A New Era in College Football: SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey Talks About the 12-Team Playoff Victory and the Behind-the-Scenes

## Power Balances Are Shifting in American College Football: SEC's Playoff Agenda College football, one of the most popular and economically powerful sports organizations in the United States, is at a historic turning point. The decision to expand the long-standing four-team Playoff (CFP) format that determines the champion to 12 teams with the 2024 season has ignited a new debate that will shape the future of the sport: What should the ideal format be for 2026 and beyond? At the center of this question is undoubtedly the Southeastern Conference (SEC), the most dominant conference in college football, and its powerful commissioner Greg Sankey. Sankey's recent statements at the Associated Press Sports Editors meeting in New York were not just expressions of opinion but rather a strategic manifesto that revealed the SEC's power and bargaining position on the table. As college football executives work on a 14-team playoff format during this period, Sankey underlined that this expansion would not happen at all costs. His message was clear: Steps taken without recognizing the SEC's interests and power will not win the conference's support and may even result in preserving the current structure. These statements were the clearest reflection of the multi-billion dollar broadcast rights, prestige, and championship-filled power struggle behind the scenes of college football. ## Evolution of the Playoff System and the Rise of the SEC The process of determining the champion of American college football has always been controversial. After decades of poll-based systems, the complex Bowl Championship Series (BCS) structure, which combined computer algorithms and human votes, was adopted in the 2000s. However, BCS was also frequently criticized for its failure to select the best two teams. As a result of these criticisms, in 2014, the College Football Playoff (CFP) system was launched, where the top four teams selected by a committee play semifinals and a final to determine the champion. During this decade-long period, the SEC became the absolute ruler of the CFP. Teams like Alabama, Georgia, and LSU won a total of seven national championships during this period, proving the conference's overwhelming superiority on the field. Combined with record-breaking television deals (especially multi-billion dollar contracts with ESPN), this success made the SEC the most potent actor economically and politically in college sports. By incorporating two giant programs like Texas and Oklahoma into its structure, the conference further consolidated its power. As a 16-team super conference, the SEC consistently demonstrates its determination to claim the largest share of the pie and set the rules of the game. ## Transition to 12 Teams and 14-Team Uncertainty After long debates, it was decided to expand the CFP to 12 teams starting with the 2024 season. This new format grants automatic entries to the six highest-ranked conference champions, while the remaining six spots are reserved for the best other teams in the standings (at-large). This model aimed to increase competition by giving more teams the opportunity to compete for the championship. However, this agreement is only valid for the 2024 and 2025 seasons. Negotiations for the new format applicable starting in 2026 have already heated up. One of the most popular proposals on the table is expanding the playoff to 14 teams. The point where discussions are deadlocked is how these 14 teams will be selected. Some models propose granting direct rights to start from the upper round or granting more automatic entry rights to champions of powerful conferences like the SEC and Big Ten. Greg Sankey's objection begins right here. Sankey, in his statements, implied that he was not inclined to grant automatic entries to other conference champions. According to him, the playoff should consist of the best teams, and most of these teams are already in the SEC. Sankey argued that automatic entry rights could reduce the playoff's quality, saying, "We looked back and ran simulations of what would have happened if there was a 12-team playoff. The results show that the best teams are already in the system somehow." Essentially, this means: The SEC wants more "at-large" slots because it knows those slots are most likely to go to high-ranked SEC teams. For instance, in a season where three or four SEC teams are in the national top 10 but do not win the championship, Sankey wants them all included in the playoff. ## Power Play and Future Scenarios Greg Sankey's stance is also a reference to the "The Alliance" initiative created among the ACC, Big Ten, and Pac-12 conferences a few years ago but crashed with the SEC's Texas and Oklahoma move. Sankey has not forgotten other conferences' efforts to create a structure among themselves, excluding the SEC. Now, with the thermal collapse of the Pac-12 conference and completely changed power balances, Sankey gives the message that "We set the rules now." Sankey declared, "We worked hard to reach the 12-team format. If we don't reach a consensus on 14 teams, I would be happy to continue with 12 teams or even consider a different model," making it a challenge. This is a transparent threat to other conferences. Either a model is found that meets the SEC's demands, or the SEC can walk away from the table by maintaining the current system or choosing another path that best suits its interests. This situation presents American college football with two main scenarios. The first is that the SEC and Big Ten (another super conference containing giants like USC, UCLA, and Oregon) largely exclude other conferences and establish their playoff system. This could mean the sport splits into two, forming a "Super League." The second is for other conferences (like the ACC and Big 12) to acknowledge the power of the SEC and Big Ten and agree to a 14-team model that grants them more privileges. This would cement a structure where "the rich get richer, and the poor get poorer." In conclusion, Greg Sankey's words once again highlighted that American college football is not just a sports competition but also a vast industry and a ruthless arena for power struggles. The decisions made in the next few years will determine not only how the champion is determined but also the fate of hundreds of universities and tens of thousands of athlete-students. At the heart of this struggle is the SEC, ready to make any strategic move to protect and expand its empire.