SEC spring meetings are here, and there’s plenty of big picture topics on the agenda. While College Football Playoff formats take a good bit of the headlines, discussions about rules, particularly involving NIL and the transfer portal, are also on the docket.
Georgia football head coach Kirby Smart came out with a significant stance on figuring out a slate of rules for everyone to follow. According to a report from On3, Smart said he’s not afraid to break away from the NCAA and have the SEC stand alone.
“I’ve said this for a long time to our president, I’ve been a huge advocate that if we can’t find rules that everybody plays by, then we should play on our own,” Smart said to On3. “I’m not afraid of that. I’m not afraid to break away and say that our conference is strong enough to go out and play.”
NEW: Georgia’s Kirby Smart on the SEC breaking away if national rules can’t be agreed upon:
“I’ve said this for a long time to our president, I’ve been a huge advocate that if we can’t find rules that everybody plays by, then we should play on our own. I’m not afraid of that.… pic.twitter.com/wH0QfRmpue
Advertisement— On3 (@On3) May 26, 2026
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If the SEC broke away, it could cause a serious ripple effect across not just college football but other sports. Smart did say that his biggest concern is that football could ‘ruin all the other sports,’ though.
We’ve already seen football have a negative impact on other sports, as well. With football directing most conference realignment choices, conferences like the ACC and Big Ten span across the entire country and have created wonky and unsustainable schedules for sports such as baseball, softball, soccer, volleyball and more.
While the SEC isn’t as localized as it once was, it still has much more of a geographical tie than the other Power Four conferences, the Big 10, Big 12 and ACC, do.
