College sports’ cold hard cash summer is winding down. With football’s power five conferences seeking ways to enhance and preserve their power. Amid shifts and formidable group of five challengers like Cincinnati Football.

Three Power Five Conferences put forth a mild plan for a survival this week. Through the much discussed launch of an alliance. Between the Big Ten, Pac 12 and Atlantic Coast Conference. This alliance comes amid a whirlwind summer for major college sports. As the Southeastern Conference begins the process of ripping Texas and Oklahoma out of the Big 12. Formerly known as and soon to informally be the Big Eight. Revving up talk of a new wave of conference realignments.

Name, image and likeness compensation also became legal for college athletes in several states. Undercutting American college sports’ historically strict amateur structure. Along with legal defeats and a crisis of credibility for the NCAA. An organization that is effectively a paper tiger in the public’s eyes. Mired by lackluster leadership and gender inequity concerns.

This informal alliance seeks to fix something that isn’t really broken. Through the three conferences informally agreeing to schedule each other more. In the three big money sports, football, men’s and women’s basketball. Creating more opportunities for high profile non-conference games. While leaving room for those schools to still have “money games.” Scheduling lower profile (typically FCS level) teams at home. Giving the lower profile teams more national exposure and gate proceeds. While the higher profile teams often win in blowouts.

Scheduling cooperation aside, the alliance’s common goals are ones all conferences have already expressed commitments towards addressing. Such as concerns for athletes mental and physical health. Along with diversity, equity and inclusion efforts. Addressing future legislative efforts regarding college sports and more. The COVID-19 pandemic was not directly mentioned by the alliance’s introductory press release. Which power five conferences dealt with in utterly embarrassing ways last year. Exposing the vain extent conferences will go through to make a buck.

Beyond attempting to hold onto member conferences power and prestige. This alliance is unlikely to shake up college sports. Leaving this writer to shrug his shoulders. In the same manner I did with the latest SEC expansion news. The schedule cooperation could take years to take effect. Since non-conference games are scheduled years in advance in several sports.

The alliance that would serve as a wake up call doesn’t exist. It would be an alliance among group of five conferences. Breaking away from the College Football Playoff and forming a more inclusive tournament. Inviting power five and group of five conference champions. In protest of group of five teams being denied a genuine chance to compete for a national title.

Football is mostly driving this week’s alliance and conference realignment talk. Texas and Oklahoma have been mostly irrelevant in college basketball recently. While the Big 12’s Baylor Basketball prepares to defend their men’s national title. Baylor’s women’s basketball team won the 2019 national championship. The same year conference foe Texas Tech Basketball played in the men’s National Championship Game.

This week’s alliance news comes amid discussions over CFP expansion. A proposed expansion from four to 12 teams was brought up earlier this year. Which could open a window for group of five conference teams. In an effort to fend off a looming sense of staleness surrounding the playoff. With some combination of power five teams and Notre Dame Football qualifying year after year.

The power five might try to thwart the expansion plans. In hopes of maintaining their grip on the playoff. West Virginia University President Gordon Gee expressed his disfavor over playoff expansion this week. Even though West Virginia Football isn’t a frequent CFP contender. Power Five schools like West Virginia ultimately don’t want to give up the power they still have. While it’s chipped away by increasingly empowered student-athletes. Plus, a changing media landscape that could boost calls to expand the CFP.