SEC Commissioner Sankey Criticizes ACC, Big 12 Amid College Football Playoff Changes

SEC Commissioner Greg Sankey has emerged as a dominant voice in shaping the future of the College Football Playoff (CFP), advocating for a more refined playoff structure and greater autonomy for the Power Five conferences, particularly the SEC. Recently, the CFP committee announced a shift to a straight-seeding format for the 2025 season, a move that theoretically benefits the SEC and Big Ten and has sparked tension with the ACC and Big 12, who have formed an alliance to increase their influence. Both ACC Commissioner Jim Phillips and Big 12 Commissioner Brett Yormark issued nearly identical statements supporting the decision as being in the best interest of college football, despite potential disadvantages to their own conferences. Sankey responded sharply to these coordinated statements, rejecting what he saw as lectures about the good of the game and emphasizing the SEC's significant role and stake in the CFP's direction. Additionally, Sankey has pushed for a voting model that would give the Power Four conferences enough weight to pass measures without unanimous consent, signaling a potential restructuring of governance in college football. The ongoing negotiations highlight a power struggle behind the scenes between the Power Four conferences and the ACC and Big 12 over the future playoff format and governance.