Greg Sankey says SEC, Big Ten can't agree on best CFP model - ESPN

ATLANTA, Ga. — As the clock ticks on a Dec. 1 deadline to determine a format for the College Football Playoff in 2026 and beyond, SEC commissioner Greg Sankey reiterated the possibility it could stay at 12 teams if his league and the Big Ten can't agree on what model would be best.

Sankey said he and Big Ten commissioner Tony Petitti spoke four out of five days last week and acknowledged the SEC's «different view» coming out of its spring meetings in Destin, Fla. While the Big Ten has favored a model that rewards conferences with guaranteed spots and play-in games to determine them, the SEC coaches most recently said they would now prefer a 16-team format that includes the five highest-ranked conference champions and 11 at-large bids.

«The Big Ten has a different view,» Sankey said following his opening remarks on the first day of SEC media days at the College Football Hall of Fame. «That's fine. We have a 12-team playoff, five conference champions. That can stay if we can't agree.»

Before agreeing to a new media rights deal with ESPN in March 2024, the nine FBS commissioners and Notre Dame leadership had to first sign a memorandum of understanding that outlined in broad terms what the next contract would look like. Sankey said the document gives the Big Ten and the SEC the bulk of control over the playoff's future format. It's an agreement some have privately questioned, but Sankey emphasized the role the Big Ten and SEC have in the room.

«Unless you're going to tear up the MOU — which maybe other people want to do because of their concerns about the decision-making authority,» Sankey said, «but very clearly in that memorandum of understanding is [the authority] granted to the combination of the SEC and Big Ten