New American Athletic Conference Commissioner Tim Pernetti expressed support for College Football Playoff (CFP) expansion, highlighting the benefits for the sport and indicating potential for further growth under his leadership, emphasizing a focus on innovation and avoiding conventional labels like Power Five or Group of Five. Pernetti aims to prioritize maximizing opportunities within the conference and taking significant steps to advance its position in college football.

By the Numbers
  • The American Athletic Conference produced the highest ranked Group of Five champion in the CFP rankings seven times in the past 10 seasons.
  • Cincinnati in 2021 was the only non-Power conference team to compete in the CFP semifinals.
State of Play
  • Pernetti emphasizes a proactive approach to conference development, focusing on retaining top talent, exploring new revenue streams, and participating in discussions on athlete compensation and conference realignment.
  • The AAC has undergone changes due to recent realignment, losing key programs to the Big 12 but adding new schools to maintain competitiveness.
What's Next

Pernetti's tenure is expected to involve active engagement in CFP discussions, exploring new revenue avenues like private equity, and addressing ongoing challenges of conference realignment and athlete compensation to strengthen the AAC's position in college football.

Bottom Line

Tim Pernetti's appointment as AAC Commissioner heralds a strategic shift towards innovation and growth, emphasizing a forward-looking approach to navigate challenges such as realignment and revenue generation, positioning the conference for enhanced competitiveness in the evolving landscape of college football.