Power 5 Autonomy Could Impact Cincinnati Bearcats Minimally

The major news out of the NCAA today was that the Division I board of directors has voted to provide schools in Power 5 conferences (ACC, Big Ten, Big XII, PAC 12, SEC) Power of Authority. In layman’s terms, it means that those 65 schools will, by way of a new governance committee, will have the ability to enact rules that won’t necessarily apply to non-P5 schools. If they made a rule to give their players a $1,000 stipend per game it wouldn’t require schools in the Sun Belt to do the same.

In essence this Power of Authority allows the Alabamas, Ohio States, and Oregons of college athletics to enact rules that won’t apply to everyone else. What rules exactly? Well per the New York Times these would lie within the following 11 “Areas of Autonomy”:

Athletics Personnel
Insurance And Career Transition
Career Pursuits Unrelated To Athletics
Recruiting Restrictions
Pre-Enrollment Expenses And Support
Financial Aid
Awards, Benefits, And Expenses
Academic Support
Health And Wellness
Meals And Nutrition
Time Demands

On the surface this sounds like yet another means by which the Power 5 schools can further separate themselves from the AAC and Cincinnati, gaining an edge, for starters, on the recruiting trail. But I don’t necessarily see it that way. Immediately following the announcement, AAC commissioner Mike Aresco released a statement condoning the NCAA’s decision.

"Our conference membership supports the new governance model and the opportunities it will present to enhance the student-athlete experience and student-athlete welfare. Our presidents and athletic directors are steadfast in their commitment to these ideals and also to providing our student-athletes with the ability to compete at the highest level of collegiate athletics."

Why does Aresco approve of it? Because he has vowed to match whatever benefits the Power 5 schools provide their players.

"“As a conference we’ve already committed to provide a full cost of attendance stipend if that’s passed,” Aresco said. “It’s unclear what that’s going to be, whether it’s going to be based on federal guidelines, what the cost of attendance is for each individual school and that can incidentals like laundry and travel. …Whatever it ends up being, whether it’s a fixed amount, we have committed as a conference, pledged as a conference that we are going to do it.”"

What it will all come down to is money. After all, 6 of the 11 areas the Power 5 schools are permitted to create new rules on are tied in some ways to finances. With their bloated television deals pumping hundreds of millions of dollars annually into the coffers, it’s relatively easy for them to afford any hit to the budget that might be coming. Schools in the Sun Belt, as our Group of 5 example, might not be able to match it but the AAC, arguably the riches of the rest, as a whole is determined to match them.

In particular, while Cincinnati has been mired for years in financial instability, it can afford to provide more benefits to players in the future. The Nippert Stadium renovation could add upwards of $17 million to the budget annually from tickets alone. That doesn’t include the advertisement payments on the banners running the length of the new press box as well as the extra donations made from the owners of loge boxes and luxury seats. Plus a renovated Fifth Third Arena would certainly create more premium seating and attract larger crowds in general.

So as long as Mike Aresco has the authority to allow his conference to match anything the Power 5 and their own Power of Authority do, we really aren’t looking at a different playing environment than is currently in place.