Kirby Smart backs SEC breakaway if no national NIL rules emerge

Georgia coach Kirby Smart said the SEC should consider breaking away from the NCAA and setting its own rules if national standards for NIL, roster limits and spending cannot be established.

Speaking to reporters at the SEC spring meetings in Florida, Smart said he has told university leaders that the conference should operate independently if other schools refuse to follow the same rules.

"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. "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."

He added that independent rules would give programs more financial stability and allow the conference to support all sports under its own oversight.

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey echoed the frustration over the lack of national standards. He said he raised the issue during a March 6 White House meeting and still believes federal legislation is needed. If that does not happen, Sankey said the conference would have to consider its own regulation.

A Big 12 athletic director said he would accept a split by the Big Ten and SEC. Commentator Kirk Herbstreit also said he would support the Power Four conferences leaving the NCAA.