Tag: Southeastern Conference

Alabama running back Justice Haynes (22) runs against Michigan defensive end Braiden McGregor (17) during the second half of the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif., on Monday, Jan. 1, 2024.

Big Ten, SEC form joint advisory group

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Amid a shifting landscape in college athletics, the Big Ten and Southeastern conferences announced Friday they have formed a joint advisory group “to address the significant challenges” in college sports and for student-athletes today.

The group will be made up of university presidents, chancellors and athletic directors, who will look at issues such as pending litigation and recent court decisions, differing state laws and proposals for governing college sports.

“The Big Ten and the SEC have substantial investment in the NCAA and there is no question that the voices of our two conferences are integral to governance and other reform efforts,” said Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti in a statement. “We recognize the similarity in our circumstances, as well as the urgency to address the common challenges we face.”

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey agreed.

“There are similar cultural and social impacts on our student-athletes, our institutions, and our communities because of the new collegiate athletics environment,” he said. “We do not have predetermined answers to the myriad questions facing us. We do not expect to agree on everything but enhancing interaction between our conferences will help to focus efforts on common sense solutions.”

The conferences did not announce when their work would begin and said its composition has yet to be decided.

The Big Ten and the SEC have driven some of the most significant changes with their expansion. This fall, the Big Ten will grow to 18 teams with the addition of Oregon, Southern California, UCLA and Washington. The SEC, which is adding Texas and Oklahoma, will have 16 teams.

–Field Level Media

Oct 8, 2022; Dallas, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns defensive end Justice Finkley (1) and Texas Longhorns defensive lineman Keondre Coburn (99) sack Oklahoma Sooners quarterback Davis Beville (11) during the second half at the Cotton Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Kevin Jairaj-USA TODAY Sports

Texas, Oklahoma reach deal to leave Big 12 in 2024

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Texas and Oklahoma agreed to a $100 million fee to exit the Big 12 Conference a year earlier than their contractual obligation, meaning they will join the Southeastern Conference for the 2024-25 school year.

The Big 12 announced Thursday that the schools and the reached an agreement in principle regarding the exit fee.

“As I have consistently stated, the Conference would only agree to an early withdrawal if it was in our best interest for Oklahoma and Texas to depart prior to June 30, 2025,” Big 12 commissioner Brett Yormark said in a statement. “By reaching this agreement, we are now able to accelerate our new beginning as a 12-team league and move forward in earnest with our initiatives and future planning.

“I appreciate the approaches of OU President Joe Harroz and UT President Jay Hartzell to ensure an amicable conclusion to this process, and look forward to the bright days ahead for the Big 12 Conference.”

Hartzell said in a statement, in part, “We have always been committed to fulfilling our contractual obligations to the Big 12. The collegiate athletics landscape has continued to evolve rapidly, and working together to accelerate our exit produced benefits for all parties. The Big 12 has been a respected partner for nearly three decades, and we look forward to a final season of spirited competition with our friends and rivals.”

“The exciting matchups and passionate rivalries of the past quarter century will always be a celebrated part of our shared history,” Harroz added in a statement, in part. “We look forward to showcasing that intensity this season, next season and beyond.”

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey wrote in a statement that the conference will “proceed with facilitating the transition of Oklahoma and Texas to become full members of the Southeastern Conference on July 1, 2024.”

He added, “We look forward to welcoming the conference’s new members and moving into the future as a 16-team league.”

BYU, UCF, Cincinnati and Houston are set to join the Big 12 for the 2023-24 school year, giving the conference 14 teams for one season before the Longhorns and Sooners exit.

–Field Level Media

Jul 19, 2021; Hoover, Alabama, USA; SEC commissioner Greg Sankey speaks to the media during SEC Media Days at Hyatt Regency Birmingham. Mandatory Credit: Vasha Hunt-USA TODAY Sports

SEC extends commissioner Greg Sankey through 2026

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Southeastern Conference commissioner Greg Sankey has agreed to a contract extension through at least the 2026 season, the SEC announced Thursday.

The SEC’s presidents and chancellors approved the contract extension for Sankey, who became the conference’s eighth commissioner on June 1, 2015.

“College athletics is in the midst of a transformational period, and the SEC is fortunate to have a highly impactful leader to guide us forward at this critical time in our history,” said Jere Morehead, president of the University of Georgia and current president of the SEC.

“He has effectively introduced change and advancement for the conference while respecting the institutional traditions that make the SEC unique. His leadership and ability to foster collaboration through the COVID-19 pandemic helped establish a framework for all of college sports, and those leadership skills will be critical as we move forward with change in the years ahead.”

Sankey, 57, has launched the SEC Council on Racial Equity and Social Justice and finalized a 10-year agreement with the Walt Disney Company, a deal that allows ABC and ESPN exclusive broadcast rights to the conference’s football and basketball events beginning in 2024-25.

“I am grateful for the support of the SEC’s presidents and chancellors, and for the continuing opportunity to serve our universities while supporting the student-athletes of the Southeastern Conference,” Sankey said. “We are in the midst of a time of change for college athletics, and I look forward to working with the SEC’s campus leaders to identify a path forward that will sustain the incredible success of our Conference and provide opportunities for young people to grow academically and challenge themselves athletically.”

The SEC will also expand to 16 member universities in 2025 with the additions of Texas and Oklahoma.

Sankey was Southland Conference commissioner for nearly seven years before joining the SEC in 2002. His roles included executive associate commissioner and chief operating officer prior to replacing Mike Slive as commissioner.

–Field Level Media

Oct 10, 2020; Dallas, Texas, USA; Texas Longhorns quarterback Sam Ehlinger (11) runs past a tackle attempt by Oklahoma Sooners defensive back Brendan Radley-Hiles (44) during the second quarter of the Red River Showdown at Cotton Bowl. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Dieb-USA TODAY Sports

Report: Texas, Oklahoma seek move to SEC

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Texas and Oklahoma have approached the Southeastern Conference about joining the league, the Houston Chronicle reported Wednesday.

An announcement about the potential addition of the two Big 12 powers could come within a few weeks, the Chronicle reported, citing a “high-ranking college official with knowledge of the situation.”

The SEC has had 14 member schools has been at 14 teams since 2011, when Texas A&M and Missouri left the Big 12 and began play the following season.

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey declined to comment about possible expansion, Sports Illustrated reported.

While all sports would shift, football would be the biggest appeal to the SEC.

There has been speculation over the past year that one day, the 64 teams in the Power Five conferences could divide into four 16-team super conferences, and the SEC moving to that number could spark that shift.

Currently, the Big Ten and Atlantic Coast Conference have 14 member schools, the Pac-12 has 12 schools and the Big 12 has 10.

Notre Dame is a 15th team in the ACC for all sports other than football, in which it plays an independent schedule.

–Field Level Media

Jul 19, 2021; Hoover, Alabama, USA; SEC commissioner Greg Sankey speaks to the media during SEC Media Days at Hyatt Regency Birmingham. Mandatory Credit: Vasha Hunt-USA TODAY Sports

SEC commissioner: COVID-19 schedule changes not planned in ’21

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The Southeastern Conference isn’t planning to postpone football games this fall due to COVID-19.

Speaking Monday at SEC Media Days in Hoover, Ala., commissioner Greg Sankey said the widespread COVID-19 vaccines have made it possible to play safely this fall. If a team faces a coronavirus outbreak, the game will not be rescheduled, he said.

So far, six of the 14 football teams in the conference have reached 80 percent vaccination, Sankey said, declining to specify the teams.

Last season, SEC teams played a limited number of games, and rosters had to meet a minimum threshold number for the games to go on. He said Monday that he has asked members schools to agree to remove the roster minimums and return to business as usual, pre-pandemic.

“That means your team needs to be healthy to compete,” Sankey said. “If not, that game won’t be rescheduled. And thus, to dispose of the game, the forfeit word comes up at this point.”

The SEC schedule last season was in a constant state of flux to accommodate moving games, and the conference added weeks at the end of the schedule for potential makeup games.

“We’ve not built in the kind of time we did last year, particularly at the end of the season, to accommodate disruption,” Sankey said. “And unless we’re going to do that, our teams are going to have to be fully prepared to play their season as scheduled, which is why embedded in my remarks is the vaccination motivation.”

The first SEC team scheduled to compete in the 2021 is Tennessee, which will host Bowling Green on Sept. 2 in the debut of new head coach Josh Heupel.

Missouri will visit Kentucky in the first conference game on Sept. 11.

–Field Level Media

Apr 29, 2021; Cleveland, Ohio, USA; Ja'Marr Chase (LSU) poses with a jersey after being selected by Cincinnati Bengals as the number five overall pick in the first round of the 2021 NFL Draft at First Energy Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kirby Lee-USA TODAY Sports

SEC sets record for draft picks

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The Southeastern Conference had a record 65 players selected in the 2021 NFL Draft, breaking its own record of 64 set two years ago.

SEC players accounted for 12 of the 32 first-round picks and six of the first 10.

The first SEC player off the draft board was Florida tight end Kyle Pitts, the fourth selection by the Atlanta Falcons, followed in succession by wide receivers Ja’Marr Chase (Cincinnati Bengals) of LSU and Jaylen Waddle (Miami Dolphins) of Alabama.

In all, 10 members of the Crimson Tide were selected.

Second on the list was the Atlantic Coast Conference with 51 selections, headlined by No. 1 overall pick Trevor Lawrence. The Jacksonville Jaguars selected the Clemson quarterback.

Among the other Power Five conferences, the Big Ten saw 44 players drafted, including Ohio State quarterback Justin Fields, selected No 11 by the Chicago Bears. The Pac-12 was next with 28 players, followed by the Big 12 with 22.

–Field Level Media

Mar 12, 2020; Nashville, Tennessee, USA; Southeastern Conference commissioner Greg Sankey speaks on the cancelation of the SEC tournament at Bridgestone Arena. Mandatory Credit: Steve Roberts-USA TODAY Sports

Sankey: SEC playing football alone not ‘wisest decision’

Posted on | by Field Level Media

Southeastern Conference commissioner Greg Sankey wants to see the season move forward as planned, but he doesn’t want his conference to be the only one on that path.

Sankey said in an appearance on “The Dan Patrick Show” Tuesday that it’s unlikely the SEC would play a season on its own should the other Football Bowl Subdivision (FBS) conferences cancel the fall season due to the coronavirus pandemic.

“I don’t think that’s the right direction, really,” Sankey said, when asked if the SEC would be comfortable as the only conference playing football this fall.

“Could we? Certainly. There’s a difference between can you do something and should you do something in life.

“We’re actually set up our schedule with our own health protocols; we could, if that’s the circumstance, operate on our own. I’m not sure that’s the wisest direction.”

Big Ten presidents voted on Tuesday to postpone the 2020 college football season with hopes of playing in the spring. The league announced the decision on Tuesday.

Pac-12 also could announce it won’t be conducting football seasons on Tuesday, according to multiple reports.

The 12-team Mountain West joined the 12-team Mid-American Conference as FBS leagues that have postponed their football season and fall sports.

Independents Connecticut, Massachusetts as well as Old Dominion of the Conference USA have also opted out of the fall football season.

Sankey also dismissed reports that said the SEC is considering adding programs from other conference that might cancel fall football.

“There are probably any number of legal, contractual, media — I could go down the list of reasons that that’s not quite practical,” Sankey said.

Sankey also noted that the conference’s medical advisory group remains comfortable with the safety of current summer workout plans.

“Were that advice to change, it certainly would be a stopping point,” he said. “The indicators are we can right now do what we’re doing in a healthy way.”

–Field Level Media