The Ohio State Buckeyes do not have any leverage as it pertains to leaving the Big Ten for independent status or the SEC. Neither does TTUN.
As USA Today's Matt Hayes writes, the B1G's other teams are not going to bend to the demands of the conference's only two national champions since 1995. Hayes noted the SEC's six champions during that time period compared to the Big Ten's two, making the point that sometimes it takes a village.
"What are Ohio State and Michigan going to do? Threaten to leave for the SEC? Go it alone as independents? Please," Hayes wrote.
"Imagine the stones it takes to demand more money from a century-old conference of like minds and philosophies, of strict solidarity, with absolutely zero leverage.
"You want more money because you’re Ohio State (and Michigan), and they’re not.
"It’s bad enough that the Big Ten made Maryland and Rutgers wait several years before receiving a full revenue share. Or that Washington and Oregon, who joined the Big Ten last year, won’t receive a full share until 2030.
"It’s worse that Ohio State (and Michigan) believes the rest of the Big Ten should supplement their athletic coffers — at the expense of their own ability to compete."
Ohio State only leaving Big Ten for college football super league
Ohio State University President Ted Carter Jr. sounded alarms on the topic this week when he discussed revenue sharing and how the Buckeyes deserved a bigger piece of the pie.
If OSU and TTUN are leaving the Big Ten, though, the conference would fold altogether. Those two brands are the B1G's backbone and lifeblood, even if the Buckeyes joined the conference late and the Wolverines left the conference for a decade in the early 1900s.
Don't expect it soon, but college football could get very weird sometime down the road, with Super League talks having already begun. Multiple think pieces have been written since Carter's comments that indicate Ohio State could be the school leading the downfall.
Buckle up, Buckeye fans. The Scarlet and Gray may become one of the sport's biggest villains.
Though their 2024 NIL spending and subsequent CFP title already makes them one of America's least likable teams.
Success breeds haters. As does ending traditions. Ohio State has the former and could take part in the latter.