In a college sports world where the axis of power feels like it’s the Southeastern Conference and the Big Ten, and then everyone else, having a moderate viewpoint on college athletics when you’re a conference commissioner is almost unheard of in the modern age. However, as loud as the bark is from the Power Two, the American Conference has a guy in charge who not only has a seat at the negotiation tables, but who has turned down chances to go elsewhere for the simple reason of wanting to finish what he started and to take the American to the next level. Those unfamiliar with anything outside of the Power Two might not know who he is or what he stands for, but as we saw last week in Tampa, Commissioner Tim Pernetti is not only the right guy for the American, but the common-sense voice that might save college athletics from itself. 

Over the last month or so, we’ve heard from conference commissioners from around the country giving their states of the conference speeches; some had plans, some made threats, and a few spent time not only sharing ideas to fix the issues present in college athletics, but also took the time to answer every question from reporters with the utmost respect and detail. 

His message was clear and concise: Commissioner Pernetti talked about the conference’s grit, earning everything, service, and the why of the conference. Coming into the 2026-2027 athletic year, the American has a lot of mometum after reaching another College Football Playoff and having success in a lot of other sports, and is now in a position to use this year under the leadership of Commissioner Pernetti to take that next step by using their seat at the table for the betterment of not only the conference, but for college athletics as a whole. 

In his state of the conference address, Commissioner Pernetti addressed the why of the conference and, instead of sounding like a broken record player, he discussed providing education through sport, while earning degrees, becoming the next generation of leaders, all while winning championships, with the current climate of college athletics, hearing that kind of talk from the podium is a breath of fresh air for all involved with the conference. 

As for the future of the conference, there are a lot of moving parts in college athletics, but starting with a seat at the table, with a commissioner ready to go to war for his conference, is a heck of a place to be in heading into a new athletic year. Since the start of the College Football Playoff and even before, dating back to the 2013 football season, the American has been well represented with teams like UCF, Cincinnati, Memphis, Tulane, and Houston making either a College Football Playoff or a New Year Six Bowl with several of those earning wins over traditional powers. From there, the conference has seen championship-winning basketball played with UConn and numerous successes in other sports like soccer, baseball, softball, and more, and having a seat at the table for these conversations taking place will only improve the chances that when the change happens at the top with the Big Ten and Southeastern Conference, the American will be in a postion to not only lead from the front for the other conferences, but will be in a postion to reap the benifits of good leadership and success on the field. 

With that said, college athletics are an ever-changing minefield nowadays, but if there’s a non-autonomy conference that can make it through the craziness, it’s the American. People thought that after Cincinnati, UCF, and Houston left for the Big 12, the conference couldn’t make it, but alas, the conference has never been better. What started as a vision from former Commissioner Mike Aresco has since turned into a conference with a backbone led by a man who will move mountains to make sure his schools are in a position to have success both on and off the field. As a new athletic year starts, the message is clear for the fans, the student-athletes, coaches, and all involved with the fourteen members of the conference: trust the process; the conference is in a position for a future filled with championships on and off the field of play. One other thing to keep in mind as football rolls around: a bit of advice for some: go out to your school’s games and find a way to invest; attendance numbers and viewership speak volumes; the more you have, the more money you receive, which leads to more opportunities for each school.