Odule 5: Assignment - Collegiate Conference Networks

Module 5: Assignment - Collegiate Conference Networks Name Institution Course and Code Professor Date Module 5: Assignment - Collegiate Conference Networks Collegiate conference networks including the Big Ten, Pac-12, and Longhorn have reshaped the landscape of college sports. Initially created to promote visibility and generate revenue, these networks now influence everything from recruiting to conference realignment. As these conferences seek to increase their market share and media rights revenue, the role of these networks has expanded significantly. Their impact can be felt not only in football but across all collegiate sports. The essay below examines the effects of these networks on athletic programs, institutional decisions, and student-athletes, drawing on recent scholarship and empirical research.             The most apparent impact of collegiate conference networks is financial, which influence schools’ athletic programs positively. Networks such as the Big Ten Network have generated millions in media rights deals, providing member schools with increased funding (Kelly, 2023). The revenues generated by these collegiate conference networks are reinvested into athletic departments, helping schools improve facilities, increase scholarships, and attract top talent. Delaney and Kearney (2022) found that institutional subsidies for athletics have decreased in conferences with their networks, indicating greater financial self-sufficiency. However, this reliance on media revenue can create disparities between large and small programs, prompting some institutions to prioritize TV appeal over the welfare of their student-athletes. Additionally, collegiate conference networks have also prompted significant realignments in collegiate sports. Schools are increasingly shifting conferences to gain access to lucrative media deals, often prioritizing football over traditional rivalries or academic alignment (Maher, 2024). For example, the University of Texas’ creation of the Longhorn Network contributed to the breakup of the Big 12’s traditional structure. Herbst-Lucke (2022) argues that such realignments may benefit athletic revenue, but they can harm non-revenue sports by increasing travel burdens and disrupting regional competition. In that light, these moves demonstrate the networks’ influence on institutional strateg...