Paul Finebaum Reveals How Big Ten, SEC Advisory Group Could Be 'Inflection Point' in CFB Future

ESPN's Paul Finebaum called the recently announced partnership between the Big Ten and SEC an "inflection point" for not just college football, but the rest of collegiate athletics as well.

The Ohio State Buckeyes will have a major say in the future of college football, according to Paul Finebaum.

During an appearance on "McElroy and Cubelic In the Morning," the analyst gave his thoughts on the recently announced partnership between the Big Ten Conference and Southeastern Conference (SEC). 

Finebaum said the joint advisory group between the two leagues is a sign of what is to come, and gives the 32 member schools unofficial decision-making authority over all of college sports.

"I think this is an inflection point in the history of college sports where the two league that have not most of the power, almost all of the power, have decided to join hands and start collectively making important decisions," Finebaum said. "And I think it's significant too, because it's a major shift in where the relationship has been between the two leagues."

The NCAA now finds themselves on their heels according to Finebaum, as the long-time governing body of collegiate athletics now "has very little voice."

This partnership between the two largest conferences in college athletics (both in size and team talent) would not have been possible with former Big Ten commissioner Kevin Warren, whom Finebaum says rarely spoke to the other conference leaders. 

Finebaum hypothesized the plans for the group were finalized due to the preexisting relationship the Big Ten's new leader, Tony Petitti, had with SEC commissioner Greg Sankey.

"I think they looked at each other and said, 'We have all the power in this sport, on the football field and almost every other sport and field, why don't we try to figure some things out together because it's too late to let everyone else make these decisions or try to make these decisions," Finebaum said. "I think ultimately nobody is making these decisions and that's why they've come together."