SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey says conversations about the conference breaking away from the rest of college sports and potentially the NCAA are “real,” though he indicates that separation is not the solution the SEC prefers. Sankey made the comments Monday during a media availability to kick off SEC football media days, addressing issues affecting college sports more broadly. According to Sankey, discussions among SEC leadership and presidents include the idea of separating from the current governance structure, with the meeting described as lasting about 45 minutes with reporters. He also points to several underlying pressures driving the debate, including congressional legislation, ongoing litigation related to the NCAA’s new five-year eligibility rule, uncertainty about the future of the College Football Playoff, and concerns about transparency around name, image and likeness (NIL) payments to student-athletes. While sources report that leaders discuss breakaway possibilities, Sankey’s framing suggests the SEC is weighing options amid rapid changes rather than actively pursuing immediate separation as its preferred path.