If the SEC is attempting what in the business world would be called a hostile takeover of NCAA football, then maybe the ACC, Big Ten and PAC-12 are trying a classic defensive technique. What they’re talking about is not quite a merger but it would have the same effect: scaling up to compete.
According to ESPN, citing a story in The Athletic, the three conferences are talking about a scheduling alliance and possibly more.
Interestingly, all three conferences have fairly new commissioners. Phillips has been in his about about six months. Kliavkoff started July 1st. Warren is the elder statesman of the bunch, having been with the Big Ten since 2019.