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Tony Petitti

Role(s) as quoted
  • Big Ten commissioner
Person type
Conference executives
Entries
4 (Jul 22, 2025 to Jul 28, 2026)
Topics
Playoff & bowls (3) Transfer portal (1) Scheduling & calendar (1) Governance & legislation (1) Structure: super league & divisions (1)

In the Ideas index

All entries (oldest first)

Tony Petitti, Big Ten commissioner · · 12-team/revenue-sharing (2024-26) · permalink
“We want to better connect the regular season & postseason. We want more conference games to matter in November.”
At Big Ten media days, Petitti pitched a playoff format with more automatic bids for the Big Ten and SEC so more conference games matter in November, and said models that lean more on committee picks would struggle to win Big Ten support. The Big Ten was also the lone FBS league backing a spring portal window over January.
Source: On3: Big Ten also disagrees with SEC (and rest of college football) on transfer portal window
Playoff & bowls Transfer portal
Tony Petitti, Big Ten commissioner · · 12-team/revenue-sharing (2024-26) · permalink
“Also, the playoff format should not function as a disincentive to schedule tough, nonconference games.”
Petitti said any postseason format should keep as many teams alive as long as possible and shouldn't discourage teams from scheduling tough nonconference games.
Source: Indiana Daily Student: Indiana football's Curt Cignetti adopts 'SEC scheduling philosophy,' proposes new CFP format
Playoff & bowls Scheduling & calendar
Tony Petitti, Big Ten commissioner · · 12-team/revenue-sharing (2024-26) · permalink
No verbatim quote recorded for this entry; summary of the source only.
At Big Ten media days, Petitti said an expanded playoff would make the regular season better by keeping more teams in the CFP race into November and December, while acknowledging it could eliminate conference title games.
Source: Yahoo Sports (Los Angeles Times): USC's Lincoln Riley says CFP expansion 'just a matter of time'
Playoff & bowls
Tony Petitti, Big Ten commissioner · · 12-team/revenue-sharing (2024-26) · permalink
“That's not necessarily breaking away, that doesn't mean you're not going to play anybody else. But is there a path to have rules that we can at least operate from the conference?”
Asked about Sankey's 'breakaway' remarks, said the question is whether conference-based rules are needed if the Protect College Sports Act fails; that is not a breakaway, but the Big Ten is preparing for every scenario.
Source: On3: Tony Petitti addresses SEC 'breakaway' talks, clarifies Big Ten's stance
Governance & legislation Structure: super league & divisions