New AAC commish: ‘Space for more’ beyond CFP

• Heather Dinich, ESPN

  • Senior WriterApr 11, 2024, 03:24 PM ET Close College football
  • press reporter Joined ESPN.com in 2007
  • Graduate of Indiana University

Incoming American Athletic Conference commissioner Tim Pernetti, who will have a seat on the College Football Playoff management committee, stated the evolution of the sport’s postseason is “encouraging,” but there’s likewise “space for more” beyond the CFP and present bowl system.

“When I state space for more, maybe it’s not what the right number is for the CFP– I do not know. However what I do know is, if you take a look at how many organizations are playing Department I football, there’s room for more beyond the CFP,” said Pernetti, a veteran college sports executive and president of IMG Academy. “There’s postseason chances that do not exist that could be produced to boost the postseason or complement the postseason and the bowl season.”

Pernetti, a former athletic director at Rutgers, will sign up with the eight other FBS commissioners at the CFP spring meetings later on this month in Irving, Texas with retiring AAC commissioner Mike Aresco, who was the only commissioner to lead the league in its 11-year history. The playoff will unveil a 12-team format this fall that will continue next year, but there is also strong assistance for a 14-team model that might start as quickly as 2026.

Editor’s Picks

1 Related Pernetti said “tearing down the walls and having transparent discussions has actually never ever been more vital” for the commissioners and CFP leaders.

“It’s not personal,” Pernetti said. “We have to remember we’re acting on behalf of numerous countless other individuals that don’t get to remain in there.”

Pernetti, who also has expert experience as a tv executive and from his time as a primary service officer for MLS’ New York City FC, acquires a conference that has actually gone through considerable adjustment. The AAC just recently added Rice, UTSA, North Texas, Florida Atlantic, UAB and Charlotte. He said “nothing is off the table” when it come to adding more members.

“There’s constantly room, but there needs to be a requirements,” Pernetti stated. “And there needs to be a specific way to assess and evaluate what makes sense.”

Pernetti likewise said personal equity in college sports is an “chance,” and indicated examples such as collaborations in sponsoring and calling rights as “something that can be done.”

“Personal equity has actually been heavily buying sports for a prolonged period of time already,” Pernetti stated. “And it resembles it’s circling around the neighborhood in college sports however hasn’t parked its car in anyone’s driveway yet. I believe that’s inevitable.”

Pernetti stated he has actually already started to tap into a few of the relationships he has beyond the college industry to go over opportunities “to take some big swings at some things and do things in a different way.”

“The investment and the difficulties and modifications continue to speed up,” Pernetti said, “and I think we require to do some things differently in order to keep up with it.”