Georgia’s Kirby Smart says he’d support SEC breakaway to ‘play … by our own rules’

Key Points:

• Georgia coach Kirby Smart supports the SEC potentially breaking away from the current college sports structure to establish its own rules and even hold an SEC-only football playoff if national regulations are unsatisfactory.
• Smart echoed Georgia president Jere Morehead's sentiment that the House v. NCAA settlement has failed, and an SEC-only playoff would be "fantastic," though such a move faces obstacles like the existing College Football Playoff contract through 2031-32.
• The idea of the SEC making its own rules is gaining traction within the conference, with Commissioner Greg Sankey acknowledging discussions on this topic, driven by frustrations over legal challenges and the lack of federal legislation.
• Smart emphasized financial stability as a key factor, noting the SEC Championship Game's significant value and the potential for more revenue to stay within the conference if it breaks away or creates its own playoff system.
• While advocating for fairness and financial support across all sports, Smart stressed he is not in favor of cutting sports programs but is open to the SEC leading efforts to ensure equitable funding for student-athletes and non-revenue sports.