SEC's Greg Sankey: CFP expansion not a done deal

Field Level Media
15 Jul 2025, 00:10 GMT+10

(Photo credit: Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images)

The College Football Playoff could remain at 12 teams if the Southeastern Conference and Big Ten can't come to an agreement, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said Monday.

'That's fine,' Sankey said as SEC media days kicked off in Atlanta. 'We have a 12-team playoff, five conference champions. That can stay if we can't agree.'

Coaches in the SEC would like to see a 16-team playoff that follows the '5+11' model, made up of the five highest-ranked conference champions and 11 at-large bids.

The Big Ten has proposed a format where the Big Ten and SEC would each get four automatic bids, with two going to both the ACC and Big 12 and one more to the highest-ranked champion of another conference. The rest of the field -- either 14 or 16 teams -- would come from at-large bids.

'We had a different view coming out of (SEC meetings) around the notion of allocations, if you will,' Sankey said, referring to automatic bids. 'I think you'll probably hear that again from our coaches. The Big Ten has a different view, that's fine.'

Although all sides at least seem to favor increasing the size of the field, Sankey said it's not a foregone conclusion.

'I think there's this notion that there has to be this magic moment and something has to happen with expansion, and it has to be forced,' he said.

There is a Dec. 1 deadline to determine a format for the CFP in 2026 and beyond.

--Field Level Media

Watch latest videos

News RELEASES

Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Sports Sun.

More Information

null in null

US Sports

Section

SEC's Greg Sankey: CFP expansion not a done deal

(Photo credit: Jordan Godfree-Imagn Images) The College Football Playoff could remain at 12 teams if the Southeastern Conference...

LSU WR Nic Anderson injured in car crash

(Photo credit: SARAH PHIPPS/THE OKLAHOMAN / USA TODAY NETWORK) LSU transfer wide receiver Nic Anderson spent one night in a hospital...

Teddy Bridgewater suspended from HS coaching job

(Photo credit: Chet Peterman / Special to The Post / USA TODAY NETWORK via Imagn Images) Former NFL quarterback Teddy Bridgewater...

Royals place RHP Michael Lorenzen (oblique) on IL

(Photo credit: Rick Scuteri-Imagn Images) The Kansas City Royals placed right-hander Michael Lorenzen on the 15-day injured list...

Report: Grizzlies G Cam Spencer signing 4-year deal

(Photo credit: Petre Thomas-Imagn Images) The Memphis Grizzlies are re-signing guard Cam Spencer to a four-year, $10.5 million contract,...

Report: Cavs sign president Koby Altman to extension

(Photo credit: David Richard-Imagn Images) The Cleveland Cavaliers signed president of basketball operations Koby Altman to a contract...

NFL

Section