Is the SEC leaving the NCAA? Fact-checking social media claim about Greg Sankey's decision

As per usual, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey is making a lot of noise, and social media has gotten caught up in the chatter.

On Monday, speaking at SEC spring meetings in Destin, Florida, Sankey said that many in his conference are “questioning why the league doesn’t break away from the NCAA,” according to On3.

On Tuesday, following Sankey’s remarks, more than a few social media accounts posted saying the SEC is, in fact, planning to leave the NCAA.

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As one of the power four conferences in college athletics, the SEC has been pushing for changes to the governing body for a while now, and the idea of it breaking away altogether has gotten a lot of buzz.

Is the SEC actually leaving the NCAA? The Sporting News is fact-checking the recent rumors.

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Is the SEC leaving the NCAA?

Sankey certainly expressed his displeasure with the NCAA on Monday, causing reports like the following to surface on social media.

BREAKING: SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey has announced that the SEC will be breaking away from the NCAA effective for the 2028-2029 academic calendar year. This comes after months of speculation about the move. More to follow.

(via Carson T. Kay) pic.twitter.com/khnGy0BPya

— CBS Sports College Football (@derrico_henrio) May 27, 2025

These and other similar reports are fake. The SEC is not actually leaving the NCAA, nor does it have a concrete plan to in the future.

However, Sankey is trying to move away from the ACC and the Big 12 when it comes to some of the major issues facing college sports. Earlier this month, he spoke on the two conferences’ efforts to have more of a say in College Football Playoff decisions.

“I don’t need lectures from others about the good of the game … or coordinating press releases about the good of the game,” Sankey said. “You can issue your press statement, but I’m actually looking for ideas to move us forward.”

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Who is Greg Sankey?

Greg Sankey is the commissioner of the SEC, a position he’s held since 2015. Under his supervision, the conference has won national championships in nearly every college sport and expanded to include Oklahoma and Texas.

Sankey previously worked for the SEC for 13 years in various roles under commissioner Mike Silve. Prior to joining the SEC, he was the commissioner of the Southland Conference.