SEC Commissioner Not Recruiting Schools to Conference Amid FSU, Clemson Buzz

The SEC is set to enter a new era with the impending additions of Texas and Oklahoma this season, but it sounds like there aren't any plans for further expansion anytime soon.

While speaking to reporters at the start of SEC Media Days on Monday, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said he's not recruiting any other schools despite the speculation that the SEC could be a landing spot for Florida State and Clemson if they depart the ACC.

"We're focused on our 16," Sankey said, per ESPN's Andrea Adelson.

Florida State and Clemson are both involved in lawsuits against the ACC to challenge the conference's grant of rights. The ACC countersued both schools, and the cases are being heard by judges in Florida, North Carolina and South Carolina.

The SEC helped usher in the unprecedented conference realignment seen in recent years when it voted to add Texas and Oklahoma in 2021. Since then, the Pac-12 effectively disbanded after USC and UCLA opted to join the Big Ten, with Oregon and Washington later following them. The Big 12 added Arizona, Arizona State, Colorado and Utah, while Stanford, Cal and SMU are headed to the ACC. All of these changes begin with the 2024 season.

While Sankey is aware of the situations involving Florida State and Clemson, he made it clear that the SEC is focusing on its current members and he's not making overtures to any other universities.

"I'm not a recruiter. My job is to make sure we meet the standard of excellence that we have for ourselves on a daily basis," Sankey said. "That attracts interest. It's done that with the two universities that we have added this year. They're not the only phone calls I've ever had, but I'm not involved in recruitment."

Sankey continued: "Our presidents have been clear that I am not going to entangle us in litigation around expansion. So I pay attention, but I'm not engaged in those conversations. The broader implications, obviously if things change, then there's a new level of uncertainty. It already creates speculation that I think is counterproductive, but I don't spend an enormous amount of my time thinking about it. I certainly don't spend any time engaged in that recruiting activity because we're focused on our 16."