SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey Admits Conference Could Leave the NCAA

SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey Admits Conference Could Leave the NCAA

Texas head coach Steve Sarkisian and SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey inside the circle (Image via IMAGO/X)

South Eastern Conference Commissioner Greg Sankey shed light on the authenticity of rumors about the SEC leaving the NCAA, an idea Texas Longhorns head coach Steve Sarkisian echoed earlier in the year. Sankey confirmed that there’s truth to the rumors.

Back in May, Sarkisian hinted that he is unhappy with the state of college football. The ever-expanding College Football Playoff, the selection process, free player movement, bidding wars, and forgotten academics have made Sarkisian frustrated. At this rate, the SEC could break away from the NCAA and form its own independent league.

The NCAA used to possess more power. In the past, the governing committee has issued punishments like shutting down a school’s program for one or multiple years, colloquially called the “death penalty.”

However, things have changed. Lawsuits and court cases have weakened the NCAA as a whole so much that it can’t even enforce its own rules strictly. Sarkisian argued that athletes no longer fear the NCAA. Texas Tech quarterback Brandon Sorsby and Ole Miss quarterback Trinidad Chambliss both dragged the NCAA to court in demand for extra eligibility.

Sarkisian further added that college football should mirror the NFL. The NFL diligently follows its guidelines and administers punishment for various offenses. For college football to establish a similar environment, Sarkisian and others in the SEC think a smaller membership pool could be the answer.

There’s lot of sentiment for breaking away and having your own rules. That’s realistic. You’re going to sign up, or you don’t, but if you do, here’s our rules. Here’s how this thing is going to work.

Sarkisian said

Sarkisian’s words generated buzz across college football. SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey confided to reporters on media day that there have been discussions about the SEC breaking away from the NCAA.

They’re real. They’ve opined about the frustrations that bring them to the point of saying we should look at something significantly different… There is meaning and value and I do think a national expectation that we participate in a national organization.

Greg Sankey said (H/T On3)

Sankey further revealed his stand in a tweet.

SEC Football remains the second most-watched sports property in the United States, trailing only the National Football League, while accounting for more than 40 percent of all live viewing hours among the Autonomy conferences and Notre Dame. Our football programs continue to draw an average of nearly 80,000 fans per game—the highest average attendance for any sports league in the world.

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Steve Sarkisian backs college football’s new 5-for-5 Rule

The NCAA recently introduced a new rule that could have a positive impact on student-athletes and college programs. It’s called the “5-for-5 Rule.”

SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey Admits Conference Could Leave the NCAA
Texas quarterback Arch Manning (Image via IMAGO)

 According to NCAA sources, the new rule gives student-athletes five years of eligibility. That number begins during the academic year of their 19th birthday or the year they enroll in college.

This new rule will help eliminate redshirts and eligibility extension waivers. Steve Sarkisian is in favor of this new rule.

I think the five for five is something all of us up here were pushing for. I think for us in particular, it gives us an opportunity to recruit some more developmental players. I think so many times it’s a four or five star kid who live in a society of immediate impact. Right? Immediate. Who are they this year? Are they a freshman All-American? Well, now we can take a step back and you can look three, four years down the road at developmental players in our program.

Sarkisian said via Evan Vieth of Inside Texas

The longer term will benefit the younger players. Under the new rule, coaches can play new recruits as many times as they want during their freshman year.

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