The Alliance has been formed. In the vague future, we might find out what it will actually do. But if it achieves one thing—stopping a new realignment chain reaction that further erodes college sports as we know it—that’s a victory.
On Tuesday the Big Ten, Atlantic Coast Conference and Pacific-12 formally pledged allegiance to each other, and perhaps to the best overall interests of college athletics, although all of that is on a Trust Us basis. If there is one thing college sports has been a quart low on for years now, it’s trust, so take that as you may.