SEC’s Greg Sankey warns of conference-only rules if Congress fails on college sports

SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey cautioned on Wednesday that the league is prepared to explore adopting its own rules if Congress fails to create national standards for college sports. This stance comes after the Senate passed a bipartisan bill aiming to address the chaotic landscape of college sports, which has been transformed by growing athlete compensation and frequent transfers. The legislation, which the Senate approved 77-22, would empower the NCAA to regulate these matters while providing limited antitrust protections.

Sankey emphasized the need for uniform national regulations to ensure fairness across the diverse range of Division I schools, from small private colleges to large public universities that can fill football stadiums with 100,000 spectators. Although he had previously expressed reservations about expanding the College Football Playoff beyond 12 teams, Sankey now acknowledges the possibility of such an expansion.

The SEC Commissioner also discussed the potential for the conference to take a more proactive role in setting its own policies if Congress does not act. He noted that the league has previously implemented rules that are more restrictive compared to national standards. Sankey stressed the importance of establishing clear guidelines for college sports, particularly as the landscape continues to evolve rapidly.