Greg Sankey Highlights SEC Influence, Debate Over 16-Team CFP Automatic Bids

The College Football Playoff (CFP) expansion debate is intensifying, with SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey defending the SEC-Big Ten automatic qualifier proposal amid criticism from ACC and Big 12 officials who argue it favors the Power 5 conferences excessively. Sankey emphasizes that the proposal is based on football performance and historical dominance, urging critics to consider competitive balance and core principles rather than politics. Discussions within the SEC show growing interest in a 16-team playoff format, which has gained more traction than the previously favored 14-team model, though no commitment has been made. Proposals reportedly include five automatic bids—four to the Power 4 conference champions and one to the top Group of 6 team—with the rest filled by at-large selections, aiming to balance opportunity and maintain competitive integrity. Big Ten officials express concerns about automatic bids potentially skewing the field and advocate for a system prioritizing strength of schedule and performance over conference guarantees. Meanwhile, financial considerations linked to NIL payments and the potential restructuring of conference championship games are also influencing the evolving CFP format discussions ahead of the expected 2026 expansion.