Greg Sankey rules out SEC adding schools like Michigan and Ohio State

There’s been anticipation for a while now about the SEC adding more schools in the wake of the Big Ten making the move for Los Angeles-based UCLA and USC — a move that all but eviscerated the Pac-12.

Greg Sankey, the conference’s commissioner, has shut down the idea that there’d be an immediate reaction. Sankey said that “there’s no sense of urgency in our league, no panic in reacting to others’ decisions.” He punctuated it with a potential shot at the Big Ten by saying “we know who we are,” and that the SEC is “confident in our collective strength.”

As for his own conference making two big moves for Texas and Oklahoma last summer, Sankey said something very revealing pertaining to what future moves the conference will make. Because rest assured if there is money to be made then a move will be made.

Sankey explained that “this expansion keeps the SEC in contiguous states, which supports a reasonable geography among like-minded universities.” That essentially means that schools not located in the United States’ south are not likely to be considered for future realignment.

The SEC is likely writing off stealing Michigan or Big Ten, as was rumored last summer

On July 23rd, 2021, nearly a year ago to the day, BSS’ Jack McGuire sent out the ‘Tweet heard around the world’ about the SEC being in contact with Ohio State, Michigan, Clemson, and Florida State. Since then, none of those schools have made the jump, but Clemson and Florida State currently have the best odds to be the next school to accept an invitation from the Southeastern Conference.

Which makes sense. Since they are in the Southeast.

The Big Ten adding UCLA and USC means more big games against fellow blue-bloods for schools like Ohio State and Michigan in all sports. That’s the only way the Buckeyes and Wolverines will be able to upgrade their regular opponents, since the SEC has its eyes on all the pillar programs in the nation and won’t be welcoming anyone north of the Mason-Dixon line to the party.