the Chicago Bears season, their fantasy football prospects, and more, follow UrbanMatter Chicago and Drew Kries.
It was almost an entire year between shows at the Chicago Theater. One of Chicago’s most iconic destinations was shut down due to COVID-19 and recently opened back up to the world. What better way to celebrate this than Neil deGrasse Tyson and his Cosmic Collisions show to The Chicago Theatre on September 19.
“All the things that go bump in the night (and in the day). And yes, the universe wants to kill you: On occasion these collisions — asteroid & comet impacts on Earth, render life extinct. Learn why and how this happens, and what we are doing about it.”
LONDON — Charlie Watts, the self-effacing and unshakeable Rolling Stones drummer who helped anchor one of rock’s greatest rhythm sections and used his “day job” to support his enduring love of jazz, has died, according to his publicist. He was 80.
Bernard Doherty said Tuesday that Watts “passed away peacefully in a London hospital earlier today surrounded by his family.”
“Charlie was a cherished husband, father and grandfather and also as a member of The Rolling Stones one of the greatest drummers of his generation,” Doherty said.
In 2004, Watts was diagnosed with throat cancer and underwent successful treatment and remained in remission. He resumed touring with the Stones as well as solo projects.
In an interview with “the Mirror in 2012, he said of the diagnosis: “I thought I was going to die when they told me I had it, which is what most people go through. You think, ‘Ah well, that’s it.’ I didn’t know how to deal with it. The lowest point was the moment he told me I had cancer.”
He also spoke of the Stones’ success, saying: “I knew there was something special very early on. Most bands start very enthusiastically and gradually audiences drop off. This lot was totally different. We were never unpopular, the band’s audience grew and grew and that is the phenomenon really.
Ronnie Wood (from left), Charlie Watts and Keith Richards of The Rolling Stones perform on July 15, 2019, in New Orleans.Amy Harris/Invision/AP
The quiet, elegantly dressed Watts was often ranked with Keith Moon, Ginger Baker and a handful of others as a premier rock drummer, respected worldwide for his muscular, swinging style as the band rose from its scruffy beginnings to international superstardom. He joined the Stones early in 1963 and remained over the next 60 years, ranked just behind Mick Jagger and Keith Richards as the group’s longest lasting and most essential member.
Watts stayed on, and largely held himself apart, through the drug abuse, creative clashes and ego wars that helped kill founding member Brian Jones, drove bassist Bill Wyman and Jones’ replacement Mick Taylor to quit and otherwise made being in the Stones the most exhausting of jobs.
A classic Stones song like “Brown Sugar” and “Start Me Up” often began with a hard guitar riff from Richards, with Watts following closely behind, and Wyman, as the bassist liked to say, “fattening the sound.” Watts’ speed, power and time keeping were never better showcased than during the concert documentary, “Shine a Light,” when director Martin Scorsese filmed “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” from where he drummed toward the back of the stage.
The Stones began, Watts said, “as white blokes from England playing Black American music” but quickly evolved their own distinctive sound. Watts was a jazz drummer in his early years and never lost his affinity for the music he first loved, heading his own jazz band and taking on numerous other side projects.
He had his eccentricities — Watts liked to collect cars even though he didn’t drive and would simply sit in them in his garage. But he was a steadying influence on stage and off as the Stones defied all expectations by rocking well into their 70s, decades longer than their old rivals the Beatles.
Watts didn’t care for flashy solos or attention of any kind, but with Wyman and Richards forged some of rock’s deepest grooves on “Honky Tonk Women,” “Brown Sugar” and other songs. The drummer adapted well to everything from the disco of “Miss You” to the jazzy “Can’t You Hear Me Knocking” and the dreamy ballad “Moonlight Mile.”
Jagger and Richards at times seemed to agree on little else besides their admiration of Watts, both as a man and a musician. Richards called Watts “the key” and often joked that their affinity was so strong that on stage he’d sometimes try to rattle Watts by suddenly changing the beat — only to have Watts change it right back.
Jagger and Richards could only envy his indifference to stardom and relative contentment in his private life, when he was as happy tending to the horses on his estate in rural Devon, England, as he ever was on stage at a sold-out stadium.
Watts did on occasion have an impact beyond drumming. He worked with Jagger on the ever more spectacular stage designs for the group’s tours. He also provided illustrations for the back cover of the acclaimed 1967 album “Between the Buttons” and inadvertently gave the record its title. When he asked Stones manager Andrew Oldham what the album would be called, Oldham responded “Between the buttons,” meaning undecided. Watts thought that “Between the Buttons” was the actual name and included it in his artwork.
To the world, he was a rock star. But Watts often said that the actual experience was draining and unpleasant, and even frightening. “Girls chasing you down the street, screaming…horrible!… I hated it,” he told The Guardian newspaper in an interview. In another interview, he described the drumming life as a “cross between being an athlete and a total nervous wreck.”
Author Philip Norman, who has written extensively about the Rolling Stones, said Watts lived “in constant hope of being allowed to catch the next plane home.” On tour, he made a point of drawing each hotel room he stayed in, a way of marking time until he could return to his family. He said little about playing the same songs for more than 40 years as the Stones recycled their classics. But he did branch out far beyond “Satisfaction” and “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” by assembling and performing with jazz bands in the second half of his career.
Charles Robert Watts, son of a lorry driver and a housewife, was born in Neasden, London, on June 2, 1941. From childhood, he was passionate about music — jazz in particular. He fell in love with the drums after hearing Chico Hamilton and taught himself to play by listening to records by Johnny Dodds, Charlie Parker, Duke Ellington and other jazz giants.
He worked for a London advertising firm after he attended Harrow Art College and played drums in his spare time. London was home to a blues and jazz revival in the early 1960s, with Jagger, Richards and Eric Clapton among the future superstars getting their start. Watts’ career took off after he played with Alexis Korner’s Blues Incorporated, for whom Jagger also performed, and was encouraged by Korner to join the Stones.
Watts wasn’t a rock music fan at first and remembered being guided by Richards and Brian Jones as he absorbed blues and rock records, notably the music of bluesman Jimmy Reed. He said the band could trace its roots to a brief period when he had lost his job and shared an apartment with Jagger and Richards because he could live there rent-free.
“Keith Richards taught me rock and roll,” Watts said. “We’d have nothing to do all day and we’d play these records over and over again. I learned to love Muddy Waters. Keith turned me on to how good Elvis Presley was, and I’d always hated Elvis up ’til then.”
Watts was the final man to join the Stones; the band had searched for months to find a permanent drummer and feared Watts was too accomplished for them. Richards would recall the band wanting him so badly to join that members cut down on expenses so they could afford to pay Watts a proper salary. Watts said he believed at first the band would be lucky to last a year.
“Every band I’d ever been in had lasted a week,” he said. “I always thought the Stones would last a week, then a fortnight, and then suddenly, it’s 30 years.”
Former Associated Press Writers Greg Katz and Janelle Stecklein compiled biographical material for this story.
Oh, for the days when trolls were mythological creatures, living in Nordic caves. Today, they live online, poking us with bitter invective instead of intelligent arguments. That’s what some of President Biden’s defenders are doing, now that he is struggling. With only a weak defense to offer, most are in hiding. The few who venture out in public have turned to a last resort: trolling anyone who dares to criticize the president. Their favorite taunt is “Do you want the president to fail?”
The point here, apparently, is to try and inoculate Biden against any criticism by suggesting that to question his actions is tantamount to wanting the new president to fail and the country with him.
It’s an odd attack coming from the same people who began launching a four-year barrage of invective against Biden’s predecessor before he even took office. Odder still to see the patriotism card played by those who applauded athletes kneeling for our national anthem, endorsed a distorted “1619” history that denies our country was founded on aspirations for freedom, who declare America remains thoroughly racist, and who normally argue that our country is a malevolent force in the world.
Biden is a thin reed upon which to place our confidence that he’ll engineer an evacuation that will rescue every American “who wants to leave” from the clutches of the Taliban and their terrorist allies. That very statement is an exercise in cowardice. No one wants Biden to fail because that would mean that death and misery will visit Americans, their friends and allies, and their innocent families.
I wish that Biden and his administration were as concerned as the rest of us. Except for the trolls, perhaps.
A further thought:
How dare Biden invoke “the buck stops here,” the truth that President Harry S Truman invoked. The great Democratic Truman was courageous way beyond whatever Biden could ever imagine. Biden dares to diminish Truman.
LONDON — Charlie Watts, the self-effacing and unshakeable Rolling Stones drummer who helped anchor one of rock’s greatest rhythms sections and used his “day job” to support his enduring love of jazz, has died, according to his publicist. He was 80.
Bernard Doherty said Tuesday that Watts “passed away peacefully in a London hospital earlier today surrounded by his family.”
“Charlie was a cherished husband, father and grandfather and also as a member of The Rolling Stones one of the greatest drummers of his generation,” Doherty said.
Watts had announced he would not tour with the Stones in 2021 because of an undefined health issue.
The quiet, elegantly dressed Watts was often ranked with Keith Moon, Ginger Baker and a handful of others as a premier rock drummer, respected worldwide for his muscular, swinging style as the band rose from its scruffy beginnings to international superstardom. He joined the Stones early in 1963 and remained over the next 60 years, ranked just behind Mick Jagger and Keith Richards as the group’s longest lasting and most essential member.
The Stones began, Watts said, “as white blokes from England playing Black American music” but quickly evolved their own distinctive sound. Watts was a jazz drummer in his early years and never lost his affinity for the music he first loved, heading his own jazz band and taking on numerous other side projects.
A classic Stones song like “Brown Sugar” and “Start Me Up” often began with a hard guitar riff from Richards, with Watts following closely behind, and Wyman, as the bassist liked to say, “fattening the sound.” Watts’ speed, power and time keeping were never better showcased than during the concert documentary, “Shine a Light,” when director Martin Scorsese filmed “Jumpin’ Jack Flash” from where he drummed toward the back of the stage.
The news is official. Justin Fields will start for the Chicago Bears in their preseason finale Saturday against the Tennessee Titans.
Per Adam Hoge, Andy Dalton will not play, meanwhile Fields should get about two quarters of action.
This news makes things pretty clear cut. If Dalton is not playing in the team’s preseason finale, that cements him as the Week 1 starter. If there was ever any glimmer of hope whether or not Fields could supplant Dalton before Week 1, this puts it to bed.
Fields has zero chance of starting against the Los Angeles Rams. Head coach Matt Nagy made that crystal clear with this announcement today. Now, the countdown begins as to when Nagy will finally reverse course on Dalton.
Because Justin Fields is starting the Chicago Bears’ preseason finale, it means he now officially plays a waiting game.
After the second preseason contest last Saturday versus the Buffalo Bills, everyone came out and began criticizing and questioning Nagy regarding his quarterback “plan.” Whether it was national media, local media or even NFL veterans themselves, Nagy received a ton of flack.
It should be pretty evident by now that Fields gives this team the best chance to win, but one person still isn’t convinced — and unfortunately, that one person makes the decision. Somehow, some way, Nagy still believes Dalton gives the Bears the best chance to win.
Or, does he?
Matt Nagy just confirmed that Andy Dalton’s performance will be a big factor in when Justin Fields plays.
“Performance and wins.”
Fields is close. #Bears are committed to giving Dalton a chance to prove himself as the starter in the regular season.
If Nagy admitted that Dalton’s performance and, ultimately wins, will determine when Fields suits up, doesn’t that hint at some doubt from the head coach? Nagy is essentially saying that Fields is going to play sometime this year — without specifically saying so.
It’s almost as if Nagy knows the Bears will eventually struggle under Dalton, but because of his pride, he has to stick to his guns and “do right” by Dalton, keeping him the starting quarterback.
Dalton is a great guy and teammate, but one has to feel bad for him at this point. We know exactly where this is headed. Bears fans are brutal when it comes to the quarterback position, and at the first sign of trouble from Dalton, it’s going to get ugly.
This situation is almost reminiscent of grade school traveling sports, where you have the coach’s son on the team or some kid who is real close with the coach. That coach feels obligated to play this kid, no matter what, just to try and “do the right thing.”
The problem is, this isn’t grade school sports. This isn’t a traveling basketball team where the coach’s son’s best friend happens to be joining the squad this year.
This is a professional football team that brings in millions of dollars each year and has hundreds of thousands of fans across the world wanting to see them win — and win now.
It’s been a long time coming for Bears fans. We have never seen a quarterback like Fields in Chicago. Unfortunately for us, the team is led by a clueless buffoon chock full of pride. Fields is going to have to wait a while longer — hopefully, somebody knocks some sense into Nagy sooner rather than later.
These last days of August, it is such a gift to sit outside, under the trees, in a folding summer chair!
There are all kinds of summer chairs–the Adirondack chair with canvas cushions of sailboats, that makes one think of a lake house; a lounging chair of woven fabric or plastic strips that would be perfect for a deck; rattan chairs that call out for a swimming pool and cocktails.
The simple wooden folding chair is usually sold in sets of two. Multiples can be used for outdoor gatherings–weddings or garden parties. Yes, they could be spaced for social distance, in these pandemic times.
It used to be that you could find such chairs in thrift stores, even in alleys! They can still be found in hardware stores, or places like Target, Wal-Mart, and Ikea too.
I ordered mine online in March–to celebrate the rollout of the vaccine, and the promise of summer. They look similar to the chairs pictured above.
Now, I have two matching wooden folding chairs, like Thoreau. One for me, and one for a friend.
The weekend before Memorial Day weekend, my friend came out on the Blue Line and we walked around the neighborhood, admiring the blooming peonies and the giant blue-green hostas. Then, we sat outside, in the summer chairs, surrounded by lily-of-the-valley.
Summer was just starting, then. We were both fully vaccinated.
Now, the day lilies are done, and the lily-of-the-valley leaves are going down. The grass is crisp from lack of rain. But the trees are still leafy and green. The full moon last night, tangled in the summer leaves.
And the alleys have more discarded things. I saw a woven rattan settee the other day. This morning, it was gone. Where did it go? Did it pack up and leave like the robins gathering on the sidewalks?
I hope someone found it and will give it a good home.
Summer isn’t over, yet. There are more days in the 90’s in the forecast. Here’s more summery things– a post on summer shoes!
I am originally a country girl from downstate Illinois. I was a Chicago girl in Rogers Park by the Lake. Now I live in Oak Park, by the Blue Line and the Congress Expressway. I write about the weather and other things.
I hope you enjoy and join in these observations. Welcome to Chicago Weather Watch!
The Atlantic Coast Conference, Big Ten and Pac-12 plan to announce Tuesday that the three powerful leagues will form an alliance to work together on items such as football scheduling and college sports governance.
A person familiar with the talks among the conferences told The Associated Press the commissioners of the three leagues are expected for the first time to publicly address an idea that has been discussed for several weeks.
The person spoke to the AP on condition of anonymity because the conferences had not authorized anyone to speak publicly about the alliance before the formal announcement. The person said Tuesday’s announcement will be light on details and more of a commitment from the three relatively new commissioners — Kevin Warren of the Big Ten, Jim Phillips of the ACC and George Kliavkoff of the Pac-12 — that the conferences will work together on shared goals.
The move comes less than a month after the Southeastern Conference invited Texas and Oklahoma to join the league and create a 16-school league by 2025.
The person said the ACC, Big Ten and Pac-12 hope an alliance of 41 schools that span from Miami to Seattle leads to “stabilization” and thwarts future realignment.
The alliance also forms as the NCAA begins the process of handing off more responsibility to conferences and schools to run college sports, and with a proposal to expand the College Football Playoff in the pipeline.
The scheduling piece could lead to multiple nonconference football games per season between the league members, creating new and valuable television inventory. But nonconference football schedules are typically made years in advance and many schools already have mostly full slates in the coming seasons.
For example, Ohio State has a home-and-home series with Alabama set for 2027 and 2028. It is unclear how an ACC-Big Ten-Pac-12 alliance would account for future games already in place and traditional ACC-SEC rivalries such as Clemson-South Carolina and Georgia-Georgia Tech.
An alliance involving the conferences could impact basketball scheduling more immediately, where schedules are usually made months, instead of years, in advance.
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