SEC commissioner Greg Sankey’s opening remarks during SEC Media Days addressed critical issues in college athletics, particularly the name, image, and likeness (NIL) era. Sankey emphasized the need for proper structure within the NIL process, and he, along with Alabama coach Nick Saban and other college football figures, visited Washington D.C. to advocate for federal legislation to govern this area.
Sankey made it clear that their actions were not meant to strip athletes of NIL opportunities, which have proven to be beneficial for many young athletes. However, he acknowledged that there have been concerns about unfulfilled promises, inducements not provided, and questionable behaviors related to NIL agreements. Therefore, he believes that congressional help might be necessary if states fail to enforce their laws responsibly and prohibit the NCAA or conferences from implementing reasonable policies.
Another significant topic in college football has been conference realignment, which was set in motion by Texas and Oklahoma joining the SEC in 2021. Although the realignment carousel has slowed down somewhat, it has not stopped entirely. Sankey expressed contentment with the SEC’s immediate future once Texas and Oklahoma are integrated into the conference. The focus now lies on growing to 16 teams, restoring rivalries, and maintaining a strong, cohesive super conference.
Sankey also touched on scheduling challenges resulting from expansion. He has faced difficulties in getting SEC schools to agree on a permanent scheduling format. Currently, there is a stopgap 1-7 model in place, where each team has one permanent opponent and faces seven rotating opponents in 2024. However, the future beyond next season remains uncertain, and the possibility of adopting a nine-game 3-6 model is being considered. The main concern is striking a balance between competitive schedules and preserving rivalry games, which may require annual or biennial matchups.
Photo credit – YouTube video screen shot / Bulldawg Illustrated / Nashville, TN
