Greg Sankey acknowledges reality that SEC could leave NCAA

College football has found itself at a major crossroads as conference realignment, the introduction of NIL, the loosening of restrictions around the transfer portal, and a seemingly ever-expanding playoff continue to leave the sport unrecognizable from where it was just several years ago. SEC commissioner Greg Sankey, whose leadership has seen the conference become one of the preeminent powers in college sports, has found himself at a crossroads of his own.

As Congress searches for a broad legislative solution for some reform and guardrails on the current landscape, the Big Ten and SEC have remained apprehensive about agreeing to anything that will threaten their Power-2 duopoly. Despite an openness from some within the conference, such as Georgia coach Kirby Smart, to break off from the NCAA if a solution the SEC is happy with can't be found, Sankey has remained hesitant to take such drastic action.