SEC parting ways with the NCAA?

[Deeeefense]

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey gave a damning statement on the direction that college sports and the NCAA is headed Monday. While speaking on an NCAA government proposal, Sankey revealed that some people within the conference questioned why the league doesn’t break away from the NCAA.

The commissioner also said that the SEC is seeking “more autonomy” for all four of the power conferences. He explained that while he doesn’t have complete authority to make the decision to leave the NCAA, the willingness is there from teams in the SEC.

Greg Sankey reveals dire question being posed by SEC teams about NCAA future

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www.on3.com

 

[bigbluedon]

Wow. Would not surprise me

 

[Catluv]

This is fine but I could see Tenn suing the sec if they don’t like something. Once a cheater they always stretch the rules.

 

[Girthang]

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey gave a damning statement on the direction that college sports and the NCAA is headed Monday. While speaking on an NCAA government proposal, Sankey revealed that some people within the conference questioned why the league doesn’t break away from the NCAA.

The commissioner also said that the SEC is seeking “more autonomy” for all four of the power conferences. He explained that while he doesn’t have complete authority to make the decision to leave the NCAA, the willingness is there from teams in the SEC.

Greg Sankey reveals dire question being posed by SEC teams about NCAA future

.

www.on3.com

Then they're already set up to do it, or they wouldn't say anything publicly. Ducks are all in a row, I guess. Gonna be some real drama

 

[Girthang]

This is fine but I could see Tenn suing the sec if they don’t like something. Once a cheater they always stretch the rules.

The SEC doesn't care. It's all about the money now. Has been for a while. Most of us are just now catching up. They'll work the rest out as the SEC and NCAA always have. They'll protect their cash cows and sacrifice the rest for them to maintain prominence.

Except with more autonomy ($ in their pocket)...

 

[Grumpyolddawg]

Been saying this awhile, expect some form of ruling body made up college administrators and ads. I don't know what the rules would be, but breaking them would have to come with severe enough penalties that schools want to avoid them.

I think most of the big 2 would come, probably 10 or so for the other 2 and maybe a couple smaller schools. One rule would be can only ply teams in the new league.

 

[sieken]

It’s not really a surprise, the Audit they did two or three years ago recommended this avenue. They only recommended it for NCAAF, that’s probably all that would be done now, at least intially.

 

[trueblujr2]

Can only see this happening if the other P4 Conferences are on board and leave at the same time to form their own League. otherwise, couldn't the NCAA play hardball with the SEC in terms of scheduling, playoff berths etc.? this would carry over to all the other sports as well I assume.

 

[Swimcat20]

It’s hard to guess how all this will play out. I’ll only say that college sports will very different in the future.

 

[CastleRubric]

Article is a little old and focuses on basketball - but it discusses the power conferences assuming some control fm the NCAA

So I guess that's what we're starting to see.

Yahoo Sports

NCAA asking congress to protect them from future antitrust lawsuits snd replacing about 30 some state laws with one federal statute/law for
Governing NIL contracts

AP News

 

[Caveman Catfan]

I think this is flexing muscle.

 

[Girthang]

Article is a little old and focuses on basketball - but it discusses the power conferences assuming some control fm the NCAA

So I guess that's what we're starting to see.

Yahoo Sports

NCAA asking congress to protect them from future antitrust lawsuits snd replacing about 30 some state laws with one federal statute/law for
Governing NIL contracts

AP News

Asking the fed govt to take power from the states. Now THAT sounds like the NCAA all right. Keep on digging NCAA. Keep on digging

 

[billoliver40]

If the SEC did bolt...alone....then there will be a ton of things to find out.
How will TV rights work?
How about Bowl games?
How about playoffs...after all if you aren't part of the NCAA would you be in the playoffs?
How would transfers work?

This could be wild.

 

[Caveman Catfan]

If the SEC did bolt...alone....then there will be a ton of things to find out.
How will TV rights work?
How about Bowl games?
How about playoffs...after all if you aren't part of the NCAA would you be in the playoffs?
How would transfers work?

This could be wild.

NCAA is not part of the Playoff.

 

[Grumpyolddawg]

If the SEC did bolt...alone....then there will be a ton of things to find out.
How will TV rights work?
How about Bowl games?
How about playoffs...after all if you aren't part of the NCAA would you be in the playoffs?
How would transfers work?

This could be wild.

The NC in football isn't an NCAA championship, it's called the BCS NC. Now if we dropped out of the NCAA alone I don't know if we would get anyone invited

 

[truebluewildcat]

Been an unofficial separation for some time.

The top end P4 programs are totally different from lower end relatively near peers in the same conference…let alone mid majors.

The fact Bama and Ohio State operate under the same rules as and compete on the field with Furman and Mercer is lunacy of the highest order.

Neither one of them can sniff Purdue who can’t sniff the upper teams in the BIG.

The NCAA tried to govern 340ish programs like they were all the same thing.

A split isn’t coming. I think multiple splits are.

 

[Soupbean]

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey gave a damning statement on the direction that college sports and the NCAA is headed Monday. While speaking on an NCAA government proposal, Sankey revealed that some people within the conference questioned why the league doesn’t break away from the NCAA.

The commissioner also said that the SEC is seeking “more autonomy” for all four of the power conferences. He explained that while he doesn’t have complete authority to make the decision to leave the NCAA, the willingness is there from teams in the SEC.

Greg Sankey reveals dire question being posed by SEC teams about NCAA future

.

www.on3.com

I think the mistake most people make is they keep forgetting this is supposed to be COLLEGE sports and the NCAA is just the administrative arm of all the schools that manages their sport, it's not its own entity like the NBA or NFL. There are tons of problems that need fixed at the NCAA level but the answer is to fix them and not "leave" it because by leaving to become autonomous you are officially saying we dont want it to be COLLEGE sports anymore, we want to do it on our own.

So from there on what does it have to do with the Universities anymore. I know its already been trending that way for years but his would just be the final exclamationt to that. Sankey is simply saying, "we're more interest in making more money than we are being a COLLEGE sports league. The endless pursuit of more money has made people irrational.

Let me paraphase what Sankey and schools like UT are saying another way . . .

"We are tired of other schools and leagues in college sports holding us back from making more money so that we can get a bigger advantage over them in the sport so we are leaving that sport to go out on our own and create a new organization that we'll run the way we want to so that we can again do what we want to make as much money as we can to get as much advantage over the other members that we can and . . . . . . . . . . . . on and on and on and on and on and on!

See how that works? Its irrational and with every new step its just one step further away from the Universities or COLLEGE athletes having anything to do with it.

 

[satcheluk]

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey gave a damning statement on the direction that college sports and the NCAA is headed Monday. While speaking on an NCAA government proposal, Sankey revealed that some people within the conference questioned why the league doesn’t break away from the NCAA.

The commissioner also said that the SEC is seeking “more autonomy” for all four of the power conferences. He explained that while he doesn’t have complete authority to make the decision to leave the NCAA, the willingness is there from teams in the SEC.

Greg Sankey reveals dire question being posed by SEC teams about NCAA future

.

www.on3.com

The NCAA owns March Madness. Does anyone really think we're going to walk away from that?

 

[Grumpyolddawg]

The NCAA owns March Madness. Does anyone really think we're going to walk away from that?

I can't see why anyone would be happy with the leadership of the NCAA. They knew it was going to lose the court cases, yet didn't do one thing to attempt to get control of the results, maybe there was nothing they could do, but they just stuck their head in the sand. NCAA has rights to March Madness, but when 90% of the power conferences are gone, it will have about the same prestige as the NIT does. NCAA is a dead organization, just hanging until the mass exit occurs.

 

[Rembrandt90]

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey gave a damning statement on the direction that college sports and the NCAA is headed Monday. While speaking on an NCAA government proposal, Sankey revealed that some people within the conference questioned why the league doesn’t break away from the NCAA.

The commissioner also said that the SEC is seeking “more autonomy” for all four of the power conferences. He explained that while he doesn’t have complete authority to make the decision to leave the NCAA, the willingness is there from teams in the SEC.

Greg Sankey reveals dire question being posed by SEC teams about NCAA future

.

www.on3.com

It's a negotiating position. The SEC is not leaving the NCAA. The SEC is just competing with the B10 for control. Sankey wants more control, and will probably get it.

 

[vhcat70]

The NCAA owns March Madness. Does anyone really think we're going to walk away from that?

I don't see that as any factor. $ talks, not number of titles in anything. Besides MM is chicken feed vs. football revenues.

 

[BigBluePap]

Then they're already set up to do it, or they wouldn't say anything publicly. Ducks are all in a row, I guess. Gonna be some real drama

would certainly seem this is well beyond the discussion or consideration phases

 

[Grumpyolddawg]

Been an unofficial separation for some time.

The top end P4 programs are totally different from lower end relatively near peers in the same conference…let alone mid majors.

The fact Bama and Ohio State operate under the same rules as and compete on the field with Furman and Mercer is lunacy of the highest order.

Neither one of them can sniff Purdue who can’t sniff the upper teams in the BIG.

The NCAA tried to govern 340ish programs like they were all the same thing.

A split isn’t coming. I think multiple splits are.

For decades P 4-5 teams scheduled the Furmans and Mercers under the propaganda of helping fund these schools athletic programs. The fact is it was to get an easy win and pad the record, every school including mine did it.

I understand teams have to do it to get bowl eligible. Which is a big deal for the conference. But if we break away, I would think the Big10 is too. SEC would need to add a couple teams or both of us add teams to get to 50. We could add Miami, FSU, Clemson, NC, Duke, GT NCST, OKST, SMU, which puts us at 25. Big could add BYU, VT, WV, UVA, IOWA ST, Kansas, Louisville. The rest can join the Mac or Mountain West.

 

[RMP82]

I for one hate the NCAA and think that they're the most hypocritical bunch there is but I also hate the direction of college sports. I've never been a overly hugh fan of pro sports and my current feelings towards college sports are making me realize why. I used to think it was because we didn't have a local team. I don't know if I am in the minority or not, but I don't even get a quarter worked up over UK games as I used to. I miss the days where I'd lose sleep over losing a game to Tennessee on Thanksgiving weekend or letting one slip through our hands vs. The Gators. Now, it's oh well. I feel a lot of it began when people could transfer on a whim and play for 4 different schools in 4 years if they want. There is no connection to players. Players opt out of bowl games and view them as nothing important. I know the playoffs are what teams view as the big deal, but Bowl Games should matter. Money rules everything. As screwy as the system was, I almost miss just having the BCS over the playoffs.

 

[Grumpyolddawg]

I for one hate the NCAA and think that they're the most hypocritical bunch there is but I also hate the direction of college sports. I've never been a overly hugh fan of pro sports and my current feelings towards college sports are making me realize why. I used to think it was because we didn't have a local team. I don't know if I am in the minority or not, but I don't even get a quarter worked up over UK games as I used to. I miss the days where I'd lose sleep over losing a game to Tennessee on Thanksgiving weekend or letting one slip through our hands vs. The Gators. Now, it's oh well. I feel a lot of it began when people could transfer on a whim and play for 4 different schools in 4 years if they want. There is no connection to players. Players opt out of bowl games and view them as nothing important. I know the playoffs are what teams view as the big deal, but Bowl Games should matter. Money rules everything. As screwy as the system was, I almost miss just having the BCS over the playoffs.

Even the playoff doesn't assure players won't opt out. During the Nico and cols separation it got out that Nico was trying to lead the vols into boycotting the game if they didn't get more money. Their agreement was for 12 games. Now that sounds more like vol sour grapes and trying to make Nico look bad, he was the only vol that looked like he was trying. But from everything I have read about his dad, I don't think it's out of the question.

 

[satcheluk]

I can't see why anyone would be happy with the leadership of the NCAA. They knew it was going to lose the court cases, yet didn't do one thing to attempt to get control of the results, maybe there was nothing they could do, but they just stuck their head in the sand. NCAA has rights to March Madness, but when 90% of the power conferences are gone, it will have about the same prestige as the NIT does. NCAA is a dead organization, just hanging until the mass exit occurs.

I don't love the NCAA, by any means, but March Madness is arguably the greatest sporting event in the US, so I seriously doubt too many are going to want to walk away from that, and that's without considering the reporting that March Madness is paying more than all of the bowl games for the SEC teams that made it. The NCAA was neutered by SCOTUS, which was deserved, but Congress is going to give them their balls back and enact legislation that saves them.

 

[satcheluk]

I don't see that as any factor. $ talks, not number of titles in anything. Besides MM is chicken feed vs. football revenues.

"SEC schools likely net $5–6 million annually from men’s basketball units, plus ~$212,500 from women’s units."

That is more than just about every bowl payout, including making the playoffs and on par with making the semifinals.

 

[The-Hack]

That is more than just about every bowl payout, including making the playoffs and on par with making the semifinals.

A quick search revealed this estimate from a source a couple of years prior to the FB playoff. If the numbers came true, I think
They dwarf the numbers you cite from basketball:

How Much Money Can An Expanded College Football Playoff Generate?

AthleticDirectorU and Navigate present financial projections for an expanded 12-team College Football Playoff (CFP).

athleticdirectoru.com

• The new CFP payout for 11 playoff games that also take over all NY6 game relationships in a 12-team playoff pays all conferences $1.9B per year

 

[Grumpyolddawg]

I don't love the NCAA, by any means, but March Madness is arguably the greatest sporting event in the US, so I seriously doubt too many are going to want to walk away from that, and that's without considering the reporting that March Madness is paying more than all of the bowl games for the SEC teams that made it. The NCAA was neutered by SCOTUS, which was deserved, but Congress is going to give them their balls back and enact legislation that saves them.

But if 95% of the P4 teams leave the NCAA, March Madness will no longer be March Madness. The new organization will have their own BB tournament and it will have a different name.

 

[satcheluk]

A quick search revealed this estimate from a source a couple of years prior to the FB playoff. If the numbers came true, I think
They dwarf the numbers you cite from basketball:

How Much Money Can An Expanded College Football Playoff Generate?

AthleticDirectorU and Navigate present financial projections for an expanded 12-team College Football Playoff (CFP).

athleticdirectoru.com

• The new CFP payout for 11 playoff games that also take over all NY6 game relationships in a 12-team playoff pays all conferences $1.9B per year

SEC Distribution Model: The SEC pools bowl game revenue and redistributes it across its 16 member schools (including newcomers Texas and Oklahoma). Historically, the conference splits revenue into 16 shares, with participating teams receiving a slightly larger portion (e.g., $2.05M for CFP semifinals, $2.15M for national championship per team, per 2022 data). Non-participating schools still receive a share, promoting parity. For 2024–25, the SEC’s new 12-team College Football Playoff (CFP) model specifies:

• $3M per team for first-round CFP games
• $3.5M for quarterfinals
• $3.75M for semifinals
• $4M for the National Championship
• Travel allowances per game (amount varies, estimated $2.85M per team per game historically)
• Non-CFP bowl payouts vary by bowl contract (e.g., $8.2M for Citrus Bowl, $5.7M for Music City Bowl).

 

[satcheluk]

But if 95% of the P4 teams leave the NCAA, March Madness will no longer be March Madness. The new organization will have their own BB tournament and it will have a different name.

If it happens, it happens, but I wouldn't bet on it happening anytime soon since the TV contract was extended to 2032. Can you imagine the billions in damages for blowing up that agreement?

 

[Grumpyolddawg]

If it happens, it happens, but I wouldn't bet on it happening anytime soon since the TV contract was extended to 2032. Can you imagine the billions in damages for blowing up that agreement?

Yes it would be a financial disaster. But when your ruling body is a paper tiger what are you going to do? NCAA stuck their head in the sand and we have the mess we have now. I don't pretend to know the answer. But what we have now is a total cluster.

 

[3632]

But if 95% of the P4 teams leave the NCAA, March Madness will no longer be March Madness. The new organization will have their own BB tournament and it will have a different name.

That's the danger. If they push it so far that sports beyond football don't have mass involvement, I think you lose at least some degree of the general college fandom that supports the powerhouses outside of the school fanbases. Yes, there will still be watchers but at some point people get pushed too much on this and I believe there would be diminishing returns.

 

[Grumpyolddawg]

That's the danger. If they push it so far that sports beyond football don't have mass involvement, I think you lose at least some degree of the general college fandom that supports the powerhouses outside of the school fanbases. Yes, there will still be watchers but at some point people get pushed too much on this and I believe there would be diminishing returns.

Fans will just turn to whatever the new tournament will be called and play for whatever the new organization is called national championship. NCAA is dying organization, they can't even force their rule because someone will sue and win.

 

[3632]

Fans will just turn to whatever the new tournament will be called and play for whatever the new organization is called national championship. NCAA is dying organization, they can't even force their rule because someone will sue and win.

Yes a good deal of them will. But I believe there may be some attrition of the general fan. I know betting has made the most casual of fans pay some attention but there is some portion of general college sports fans that are going to look at things and get put off by it altogether. Example, say Coastal Carolina alumn that love their baseball or Villanova basketball and it's their chance to compete against big boys in the sports that they can...you take baseball away from little guy schools or whatever non-fb sport, it may send cfb fandom back in the direction of being more specific to schools. I'm not suggesting the interest all goes away, but there are a ton of students attending all kinds of schools that at least have some connection through secondary sports. Add to that schools that do make it into the new version of things that become the perennial new bottom feeders for the extreme top end schools by getting 3-4 wins most years and you lose some of those fan interests too.

 

[Grumpyolddawg]

Yes a good deal of them will. But I believe there may be some attrition of the general fan. I know betting has made the most casual of fans pay some attention but there is some portion of general college sports fans that are going to look at things and get put off by it altogether. Example, say Coastal Carolina alumn that love their baseball or Villanova basketball and it's their chance to compete against big boys in the sports that they can...you take baseball away from little guy schools or whatever non-fb sport, it may send cfb fandom back in the direction of being more specific to schools. I'm not suggesting the interest all goes away, but there are a ton of students attending all kinds of schools that at least have some connection through secondary sports. Add to that schools that do make it into the new version of things that become the perennial new bottom feeders for the extreme top end schools by getting 3-4 wins most years and you lose some of those fan interests too.

That's happening already, I know I am not looking forward to the season like have in the past. I am reasonably sure I am not the only one. I don't like how uneven the NIL is at different schools, it's the portal that bothers me the most. Kids transferring multiple times, sometimes in the same year.

As far the smaller schools and those that don't field football teams, I think the policy will be no playing teams outside the organization. Have their own national champion in all the sports. The schools still in NCAA can have theirs,

 

[CastleRubric]

A quick search revealed this estimate from a source a couple of years prior to the FB playoff. If the numbers came true, I think
They dwarf the numbers you cite from basketball:

How Much Money Can An Expanded College Football Playoff Generate?

AthleticDirectorU and Navigate present financial projections for an expanded 12-team College Football Playoff (CFP).

athleticdirectoru.com

• The new CFP payout for 11 playoff games that also take over all NY6 game relationships in a 12-team playoff pays all conferences $1.9B per year

Good point there Hackster

I don't know any recent numbers but I've always heard that CBS loses money on March Madness and it doesn't really make a lot of money

The article i am remembering is a little old but will try to find later

Also - there probably are Multiple ways to show "money making" with an event involving so many trams and sponsors


I just thought the conventional wisdom was always noting college football generates MUCH more revenue than college basketball


Happy Thursday!

 

[Tskware]

Yes a good deal of them will. But I believe there may be some attrition of the general fan. I know betting has made the most casual of fans pay some attention but there is some portion of general college sports fans that are going to look at things and get put off by it altogether. . . . Add to that schools that do make it into the new version of things that become the perennial new bottom feeders for the extreme top end schools by getting 3-4 wins most years and you lose some of those fan interests too.

I think you are alluding to a hidden danger of the "super conference" of top 40 or 50 football schools. Once schools like Kentucky, Iowa, Wisconsin, South Carolina, Miss State, Purdue and the like, figure out they are consigned to perennial 3-9 and 4-8 type seasons, how many fans will continue to fill their 60-75,000 seat stadiums? In other words, be VERY careful of what you wish for . . .

 

[The-Hack]

perennial 3-9 and 4-8 type seasons, how many fans will continue to fill their 60-75,000 seat stadiums?

A legitimate concern, but historically, those schools and many others have gone very long stretches of poor results.

UK went 41 years between seasons with double-digit victories.

And among the legitimate (I believe) concerns expressed for the “lower half” schools, we must remind ourselves that both Indiana and Iowa State achieved ten win seasons, simultaneously, just last season . . . a first for both, in 130+ seasons of football.

Now, only Vandy among traditional, long-term P4 schools, has never won 10 games in a single season.

 

[Tskware]

A legitimate concern, but historically, those schools and many others have gone very long stretches of poor results.

UK went 41 years between seasons with double-digit victories.

And among the legitimate (I believe) concerns expressed for the “lower half” schools, we must remind ourselves that both Indiana and Iowa State achieved ten win seasons, simultaneously, just last season . . . a first for both, in 130+ seasons of football.

Now, only Vandy among traditional, long-term P4 schools, has never won 10 games in a single season.

That is true. But it could completely change if schools, all of a sudden, realize, they no longer have a real chance to compete. Not unlike the lower half of the Major League Baseball teams that don't draw well.