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The Huge Ten and SEC proceed to separate themselves from the pack by way of faculty soccer’s strongest conferences. But Todd Blackledge would not suppose they’re at direct odds with each other.
On ESPN’s At all times School Soccer, the broadcaster instructed Greg McElroy that the Huge Ten and SEC are “at a unique degree” than everybody else by way of affect and monetary assets. That hole ought to solely widen with incoming growth.
Nevertheless, he would not suppose these conferences are competing in a zero-sum recreation for final supremacy.
“I don’t know if I see it as a rivalry,” Blackledge stated, through Saturday Down South. “I feel there’s mutual respect. [Commissioners] Greg Sankey and Tony Petitti are each actually sensible guys who’ve made some actually shrewd choices.”
The 2 conferences have tried to wield their energy in School Soccer Playoff growth talks. They proposed a 14-team playoff that’d award the SEC and Huge Ten three computerized bids every, with their convention champions additionally receiving the one two first-round byes.
A brand new contract agreed to in March will give the SEC and Huge Ten faculties a $21 million annual payout. ACC applications will obtain roughly $13 million, with the Huge 12 incomes over $12 million.
“I feel they each notice, we collectively have a very good factor going,” Blackledge added. “And it could seem like a rivalry, however I feel they see they [can] assist one another as properly. I feel the truth that they’re type of transferring in lockstep forward of the pack, I feel they profit from one another.”
