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SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey opened the 2026 media days in Tampa on Monday by fielding questions about potential conference independence, even as Michigan’s athletic department released findings from a $12 million internal investigation that prompted Athletic Director Warde Manuel to announce his resignation effective December 31.
Sankey directly addressed speculation that the SEC might break away from the NCAA governance structure if federal legislation fails to pass. “They’re real. People have talked about that,” he said, referencing conversations among SEC leadership about self-governance. Sankey rejected characterizations of the autonomy discussions as leverage in legislative negotiations, stating the conference has already implemented stricter regulations than competitors.
Michigan’s investigation by law firm Jenner & Block, which examined allegations spanning multiple NCAA cases and infractions, found that Manuel demonstrated leadership strengths in supporting student-athletes but failed to act quickly and effectively on wrongdoing. The review identified systemic weaknesses including poor oversight and accountability lapses at university leadership levels without uncovering widespread departmental misconduct.
University President Domenico Grasso emphasized the need for structural change following the investigation’s findings. Manuel’s departure comes roughly six months after football coach Sherrone Moore was fired for an improper relationship with a staff member, an incident that triggered the broader examination of departmental culture and operations.
The timing of Michigan’s announcement coincided with ongoing congressional negotiations between the SEC, Big Ten and senators over potential legislation limiting conference expansion to 20 teams. The coming week at SEC Media Days will address both legislative developments and on-field storylines, including Texas quarterback Arch Manning’s return and coaching dynamics between rivals LSU and Ole Miss.
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