TAMPA – Just as SEC commissioner Greg Sankey took to the podium inside the Marriott hotel to kick off the 2026 media days, he was already battling for headlines from the Big Ten, as Michigan announced the findings of their internal investigation that is leading to AD Warde Manuel stepping down.
Did you expect the competition between conferences to stop on a random Monday morning in July?
While this was already going to be a week of pure chaos, wrapped up between the ongoing ‘Protect College Sports Act’, CFP expansion and the battle to stay out of courtrooms, it almost felt as though the third Monday of July was going to be a doozy.
Come on, what did you expect?
We are currently in the midst of one of the most important times in college athletics, as conferences like the SEC and Big Ten negotiate with senators over issues pertaining to the future of the industry. The latest negotiations center around a potential agreement that conferences would not be allowed to expand to over 20 teams, which is just the latest installment of this ongoing saga.
But, what about the ongoing discussion regarding the SEC breaking away from others, and governing themselves if there is not legislation passed on the Senate floor?
“They’re real. People have talked about that,” Greg Sankey said to open SEC Media Days. “They’ve opined about the frustrations that have brought them to the point of looking for something different. I do not believe that it’s a leverage point.
“We have regulated ourselves more aggressively by choice than other colleagues around the landscape. … What you hear comes out of a culture that we can regulate ourselves.”
No, the conference is not using this as a ploy. But, this would also become the latest example of college athletics trying to figure out their way outside the NCAA structure.
Lost in the fray of nearly 1,000 media members in Tampa are the different conversations taking place among radio stations, podcasts, television hits and stand-ups.
For many, they want to move onto the forthcoming action on the field. But, in the meantime, there will be discussions on what college athletics will actually look like in five years.
Though, if you think the competition between conferences was taking a break before the season fully got underway, you are oblivious to the ongoing battles outside the fight to pass legislation.
It just so happens that Michigan decided that Monday morning was the perfect time to release its findings of a $12 million investigation into the athletics department, largely based on the firing of former coach Sherrone Moore.
Oh, just perfect timing that the Wolverines athletic department decided to release certain talking points of its investigation into the firing of Sherrone Moore and past infractions during the opening remarks of SEC commissioner Greg Sankey.
After nearly seven months of inquires by outside law firm Jenner & Block, who were hired by Michigan to also investigate the culture of the Wolverines athletic department, an outline of findings were finally released on Monday morning.
Multiple NCAA investigations, firings, scandals and even an FBI investigation into a member of the football staff led to the school hiring an outside firm, which came in the aftermath of Sherrone Moore being fired for having a relationship with staffer Paige Shiver.
So, what did the investigation uncover about the actions of athletic director Warde Manuel over the past five years? Enough to send him on his way, in around six months, but not without praising him for the leadership provided to Michigan.
“The culture review found that Warde Manuel demonstrated important leadership strengths, particularly his commitment to student-athletes,” Michigan noted. “At the same time, it identified failures to quickly and effectively act on allegations of wrongdoing by Athletic Department employees.”
In its announcement, the school also noted that AD Warde Manuel would step down at the end of this calendar year.
“The review also identified interference, poor oversight and failures of accountability of the highest levels of university leadership. This must change,” President Domenico Grasso said in a video statement.
This was a far cry from the answers given in what was essentially a Q&A on the school’s website about what was found from a multi-million dollar investigation. So, was widespread misconduct found during the internal audit?
“No. Neither the investigation nor the culture review found that misconduct was widespread throughout the department.
“The culture review found that weaknesses in accountability, organizational structure, oversight, and reporting created conditions in which misconduct was not always addressed consistently, promptly, or in accordance with University expectations.”
If you are grasping for actual conversations around what will happen on the field this season, don’t worry it’s coming.
The 2026 circus between LSU and Ole Miss, thanks to Lane Kiffin, will arrive later this week to Tampa.
Obviously, the talking-points from Kiffin will be interesting to monitor, though the Tigers head coach seems to be more subdued in person compared to his social media presence.
Lane Kiffin takes shot at Ole Miss, cites racism in recruiting gap with LSU in awkward interview
There will also be plenty of eyes on the Texas Longhorns, with Arch Manning making his return to SEC Media Days. Is this the year that Steve Sarkisian leads his team to a national championship game?
No matter what, the headlines will come over the next four days, along with plenty of conversations around self-governance, breaking away and changing the rules.
But I promise you, actual football will be one of the main takeaways from Tampa.
