The SEC has to feel like it’s too big to fail when it comes to college football.
It’s the conference where “it just means more,” and whether or not it’s officially affiliated with the NCAA as a governing body really makes no difference.
You’re going to tune into the Iron Bowl featuring Auburn vs. Alabama, no matter who is technically over SEC football, right? Whether that’s the NCAA or the conference breaks away and becomes its own independent football entity, the fans are always going to rabidly watch.
Perhaps that’s why SEC commissioner Greg Sankey admitted on Monday that there are some who are pushing for the conference to leave the NCAA in the dust.
The NCAA has issues. Even casual sports fans understand that. For his part, though, Sankey doesn’t like the idea of the SEC breaking away, no matter how messy life in the NCAA can be.
There may be calls for independence, but Sankey believes the SEC has a responsibility to college sports.
“I’ve acknowledged there are those who have said we should go our own way,” Sankey said on Monday on “The Paul Finebaum Show” (h/t On3). I don’t think that’s the right decision. We have relationships and responsibilities within Division I.”
Greg Sankey says things need to change in college sports
That’s not to say Sankey is happy with the state of college sports, though. In fact, he said quite the opposite.
NIL has no guardrails. The transfer portal is seemingly endlessly open. Players have been taking matters of eligibility to court. Schools are suing their own former players.
“People are tired of talking about name, image and likeness. They’re tired of talking about lawsuits,” Sankey said (h/t Outkick).
It’s a mess, and Sankey did acknowledge that something has got to give.
“I don’t think anyone on any college campus, maybe one or two, want the status quo to remain,” he said. “In our league, by a unanimous vote, we can’t go on as we are. There’s also a recognition that it’s never going to be the way it was, but it doesn’t have to be the way that it is.”
So what’s the answer? Who knows at this point?
One thing seems clear, though, and that’s that the SEC will not be bailing on the NCAA anytime soon.