SEC Leads College Football Playoff Format Debate Over Schedule Strength

The SEC is central to ongoing discussions about expanding the College Football Playoff to 16 teams starting in 2026, with a key focus on schedule strength and conference scheduling formats. The SEC commissioner, Greg Sankey, highlighted data showing the SEC's regular season as the most challenging, emphasizing the conference's depth and strength of schedule as critical factors. There is debate within the SEC about adding a ninth conference game, with some coaches and former players, including Alabama legends AJ McCarron and Trent Richardson, opposing it due to concerns over player welfare and potential negative impacts on playoff seeding; some suggest eliminating the SEC Championship Game if a ninth game is added. Meanwhile, LSU's coach and others expressed strong interest in a scheduling pact with the Big Ten to increase competition, though official negotiations remain complex. Alabama has proactively scheduled multiple Power 4 non-conference games over the next decade to bolster its strength of schedule, aligning with the SEC's broader strategy to maintain competitive positioning in playoff considerations. Athletic directors and coaches remain divided on whether to expand conference games or increase Power 4 non-conference matchups, balancing competitiveness, player health, and playoff qualification criteria.