Commissioner Greg Sankey insists SEC breakaway threat is real as rules frustrations linger

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said Monday that talk of a possible SEC breakaway from the conference is “real,” emphasizing it is not being used as leverage. He reiterated that the idea, which ranged from a drastic split to a smaller change, has been discussed for some time and gained visibility at SEC spring meetings in late May. Speaking at the start of SEC football media days in Tampa, Sankey did not soften the narrative when asked directly; he said people have “opined” about frustration with current national rules, including enforcement related to tampering, the House v. NCAA settlement, and eligibility. He also pointed to disagreements over the future of the College Football Playoff format and noted the conference’s continuing preference to compete nationally. Sankey cited federal legislation as a “needed path” and discussed SEC efforts tied to the Protect College Sports Act, including calls for more transparency in NIL and “fair and consistent standards.” Reports from ESPN and Yahoo suggested a proposal could cap SEC and Big Ten membership at 19 teams.