SEC Media Days: Sankey Lays Out What He Wants From Congress, Won't Rush CFP Expansion

By faNILy Team · July 21, 2026

SEC Media Days opened July 20 in Tampa, and as always, commissioner Greg Sankey kicked things off with a long address. If the Big 12's coaches were unanimous for a 24-team playoff two weeks ago, Sankey was the opposite: patient, cautious, and focused on getting the details right.

Four principles for federal legislation

Sankey laid out four guiding principles he wants Congress to follow, per WAKA 8 and SuperTalk Mississippi:

Enforceable national standards
A truly national framework that applies consistently everywhere
Transparency and accountability
Equal treatment of similarly situated institutions while preserving their autonomy

He also stressed that Congress isn't the only fix. "Federal legislation is only one part of our responsibility," Sankey said. SuperTalk Mississippi noted the SEC has submitted a 10-point proposal addressing national NIL standards, institutional liability protections, and clearer player compensation guidelines.

Another line from his address, per the SEC: "Hold everyone to the same standard."

Playoff expansion: not so fast

SuperTalk Mississippi reported the SEC remains the only Power Four conference that hasn't endorsed expanding beyond the current 12-team playoff, and that the league wants more research on fan and media interest first. "We're not necessarily interested in finding the easiest path," Sankey said.

According to WAKA 8, the factors he wants weighed include protecting the value of the regular season, gauging real fan and media demand, respecting academic calendars and athlete well-being, and figuring out what happens to conference championship games.

He also made the case for the league's strength. The SEC put five teams in the playoff, more than any other conference, draws about 40% of live viewership among major conferences, and averages roughly 80,000 fans per game, WAKA 8 reported.

"They're real"

The line that got the most attention came when Sankey was asked about schools discussing a break from the NCAA. "They're real. People have talked about that," he said, per WAKA 8. SuperTalk Mississippi reported he added that the SEC's preference is still a national model for college athletics.

Eligibility frustration

Sankey also criticized how the NCAA rolled out its new eligibility rule, saying the five-year framework deserves more study, according to SuperTalk Mississippi.

What it means for fans

The playoff fight is a real fight. With the SEC cautious and Big 12 coaches pushing for 24, expect months of negotiating before anything changes.
Federal rules are still a work in progress. The SEC's priorities are national standards and legal protection, and it's not counting on Congress alone.
"Same standard" is the theme. Consistent rules across schools would affect everything from recruiting to how athletes do NIL deals.

For athletes and fans, all of this connects back to one question: what will the rules look like when the dust settles? Whatever Congress and the conferences land on will shape how athletes earn from their name, image, and likeness, and how fans can engage with them. We'll keep tracking it.