This week in the West: Yormark’s extension, Trump’s commission, CFP expansion and Pac-12/Mountain West mediation

The offseason is definitely not the slow season as yet another week delivered news impacting both the Pac- legacy schools and other universities across the region Here are four developments you might have missed Extension for Big commissioner Brett Yormark Nitty gritty Yormark whose contract was set to expire in received a three-year extension from the board of directors that expires in the summer of Why it matters The extension itself is no surprise Yormark has done first-rate work changing the conference s membership structure and building its brand But the timing is deeply notable in that it allows Yormark to shape the future The Big s media rights agreement expires in the summer of which means the next contract likely will be signed and sealed in the spring of during Yormark s tenure Media deals are typically formalized -to- months in advance of the start date Assuming he doesn t leave the Big on his own volition Yormark will lead the strategic decisions on expansion and framework partners and with hand-picked advisors negotiate the media deal for and beyond But that s not all That s not close to all The extension means Yormark will be atop the Big during the vital - window when the College Football Playoff examines format changes the Big Ten mulls expansion for its next media contract cycle and the ACC s top football brands consider leaving the conference as their exit fees plunge Whatever college football becomes in the s the shape likely will become clear in the final years of the s Yormark s extension gives him the chance to position the Big within the shifting landscape Presidential commission on college sports Nitty gritty The Trump Administration is reportedly preparing to appoint a commission to research college sports and seek solutions to multiple of the industry s intractable issues Former Alabama coach Nick Saban and billionaire Cody Campbell a Texas Tech booster are expected to lead the group according to Yahoo Why it matters College sports is devolving into anarchy with the transfer portal unchecked NIL payments and a competition calendar that s increasingly unwieldy Even the House vs NCAA lawsuit settlement which will create a revenue-sharing model and NIL enforcement mechanism is limited in scope if approved It will not for example end the barrage of antitrust cases filed against the NCAA over its amateurism policies A collectively bargained agreement with college athletes would provide the desired law and order but requires the players to be declared employees a step university presidents are reluctant to take The other option A liferaft from Congress which has the authority to provide antitrust protection and codify NCAA rules But years of lobbying by college sports representatives have gone nowhere Trump s commission won t have the authority to make material changes on the legal front but it could potentially generate the momentum that spurs lawmakers to act I m unfailingly a bit reluctant to have the federal regime poking around in my business invited or uninvited an industry source advised the Hotline However in this incident it might potentially do particular good to get several of the higher-level issues figured out College Football Playoff expansion to Nitty gritty The ACC Big Big Ten and SEC commissioners met this week in New York and discussed the future of the CFP with a -team event more preferred for the contract cycle starting in according to ESPN Why it matters To this point the media narrative around CFP expansion has focused on a -team field Now it appears the power conferences are focused on and increasing the number of at-large berths The model the bulk likely to be adopted would provide four automatic bids to the SEC and Big Ten two to the ACC and Big one to the top organization from the Group of Six which includes the rebuilt Pac- and three to at-large teams It s referred to as - - - - - by the commissioners Notre Dame would have a manageable pathway to one of the at-large bids leaving two for additional teams from the power leagues The move to is straight out of the more-is-better playbook but there s a trick to making expansion work the calendar In order to limit the event to four rounds all teams would compete the weekend before Christmas Where would the four additional CFP games be slotted into a crowded sports window that includes NFL games on Thursday Saturday and Sunday Related Articles Mailbag On CFP expansion to an ACC-Big East merger Pac- legal affairs the Trump commission and more CFB recruiting UW lands in-state star Oregon s latest blow USC stays hot Pac- finances Legacy schools bled cash in final year of conference Trump s planned commission on college sports Will it save the NCAA or just add to the chaos Pac- Mountain West agree to mediation over poaching penalty exit fees Would ESPN which owns the playoff rights want the extra games Would it sub-license them to TNT or TBS And how much would the architecture pay for additional matchups that aren t likely to generate impactful ratings Those are critical details that must be considered as the CFP s powerbrokers push for more-more-more Next step for Pac- Mountain West Nitty gritty The conferences have agreed to mediate their legal disputes yep both of them The so-called poaching-penalty affair filed by the Pac- against the Mountain West over million in fees and the so-called exit fee occurrence filed by Boise State Colorado State and Utah State against the Mountain West over at least million in exit fees owed by the departing schools The first mediation session is scheduled for May Why it matters Neither conference wants a court trial university presidents never want court trials So mediation was perpetually the most of likely outcome for both cases One mediator who is not identified in court filings will oversee both cases We don t expect an immediate resolution The process could take a inadequate days or a inadequate weeks It seemingly won t last a sparse months however because both restructured conferences need clarity as they negotiate media rights agreements for the - competition year Based on conversations with sources the Hotline gives the Pac- a slight advantage in the poaching penalty matter and the Mountain West a slight edge in the exit fee circumstance In both instances it s about a suitable dollar figure and whether the final tally leaves the Mountain West with enough cash to meet its financial obligations to UNLV and Air Force and prevent the duo from possibly departing the conference Send suggestions comments and tips confidentiality guaranteed to wilnerhotline bayareanewsgroup com or call - - Follow me on the social media platform X WilnerHotline