SEC commissioner Greg Sankey has suggested expanding the NCAA basketball tournaments, expressing his belief that the current 68-team format should be reexamined. The SEC and Big Ten have formed an advisory group to study issues in college athletics, with tournament expansion being one of the topics under consideration. Sankey believes that Division I schools can continue to operate together despite historic changes, with his conference prepared to take a leadership role.
The NCAA basketball tournament is what binds Division I together, but if it's going to stay together, there are pressures that have to be recognized. The SEC has a lucrative new contract with ESPN-ABC that allows for more game time announcements and flexibility. Two in-state rivalry games, Mississippi State at Old Miss and Georgia Tech at Georgia, will be played on Black Friday this season.
The Red River Shootout between Oklahoma and Texas will move to the 3:30 p.m slot on Oct. 12 instead of its customary Noon slot. Football coaches were receptive to the idea of mandated injury reports, but concerns about gamblers trying to get inside information remain.
The SEC is considering a product from learning from other models for mandated injury reporting and preventing coaches from trying to game the system through fines. Private equity investment in college sports is a non-starter due to concerns over interference and decision-making control.
At the SEC meetings, there were ideas discussed for new revenue sources, including sponsorships on fields, naming rights for arenas, and ticket prices. However, private equity investment was not considered a viable option due to concerns over outside interference in operations.
