BIRMINGHAM, Ala. — Southeastern Conference Commissioner Greg Sankey signaled a potential seismic shift in the governance of collegiate athletics on Wednesday, declaring that the league is prepared to forge its own path if Congress fails to establish uniform national standards.
Speaking at SEC basketball media days, Sankey made it clear that while the conference continues to lobby for federal intervention to address the “chaos” caused by the current landscape of Name, Image, and Likeness (NIL) deals and unrestricted transfers, the SEC is no longer content to wait indefinitely.
“If change is not accessed or not achieved at that national level, there will be more and more conversation about how we as a conference function and our own decision-making,” Sankey said. “We have had rules in the past that apply only to our conference that are more restrictive generally than what might happen nationally. That type of conversation has been initiated, and I would expect it to continue.”
The comments come as Washington struggles to provide clarity for the industry. While the Senate recently passed a sweeping bipartisan bill aimed at regulating athlete payments and transfers, the legislation faces significant uncertainty in the House. With midterm elections approaching, the window for federal action is narrowing.
Sankey emphasized that the SEC’s preference remains a cohesive national regulatory framework, citing the vast disparity between smaller private institutions and massive public universities as a primary reason why uniform rules are necessary. However, he warned that the conference is ready to implement its own restrictive policies to maintain its competitive integrity if the federal government remains stalled.
Beyond the legislative battle, Sankey provided an update on the potential expansion of the College Football Playoff. Once a skeptic of moving beyond the current 12-team model, the commissioner signaled a newfound openness to a 24-team format.
“I think I’ve always communicated that we’ve never said no that won’t happen,” Sankey said, noting that attitudes and perspectives are evolving. He acknowledged that the primary hurdle remains financial—specifically, how to offset the revenue lost if conference championship games are phased out to make room for additional playoff rounds. The conference is currently in negotiations with broadcast partner ESPN regarding the financial logistics of such an expansion, with a deadline of December 1 looming for any changes to be implemented for the following season.
Sankey also addressed the growing tension regarding “professional” athletes attempting to return to the collegiate ranks, reiterating the SEC’s firm stance on maintaining clear boundaries.
“When you look at the principles up front, somebody who enrolls in college and chooses to depart, that’s where we’ve drawn the line,” he said. “We’ll continue to develop those boundary lines.”
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