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Jim Delany, B1G figures highlight Forbes’ Most Powerful People in College Sports
Published:
The oldest conference is also America’s most powerful.
That, according to Forbes.com, proved to be true. The publication came out with its annual list of most powerful people in college sports, which was again led by B1G Commissioner Jim Delany.
Since he joined the conference in 1989, there’s no denying the immense impact Delany had on expanding the B1G and generating tens of millions of dollars for schools with the creation of the Big Ten Network. According to the Forbes.com panel, he had more of an impact on the current landscape of college sports than current NCAA President, Mark Emmert.
The panel was comprised of six college sports business experts, who voted on the top 25 using a two-part system on unnamed ballots. The candidates were judged based on quantitative metrics, sphere of influence and impact.
In total, six individuals with B1G ties cracked the top 25 (Kevin Plank is included because the Maryland graduate is its most recognizable donor). The SEC had the second largest representation in the top 25, but it was still only half of what the B1G totaled.
Here’s the list Forbes came up with:
- Jim Delany, B1G Commissioner
- Mark Emmert, NCAA President
- John Skipper, ESPN President
- Kevin White, Duke University Athletics Director
- Bob Bowlsby, Big 12 Commissioner
- Greg Sankey, SEC Commissioner
- Jack Swarbrick, Notre Dame University Athletics Director
- Larry Scott, Pac 12 Commissioner
- Gene Smith, Ohio State Athletics Director
- John Swafford, ACC Commissioner
- Burke Magnus, ESPN Senior Vice President of College Sports Programming
- Kevin Plank, Under Armour Founder/President
- Jeff Long, University of Arkansas Athletics Director, Vice Chancellor
- Oliver Luck, NCAA Executive Vice President of Regulatory Affairs
- Nick Saban, Alabama Football Coach
- Phil Knight, Nike Founder/former CEO
- Urban Meyer, Ohio State Football Coach
- Jeffrey Kessler, Partner at Winston & Strawn LLP
- Mike Krzyzewski, Duke Basketball Coach
- Val Ackerman, Big East Commissioner
- Jim Phillips, Northwestern Vice President for Athletics and Recreation
- Bill Hancock, College Football Playoff Executive Director
- Donald Remy, NCAA Vice President of Legal Affairs and General Counsel
- Sandy Barbour, Penn State Athletics Director
- Jay Bilas, ESPN College Basketball Analyst
Connor O'Gara is the senior national columnist for Saturday Tradition. He's a member of the Football Writers Association of America. After spending his entire life living in B1G country, he moved to the South in 2015.