Greg Sankey considers whether current NCAA structure can adapt to college football landscape

In a lengthy discussion with Paul Finebaum on SEC Network on Tuesday, league commissioner Greg Sankey discussed an array of hot-button issues in relation to conference realignment. And in the current state of play, Sankey wondered about the effectiveness of the NCAA as it stands.

Sankey, who has been and is a member of a number of NCAA boards and bodies, including currently sitting on the Division I council. He clearly believes the centralized body can address some looming issues, but not with some of the current apathy at hand.

“Can it work? I think certainly it can work. I think there are limits, though. I think there are limits on the growth. I think the need to evaluate whether a particular college or university is meeting standards under the wholistic student-athlete model. That was a response of student-athletes, asking for a common experience. I don’t think Division I can work well when you have a room full of 40 or 45 committee members, only 10 of them speak then everyone votes. That’s representation without participation,” Sankey said.

Currently, there are 352 schools in the Division I of the NCAA. That includes the 130 FBS football programs, 124 FCS football programs, and 98 schools which don’t sponsor football.

It’s a big group, but one Sankey thinks has benefits and merits. He’s previously worked at a smaller school and knows plenty of people working in athletic administration across all levels of Division I.

“And I spent a year talking as the co-chair of the Division I transformation committee about the big tent — I want to be clear there’s a T on the end of the word tent, given our conference rivals up north and out west — but the big tent, can it work? And I’ve certainly benefitted from the ability to come in in a smaller conference. Maybe not quite the athletic success over time that we enjoy here. I’ve got friends that work in different settings, mid-majors they’re often referred to. And then high-majors,” Sankey said.

Including those broad perspectives is worthwhile, if they do show up and participate, as Sankey alluded to. Otherwise, the looming issues might be too much for the organization to handle.

“We need participants to help solve the really complex problems that we find today. And these are not problems that just emerge. Those of us who have worked in college athletics certainly bear our level of responsibility. But we all have to engage and contribute. If that’s not a will across Division I, then I think the challenges ahead are enormous,” Sankey said.