College sports are stuck in a whirlwind of uncertainty as the 2024-2025 academic calendar wraps up and a potential landmark year approaches.

The SEC finds itself right in the middle of that whirlwind as arguably the most powerful and influential conference in the country. From landing three teams in the inaugural 12-team College Football Playoff to 14 in the NCAA men’s basketball tournament, the conference stands at the forefront of college athletics.

SEC commissioner Greg Sankey met with reporters to kick off the conference’s annual spring meetings on Monday and was asked directly how prepared the conference is for an approval of the impending House Settlement that would open the doors for revenue sharing with student athletes.

Sankey said the SEC is “prepared as well as we are able” for that approval and the changes that come with it, but admitted that anytime something is new, there’s potential for turbulence.

“There’s going to be questions to be answered, and our timeframe is compressed between decision and a lot of implementation work, a lot of people spend a lot of time preparing,” Sankey said. “I know we spent an incredible amount of time and energy across the four conferences.”

With that uncertainty and initial turbulence in mind, Sankey said while staying prepared, they don’t want to get ahead of the decision either.

Sankey was also asked if the conference was prepared in case the House Settlement is denied, a question he refrained from elaborating on as much. He said there are “likely several” courses of action if that happens, but didn’t specify further.

These changes are nothing new for college athletics and its administrators. Auburn athletic director John Cohen told AL.com in February that the athletic department has been making budgetary preparations for a revenue-sharing model since he was in discussions for the job back in 2022.

Now, toward the end of May 2025, there was belief that the settlement would have a verdict by now, but Sankey said that hasn’t changed how the SEC is preparing.

“I learned a long time ago, we don’t control the court system,” Sankey said. “So, is there a hope? Is there a thought? Do people say it would be decided at this point? Yes. Do we have a responsibility for implementation, so we’ll pivot what we say this week? Yes. Does it mean we’re gonna keep preparing? We’re gonna keep preparing to see the judge’s final decision.”

Peter Rauterkus covers Auburn sports for AL.com. You can follow him on X at @peter_rauterkus or email him at [email protected]m