In 2026-27, The Big West will become the largest conference in terms of membership in the West.

We already lead the West in average student enrollment — and nationally, only the Big Ten surpasses us. In 2024, Big West student-athletes earned the sixth-most Olympic medals of any NCAA conference. This May alone, The Big West placed four teams in three NCAA Championship Final Fours, celebrated two NCAA Elite 90 Award winners, and won a national championship.

By every measure, The Big West — and hundreds of Division I institutions like us — are advancing the mission of higher education through athletic opportunity. And yet, despite this strength, we may have no seat in the future Division I governance system — because of a proposal that would concentrate authority based primarily on financial strength.

That cannot be the model for the future of Division I.

The true strength of Division I is its diversity — of institutions, missions, student bodies, and student-athletes. It is that diversity of thought, experience, and perspective that allows this enterprise to serve more than 170,000 student-athletes across 32 conferences — and to do so with integrity, balance, and purpose.

Having served this past year on the NCAA Council, the Council Coordination Committee, and as Chair of the Men’s Basketball Oversight Committee, I have seen firsthand how robust discussion across conferences results in well-vetted legislation that ultimately benefits the entire Division I membership.

The current NCAA Council structure reflects that diversity. Every conference has a voice. Through thoughtful dialogue, legislation is shaped, improved, and refined by those closest to the issues. That process creates balance, fosters consensus, and produces stronger policy. The proof is clear: most Council votes today pass with overwhelming or unanimous support because of the collaborative work that happens in that room.

This is why weighted voting is unnecessary. When all conferences are engaged in the legislative process, consensus is achieved through shared understanding, not disproportionate influence. The structure itself produces balanced outcomes without the need to advantage any single group. We have already seen, in complex issues such as the NCAA’s unfortunate recent settlement calculations of institutional liability, how limiting input to a small group can lead to unintended consequences for many conferences and institutions. Broader representation allows for a more thorough evaluation of complex issues that affect every Division I member.

You are now being asked to decide whether that inclusive, representative model should continue — or whether governance will narrow to serve only a select few.

Governor Baker has managed legislative bodies far larger than 32 members. I have served in conference leadership for over 30 years, and currently manage a Council of 33 individuals within The Big West. The scale of our Council has never impeded thoughtful, transparent decision-making. If anything, it ensures that diverse perspectives strengthen the outcomes. This is not a question of whether it can work — but whether we are willing to value and protect broad-based representation.

Independent Board members have already proven valuable in providing additional transparency and accountability. That same principle — inviting broader voices into the room — should continue to guide how we structure Division I governance going forward.

While College Football Playoff finances may influence these conversations, let’s be clear:

• The NCAA receives no revenue from the CFP.
• CFP membership should not dictate who governs Division I.
• NCAA revenues are generated primarily through basketball, which supports the full breadth of the membership.

This is not simply a debate about football. This is a defining decision about who governs higher education and intercollegiate athletics.

The question before you is simple: Will you lead for the full breadth of Division I — or allow governance to serve only those with the largest football revenues?

The Big West needs your leadership. Our 5,000+ student-athletes need your leadership. Twenty-eight conferences and more than 300 Division I institutions are counting on you to act.

Hamilton asks: “Who lives, who dies, who tells your story?”

That story is being written right now. You have the opportunity — and the responsibility — to lead, to preserve broad representation, and to ensure that all of Division I remains in the room where it happens. I can assure you that history has its eyes on you.

Thank you for your thoughtful consideration.

Respectfully,
Daniel R. Butterly