Trending Now - Mike Elko Criticizes Selfishness in College Football Playoff Talks

WHO:

Fox News - Mike Elko, head coach of Texas A&M

On3 - SEC commissioner Greg Sankey, SEC leaders, college football coaches

WHAT:

Fox News - Mike Elko stated, “We don’t have to find a number that allows everyone to get in. It’s OK for it to be hard to get into the Playoff. None of us are answering for the good of the sport. We are answering for the good of ourselves.”

The New York Times - Kirby Smart mentioned that the SEC could stand on its own if it broke away from the NCAA, stating, “I’m not afraid to break away and say that our conference is strong enough to go out and have and play — I mean, like, if we could actually function and it financially would make our programs more stable.”

On3 - Mike Elko stated, “I don’t know why you ask us. It doesn’t matter what we think. I don’t know why we’re trying to become a trophy sport. What does Mike Elko want? 40. Then I won’t get fired.”

The New York Times - Kirby Smart expressed support for the SEC breaking away from college sports’ current structure to create its own rules and potentially its own football playoff, stating, “I’m not afraid to break away and say that our conference is strong enough to go out and have and play — I mean, like, if we could actually function and it financially would make our programs more stable.”

On3 - Mike Elko criticized the ongoing debate about College Football Playoff expansion, stating that coaches are focused on their own interests rather than the sport's welfare.

On3 - Elko mentioned that the main topic at the SEC Spring Meetings should be regulation and enforcement of NIL (Name, Image, Likeness) spending.

On3 - Elko warned that without regulation, many programs could go bankrupt due to excessive NIL spending.

On3 - Elko stated that in two and a half years, NIL budgets could exceed the TV revenue for entire universities.

WHERE:

On3 - SEC Spring Meetings taking place in Destin, Florida, specifically at the Sandestin Hilton in Miramar Beach, Florida.

WHY:

The New York Times - Smart expressed frustration with the current NCAA rules, saying, “I’ve been to this meeting now 10-11 times, and it’s frustrating at times to say, well, we can’t do this because of litigation, we can’t do this because we get sued, we can’t do that.”

The New York Times - Smart mentioned frustrations with the current NCAA rules and the lack of national legislation, stating, “I’ve been to this meeting now 10-11 times, and it’s frustrating at times to say, well, we can’t do this because of litigation, we can’t do this because we get sued, we can’t do that.”

On3 - Elko believes that the lack of national legislation from Congress on NIL spending is a significant issue for college football.

On3 - Elko argued that college football's profitability is tied to the universities, emphasizing the importance of maintaining the academic roots of the sport.

HOW:

Fox News - SEC commissioner Greg Sankey indicated that the conference will discuss the potential for more conference-led regulation if national standards cannot be achieved, stating, “If those can’t be achieved, then we’ll have to look at more conference-led regulation, but that’s the reality we’re facing.”

The New York Times - Smart indicated that an SEC breakaway could help defend its rules from antitrust challenges, noting, “if the SEC broke away it could more easily defend its rules from antitrust challenges because athletes have other options with other conferences.”

On3 - Elko suggested that the SEC could develop a conference-wide governance model to establish rules around NIL and revenue-sharing.

On3 - Elko expressed support for SEC leadership to collaborate with university presidents and athletic directors to create enforceable regulations.

(UPDATED May 27, 2026 04:20 UTC)

In a recent discussion, Mike Elko emphasized that the path to the Playoff doesn't need to be easy, highlighting that decisions are made for individual benefit rather than the sport's overall good. Meanwhile, Kirby Smart expressed his belief that the SEC could thrive independently of the NCAA, citing frustrations with current regulations that hinder progress. SEC commissioner Greg Sankey added that if national standards remain elusive, the conference may need to consider implementing its own regulations to navigate the challenges ahead.

(UPDATED May 27, 2026 01:38 UTC)

Mike Elko expressed his frustration with the current state of college sports, questioning why there's a push to make it a trophy sport and emphasizing his desire for a winning record to secure his job. Meanwhile, Kirby Smart voiced his support for the SEC potentially breaking away from the NCAA to establish its own rules and a football playoff, citing ongoing frustrations with the current regulations and legal challenges. He believes that such a move could help the SEC better defend its rules against antitrust issues, as athletes would have alternatives in other conferences.

(UPDATED May 26, 2026 23:24 UTC)

Mike Elko, the head coach of Texas A&M, has voiced his concerns at the SEC Spring Meetings in Destin, Florida, criticizing the ongoing debate about College Football Playoff expansion and emphasizing that coaches are prioritizing their own interests over the sport's welfare. He highlighted the urgent need for regulation and enforcement of Name, Image, and Likeness spending, warning that without such measures, many programs could face bankruptcy and that NIL budgets might soon surpass the TV revenue for entire universities. Elko also proposed that the SEC develop a conference-wide governance model to establish enforceable rules around NIL and revenue-sharing, urging collaboration among SEC leadership, university presidents, and athletic directors.