Incoming AAC commissioner focused on innovating league, postseason amid evolving college athletics landscape

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IRVING, Texas — Incoming American Athletic Conference commissioner Tim Pernetti spent time on both sides of college athletics learning the intricacies of the sport. From 2009-13, he served as athletic director at Rutgers and helped negotiate the Scarlet Knights’ entry to the Big Ten. He also worked on the television side of college sports at both ABC and CBS. 

In June, he will take over full time as the second commissioner in AAC history, succeeding former television executive Mike Aresco. During this transitionary moment, stakeholders have one goal above all: Building a long-term, financially sustainable league that allows its members to compete at the highest level. 

“I think it’s not an elephant in the room anymore,”  Pernetti told CBS Sports. “Conference expansion has been the foundation of much of the disruption that’s gone on. It’s not a coincidence when TV deals are coming around and media rights are coming up, expansion starts to unfold. 

“I think it’s important to listen, understand and then do some things differently because the bottom line is, these campuses are no different than campuses in the SEC, the Big Ten, the Big 12 or Conference USA. Everybody is out to do the same thing.” 

The AAC was founded in 2011 as a spiritual successor to the old Big East. Outgoing commissioner Mike Aresco consistently rallied for the league, but the winds of realignment never fully died down. Since 2021, the AAC has been one of the most transient groups in the FBS. Three legacy schools left to join the Big 12 in 2023, while SMU departs for the ACC in 2024. Six former members of Conference USA joined in 2023, and Army enters as a football-only member in 2024. 

Pernetti plans to come out swinging and launch a new business vision for the…

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Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/college-football/news/incoming-aac-commissioner-focused-on-innovating-league-postseason-amid-evolving-college-athletics-landscape/

Author : Shehan Jeyarajah

Publish date : 2024-04-11 20:34:05

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