Nebraska joining the Big 10 is just one of the many college football conference moves as of late.
The landscape of college football and the respective conference realignment carousel is not only causing a stir amongst college football fans, but it’s causing concern amongst key members on Capitol Hill. Ranking Democrat Rep. John Conyers (D-MI) voiced his concern earlier this week by sending a six page letter to Texas Republican Lamar Smith, who chairs the House Judiciary Committee, urging the Judiciary Committee to hold hearings regarding the state and role of money in college sports.
In his letter, Rep. Conyers stated, “It has become increasingly clear to me that the combination of issues and challenges facing intercollegiate sports have reached a tipping point calling for Congressional attention.”
With super-conferences comprised of 16-teams (or more) looking to be more of a reality, Rep. Conyers is concerned about competition, antitrust issues, and the Bowl Championship Series. In particular, Rep. Conyers wants a House probe of how the realignments will effect smaller schools and programs. These schools have already voiced their concern saying they are in a “difficult bargaining postures due to the recent [conference] realignments.”
Conyers also addressed the concern of players’ due process by referencing Ed O’Bannon’s lawsuit regarding EA Sports and the NCAA profiting from the use of player likeness in its popular college sports video games.
“Today, I believe, the time is ripe for our committee to again take the lead when no other entity appears to have the authority or standing to act to protect the interests of athletes, their families, smaller colleges, and [historical black colleges],” Conyers writes.
