Greg Sankey talks 5+11 CFP model with SEC coaches, rues timing - ESPN

DESTIN, Fla. — SEC commissioner Greg Sankey said he talked with the league football coaches at length Tuesday about the importance of the conference championship game and a 16-team College Football Playoff model that would include the five highest-ranked conference champions and 11 at-large spots.

«They talked about — I'll call it a 5+11 model — and our own ability to earn those berths,» Sankey said at the conclusion of the second day of spring meetings. "… At the coaching level, the question is, why wouldn't that be fine? Why wouldn't we do that? We talked about 16 with them. So, good conversation — not a destination — but the first time I've had the ability to go really in-depth with ideas with them."

It was a significant pivot from the highly-publicized push for automatic qualifiers, particularly from the league's athletic directors and coaches, and presented an unexpected alternative. Sankey and the other FBS commissioners and Notre Dame athletic director Pete Bevacqua need to determine the playoff format for 2026 and beyond by Dec. 1.

It's a deadline Sankey said isn't ideal for the league's timing to decide if it wants to stay with eight conference games or change to nine.

«I need to make a scheduling decision in 2026,» he said, declining to give a specific date.

«So when I express frustration about delays that are happening for decisions not made, those manifest themselves both in that room. We didn't spend time on the question what's the criteria [for selection] look like in this new era? We just kind of sat around and it effects the timing of other decisions. We can control our scheduling decision. We can't control every other element around this.»

Sankey said he's built some flexibility on the deadline, but