The College Football Playoff expansion debate has taken center stage, with the SEC Commissioner defending the SEC-Big Ten automatic qualifier proposal against growing criticism.
Recently, ACC and Big 12 officials have voiced concerns about the automatic qualifier proposal. They argue that the format assigns too many bids to the SEC and Big Ten, limiting opportunities for teams from other conferences.
Meanwhile, Greg Sankey is standing firm and has argued that critics ignore key facts about performance, rankings, and historical dominance.
Greg Sankey Slams CFP Critics for Missing the Point on SEC-Big Ten Proposal
Sankey pushed back hard against critics of the SEC-Big Ten automatic qualifier proposal for the 16-team College Football Playoff. During the SEC Spring Meetings, he expressed frustration with the ongoing controversy.
Sankey argued that many overlook important facts about competitive balance, insisting the proposed format is based on actual football performance, not outside influences. He called out critics, urging them to look deeper at the system and evaluate it based on its core principles rather than external perceptions.
“There’s critics all over the place,” he said. “So if you actually go back and do the research, that kind of format could cost us positions depending on the number of teams. I don’t see the critics actually digging in to understand that reality.”
The SEC and Big Ten have ruled college football for years. Season after season, they finish with multiple teams at the top of the CFP rankings. The SEC Commissioner believes playoff spots should be earned through real football performance rather than a political negotiation process. “We should be using football information to come to football decisions,” he said.
Despite pushing for automatic qualifiers, he says the SEC hasn’t yet committed to a specific format. He notes that while critics focus on perceived advantages for his conference, the expanded CFP structure could attract more SEC bids than in previous seasons.
Meanwhile, the ACC and Big 12 have their ideas. They want five automatic bids and 11 at-large spots. This would allow more conferences to join in. Another issue adding fuel to the fire is the new seeding system. It removes the old rule where the top four conference champions got first-round byes in the 12-team playoff. Critics say this change makes conference championships less critical for the postseason.
“We provide a model, and then we sit on our hands for a year and a half, two years, as opposed to looking at the depth of issues I’m describing about the game and the concerns about the regular season, scheduling being impacted by what we have right now,” Sankey said, reinforcing concerns over delays in making thoughtful changes.
KEEP READING: ‘Devaluing the Game’ — Joel Klatt Rips New College Football Playoff Format Over Seeding Flaws
The current situation is unfolding, and it seems like the conference has no plans to change the format. However, as the commissioner stated, they are not yet committed to a single format, meaning they evaluate every possible change, and the plan is still ongoing.
If the current format turns out to be as problematic as the ACC and Big 12 suggest, then the SEC will have to make adjustments to ensure better competition in the game.
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