Mike Elko Urges SEC NIL Rules, Warns Budgets Could Top TV Revenue in 2.5 Years
Updated
Updated · KSR · May 26
Mike Elko Urges SEC NIL Rules, Warns Budgets Could Top TV Revenue in 2.5 Years
7 articles · Updated · KSR · May 26
At SEC spring meetings in Destin, Texas A&M coach Mike Elko said unchecked NIL and revenue-sharing spending could push programs toward bankruptcy, with some NIL budgets exceeding total university TV revenue within 2.5 years.
Elko argued the SEC should focus less on expanding the College Football Playoff and more on building a conference governance model, saying national legislation from Congress appears out of reach.
Greg Sankey and SEC leaders are expected to discuss league-level rules and enforcement, an approach Elko said is more attainable even if other Power Four conferences do not match it.
Elko also called the CFP expansion debate self-interested, saying coaches and leaders are arguing for what helps themselves rather than the sport, and that making the playoff harder to reach is acceptable.
The dispute underscores a broader fight over whether college football can share more revenue with players without drifting further from its university-based model.
With billion-dollar rights and million-dollar player deals, is the debate over college football's 'integrity' already over?
Amid federal intervention and legal chaos, can anyone actually enforce the rules in college football anymore?
Will a 24-team playoff and pro-style payments ultimately save college football or erase its cherished traditions?
The 24-Team College Football Playoff Debate: Mike Elko’s Stand and the Future of the CFP
Overview
As of May 2026, the College Football Playoff (CFP) will keep its 12-team format, as there is no agreement on further changes. However, talk of expanding to a 24-team playoff is growing. Texas A&M head coach Mike Elko strongly opposes this idea, arguing that such expansion would harm the core identity of college football and reduce the importance of the regular season. Many coaches share concerns about losing tradition and the value of each game. The debate continues, with no clear consensus, as stakeholders weigh the benefits and risks of a larger playoff system.