Greg Sankey reveals biggest concerns for future of college football

Greg Sankey has some concerns for the future of college football and the SEC commissioner is primarily worried about legislation in the NIL era.

Basically, he wants everyone to be on the same page. If that doesn’t happen, there could be more “Wild West” factors in a new age of college sports.

Sankey joined Greg McElroy on Always College Football to list out what he wants done.

“Well, I’m concerned as well, I think you have to be,” Sankey said. “When we’re having a variety of external factors that are disconnected, creating points of pressure, right or wrong, and those evaluations will be made in courtrooms or legislatures. I think one of the real points of concern right now is the current state legislative activity that now is micromanaging college athletics. 

“And if you read some of these bills that have been introduced, some adopted, we apparently have legislatures that are fine with state championships being the end of the road in college sports, because they want to bar enforcement, they want to bar communication. And I think that’s enormously problematic. And I think it’s unwise as well.”

Sankey also opened up on the NIL conversation when it comes to other sports as well. Football, as well as basketball, is in pretty good hands for the future.

Whether the right legislation and regulation comes along remains to be seen. However, Sankey wanted to make sure other sports are set up right for the future.

“And a part of our conversation in our spring meetings will be on those very activities,” Sankey said, “I’ve said repeatedly to have a platform for national championships, you need national standards. And we’re seeing the opportunities name, image and likeness has opened up some of the activities concerning, it’s not a regulated market. There’s no oversight, either where states have had pretty good structure to their laws. I’m not aware of any state oversight or enforcement activity around those laws. We have to get this right. 

“And the judge that really is important, will be the young people for the next two, three, four decades to either have the kind of opportunities you enjoy, our track and field athletes enjoy, or our volleyball or softball or baseball enjoy for the last decade upon decade. Are they going to have those same opportunities in the future? We have work to do to ensure that future for them.”