(BCSNN) — The NCAA Division I Board of Directors approved a sweeping overhaul of its governance structure, granting significantly more influence to the Power Four conferences—ACC, Big Ten, Big 12, and SEC—in decisions affecting college athletics. The move marks a pivotal shift in how rules are made and reflects the growing autonomy of major football-playing schools.
Under the new model, the Power Four will hold a combined 65% weighted voting power on the restructured 13-member board, up from the previous one-vote-per-member system. Each conference now controls 4.1 votes, meaning if the four vote in unison, they can effectively steer policy decisions. “It’s time for the Association to adapt how decisions are made,” said Virginia Tech President Tim Sands, chair of the NCAA board. “This reflects our commitment to a modernized approach to governing ourselves moving forward”.
The changes come amid mounting pressure from the Power Four to streamline decision-making and gain more control over issues such as recruiting restrictions, financial aid, academic support, and time demands. While the NCAA will retain oversight of national standards like eligibility and championship access, subdivisions will now have more flexibility to regulate sport-specific rules.
NCAA President Charlie Baker emphasized accountability and efficiency as key goals of the revamp. “There are enough committees and enough process and enough people involved in D-I governance that it’s pretty easy for nobody to be accountable for anything,” Baker said. The number of committees will be reduced from 44 to 30, and student-athlete representation will nearly double, with 89 athletes now serving across 24 committees.
Despite the expanded influence, the Power Four did not receive everything they sought. The SEC had pushed for a 17% voting share per conference, but the final agreement capped it at 16.1%. Still, the new structure allows any one of the four to block a proposal, unless supported by a smaller conference member.
The overhaul does not affect revenue distribution or postseason championships, which will still require two-thirds majority votes at annual conventions. However, the NCAA introduced a separate proposal to award additional “units” for Final Four wins in men’s and women’s basketball, potentially generating $191 million in new revenue over seven years. As college athletics enters a new era of financial and competitive complexity, the NCAA’s governance shift signals a recalibration of power—and a nod to the realities of modern sports.
