SEC commissioner says league is seriously considering leaving NCAA
— Southeastern Conference Commissioner Greg Sankey said Monday that leaders of the powerhouse league are having "real" conversations about breaking away from the rest of college sports, though that is not the preferred solution.</p><p>"They're real," Greg Sankey said Monday of talks with school presidents involving the SEC separating itself from the rest of the NCAA. "They've opined about the frustrations that bring them to the point of saying we should look at something significantly different."</p><p>Sankey's 45-minute meeting with reporters to kick off SEC football media days detailed the several issues that college sports is trying to find solutions for: Congressional legislation, litigation stemming from the new five-year eligibility rule, the future of the College Football Playoff and an overall lack of transparency regarding name, image and likeness payments to players.</p><p>Sankey acknowledged the conference's frustration with the handling of all those issues, but also touted the league's 13 national championships won last season across a variety of sports as a key reason it's in no rush to move away from the current framework.</p><p>"There is meaning and value and I do think a national expectation that we participate in a national organization," he said.
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— Southeastern Conference Commissioner Greg Sankey said Monday that leaders of the powerhouse league are having "real" conversations about breaking away from the rest of college sports, though that is not the preferred solution.</p><p>"They're real," Greg Sankey said Monday of talks with school presidents involving the SEC separating itself from the rest of the NCAA. "They've opined about the frustrations that bring them to the point of saying we should look at something significantly different."</p><p>Sankey's 45-minute meeting with reporters to kick off SEC football media days detailed the several issues that college sports is trying to find solutions for: Congressional legislation, litigation stemming from the new five-year eligibility rule, the future of the College Football Playoff and an overall lack of transparency regarding name, image and likeness payments to players.</p><p>Sankey acknowledged the conference's frustration with the handling of all those issues, but also touted the league's 13 national championships won last season across a variety of sports as a key reason it's in no rush to move away from the current framework.</p><p>"There is meaning and value and I do think a national expectation that we participate in a national organization," he said. "But that national organization must function in a healthy manner; otherwise, that simmering will continue".</p><p>The SEC has produced a 10-point paper about changes it would like to see to the Protect College Sports Act, a bipartisan piece of legislation in the Senate. The SEC and Big Ten are negotiating over with lawmakers over potential tweaks.</p><p>The SEC argues the bill does not go far enough in limiting the possibility of lawsuits against conferences and schools, and also needs better language to preempt state laws in favor of a national one regarding the tens of millions in NIL payments now so common at the top of college sports.</p><p>Sankey called the rollout of the recent NCAA rule that rewrote eligibility standards and has induced lawsuits — players mainly get five years to play five seasons — "magnifies frustration" among some in the SEC.</p><p>The SEC remains the Power Four's only holdout over expanding the 12-team playoff to 24.
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- — Southeastern Conference Commissioner Greg Sankey said Monday that leaders of the powerhouse league are having "real" conversations about breaking away from the rest of college sports, though that is not the preferred solution.</p><p>"They're real," Greg Sankey said Monday of talks with school presidents involving the SEC separating itself from the rest of the NCAA. "They've opined about the frustrations that bring them to the point of saying we should look at something significantly different."</p><p>Sankey's 45-minute meeting with reporters to kick off SEC football media days detailed the several issues that college sports is trying to find solutions for: Congressional legislation, litigation stemming from the new five-year eligibility rule, the future of the College Football Playoff and an overall lack of transparency regarding name, image and likeness payments to players.</p><p>Sankey acknowledged the conference's frustration with the handling of all those issues, but also touted the league's 13 national championships won last season across a variety of sports as a key reason it's in no rush to move away from the current framework.</p><p>"There is meaning and value and I do think a national expectation that we participate in a national organization," he said.
- How widely is it covered?
- 1 outlet, average source rating 6.0/10.
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- 13m ago.
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SEC commissioner says league is seriously considering leaving NCAA
Sources1TypeCoverageChicago Sun-Times